Classical Art-the artistic legacy of Greece and Rome-has influenced almost all of Western art.
The achievements and influence of the Greeks and Romans are also felt in science, mathematics, law and politics.
The idea of “Classicism” is seen revived in the Renaissance and Neoclassical period. We will touch on this in later chapters.
Humanism- saw themselves as the center of the universe, “measure of all things”
Rationalism- knowledge comes from reasoning, not through the senses
Naturalism- love of nature, seen in their pursuit of representation through observation
Idealism- representation of forms based on accepted notions of beauty or perfection.
They sought perfection through sound mind and body and a balance of emotion and intellect.
Geometric Period - marks the birth of the Greek civilization 900-700 BCE
During this time, geometric patterns predominated in art.
The representation of the human figure was conceptual rather than optical.
When the human figure was present, it was usually reduced to a combination of geometric forms such as circles and triangles.
You can see in this example the human figure is the subject of interest and it is also evident that they are gaining more ability in representing a more natural looking figure and implying gestured movement
The three styles or orders of Greek architecture:
Doric- Developed on the mainland. Earliest, simplest and most used
Ionic- Developed on Aegean Islands and Asia Minor. Used for smaller temples
Corinthian- More intricate variation of Ionic order. Used later in less significant buildings.
In addition to sculptural decoration for buildings, free-standing, life-size and larger-than-life size statues were erected.
The Kouros figures are statues of young men and considered the first truly freestanding human form. Often with these Kouros figures we see what is known as the “archaic smile”
The Kore figure is the female counterpart to the Kouros. You see the softer side here, more organic, full round face. Because she is represented with clothing, the sculptor has the challenge of relating the body through the drapery.
Docobolus or Disk thrower shows lots of movement and naturalism, but still seems to exist in a shallow plane. Also he is captured in the part of the motion just before the release of the disk, a moment of restraint.
Because Greece was relatively peaceful at this point, it turned it’s efforts to rebuilding monuments and advancing art, drama and music.
The Parthenon became one of the most influential buildings in the history of architecture.
Sculpture
Some of the period’s greatest free-standing sculptural pieces were created by Polykleitos
One of the most significant elements of Polykleitos’s style is the weight shift principle. A diagonal balance of tention and rest creating an s-shaped spine. He tried to perfect nature, instead of just copying it. Also we know that he developed a canon of proportions used to create the “ideal figure”
This Riace Warrior from the 5th century BCE is more than just an accurate representation of a man. He is a balance between the ideal male figure and convincing image of a man in the prime of his life. Confident, almost arrogant.
The Late Classical period brought a more humanistic and naturalistic style, with emphasis on the expression of emotion.
The Hellenistic period marks the decline of the Greek civilization.
Here we get a good look at the interior of a tomb. The Etruscans were known as superb architectural engineers as well as town planners and surveryors.
Roman art combined native talent, needs, and styles with other artistic sources, particularly those of Greece. The Greek Hellenistic period saw the rise of Rome as the new force in the Mediteranean (2nd century BC). Contibutions to the western world: Building, city planning, government and law.
The most significant building innovation was the use of the arch. The Romans also mastered the use of concrete to replicate cut stone. Later we will see example of their mastery of the dome.
Little remains of the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine
It would serve as the basic plan for basilicas and cathedrals for centuries to come.