Bernecia Broadbelt
Art -11
Greek Art
A
civilization lost between time and space known only as a myth emerges, captures
and impacts Western culture, the Greeks. Before the nineteenth century there
was no or little mention of the Greeks, one would hear about Egyptian wars,
sculptures and scandals. Although the seven wonders of ancient world were
Egyptian these buildings and structures were elaborate and lacked
"reality." Greek art was completely different focusing on reality
they took their influences from many eras and civilizations. Such as Eastern
civilizations, of Roman art and its patrons, and the new religion of Orthodox
Christianity in the Byzantine era, Italian and European ideas during the period
of Romanticism including Modernist and Postmodernist. Greek art is comprised of
at-least five types and they are architecture, sculpture, painting, pottery and
jewelry making.
Influences
from various categories of styles Greek paintings and pottery in my opinion
very unique and beautiful. One of the earliest styles absorbed was the
geometric style, " [1]the
lively rectilinear meander patterns circling the body of amphora ( two handled
storage jar) are typical of geometric pottery design." Majority of Greek
Paintings were found on pottery, they existed together. Other influences were
Orientalizing style (700-600 BC), Archaic style(600-480BC), late Archaic to
Classical style (530 -400 BC) and Classical to Hellenistic style (450-323 BC).
One of the best preserved example of Greek pictorial art derived from the
Hellenistic period is the " Battle of Issos from house of the Faun,
Pompeii."
Being mythic-ally oriented by believing in Gods, the Greeks considered their temples
as the place where their God's dwell. These beliefs influenced their
architecture, the believed that [2]"
the god's cult must be housed on the main floor facing east to an outdoor altar
where sacrifices were performed." Great strides in Greek architecture were
there temples, one of the most exceptional temples is the Parthenon classically
balanced, proportional unified. Other temples are the Erechtheum, Propylaea,
Athena Nike and Steps.
One
of the most influential type of Greek art is their sculptures precise,
calculated, accurate and realistic, these sculptures still are the
"best" sculptures created. Gathering their ideas from categorical
styles such as Archaic styles, Early Classical styles, Classical styles and
Late Classical styles. The Greeks seek to be unique but also "real".
Real being more realistic, in my opinion they paid attention to detail
capturing the essence of a person by replicating their true physical
appearance. Early Greek sculptures lacked full features the eyes and hands were
excluded although some form of realism was shown other aspects lacked. Pushing
the envelopes of possible a greek artist created the " Warrior of
Riace" cutting the body into four sections the perfect man was created.
Although this structure was realistic in structure, stature and form minor
details like spine structure, pronounced muscle and chest cavity separates
Greek sculptures from the true human
form.
Egyptian
art may be recognized easier and in some arenas may be quoted as better than
Greek art, however, the Greeks did things unimaginable by the Egyptians.
They removed the elaborated versions of art
and began capturing the likeness of what was being depicted. Embodying their
beliefs of naturalization the Greeks created one of the best Art even to this
day. It is not what can be imagined that proves great art but what is real that
can replicated that proves true artistic abilities.
Works cited:
1.
"A History Of Western Art"
fifth edition by. Laurie Schneider Adams published by city university.
2.
Henri Stierlin. Greece: From Mycenae to the
Parthenon. Taschen, 2004.
3.
C. Mango, ed., The art of the Byzantine
Empire, 312-1453: sources and documents (Inglewood Cliffs, 1972 )
Artist’s Full Name: unknown
Title of Work: "Funerary
relief"
Medium: The Metropolitan Museum of
Art.
Year
Completed: 325 - 300 BC
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