Art History Greece
Victory Adjusting her Sandal. Athens, Greece. Classical Greek c. 447-410 B.C.E. Marble.
High relief sculpture with Phidian drapery (sheer fabric to show human form) Winged goddess Nike taking off her sandal to walk on holy ground of the acropolis 4ft relief meant to be on a railing surrounding Temple of Athena Nike Not a continuous narrative on the relief panels that made up the balustrade (railing) Shows an unbalanced figure/goddess>mastery of human form
Acropolis. Helios, horses, and Dionysus (Heracles?). Athens, Greece. Phidias Classical Greek c. 447-410 B.C.E. Marble.
Marble Left: Sun god Helios bringing up the dawn with his horses> male nude is Dionysus, God of Wine who is lounging around Two seated figures: Demeter and Persephone? Reacting to the birth of Athena Standing Heracles(?) reacting to birth of Athena Part of the pediment of the Parthenon showing birth of Athena Meant to show the birth of Athena at the top of the Parthenon> her temple in Athens Phidian sculptural program> expressive poses and thickly draped figures
Acropolis. Athens, Greece. Iktinos and Kallikrates. Classical Greek c. 447-410 B.C.E. Marble.
Parthenon >marble>designed by Iktinos and Kilikrates> Doric temple to Athena> Main part of a complex of buildings on the acropolis, Columns surround the cella for statue of Athena Heavily based in mathematics/geometry, Symmetrical design, Columns carved carefully with entasis: columns>17x8 Massive sculptural programs on each side, on friezes/metopes Constructed by Pericles after the Persian sack of Athens in 480 BCE and original acropolis destroyed, used funds in the Persian war treasury to build the acropolis> made Athenian allies mad After the fall of Greece the Parthenon was used as: a temple by Romans, Greek Orthodox Church, Catholic Church, and mosque Destroyed in 1687 CE when Venetians attacked the Turks> half of the remaining sculptures were taken to England in the 1800s Temple for the Goddess Athena> Cella housed massive statue> various religious sites after fall of Greece
Acropolis. Temple of Athena and Nike. Athens, Greece. Iktinos and Kallikrates. Classical Greek c. 447-410 B.C.E. Marble.
Symmetrical Amphiprostyle: four columns in front and in backIonic temple Friezes show many scenes of victory Carefully crafted> situated at the forefront of acropolis> prized defensive position Built to celebrate victory over Persia Cella held statue of a victorious Athena Images of Nike surrounding
Doryphoros
form Why is the Classical style created? -Greek philosophers affected Polykleitos and other artists in Athens Rationalism -Pursuit of control of mind over body Calm stoicism and restraint in face/body -Idealism— "Pursuit of perfection" -Intellectual capacity to understand and execute perfection Physical ability to become perfect through discipline content: Harmony of Opposites Twisting Angles Right vs. left Relaxed vs. engaged context: Romans were grecophiles (lovers of all things Greek) Romans preferred marble to bronze Downside to marble? Those poses cannot be supported in marble Solution? Struts "Kickstands" (often in the form of tree trunks or columns) example of a classical male sculpture
Athenian Argora
form: - Panathenaic Way - agora function -A place of CIVIC PRIDE and COMMUNITY - the heart of the city of Athens - Built over time starting in 6th century BCE until it was destroyed in the Persian invasion of 480 BCE. - Restored as the physical manifestation of the political power of the Athenian Empire (which is why it is included in all 3 styles it was in use for hundreds of years). content: -Home of Democracy -Civic Center -Administrative buildings -Libraries and concert halls -Temples and shrines -Stoas (covered walkways outlining buildings) example of a greek civic center
Plaque of Ergastines. Athens, Greece. Phidias Classical Greek c. 447-410 B.C.E. Marble.
high relief sculpture 6 women in charge of weaving Athena's peplos each year that are greeted by two priests Contrapposto figures, Isocephalism (heads on the same level) Part of a frieze from the parthenon Scene from the Panathenaic frieze depicting the Panathenaic Procession held every four years to honor Athena First time in Greek art that human events are depicted on a temple Religious procession of women acting nobly
