MINOAN ART
Paintings, Sculpture, Metalwork
Bull Rhyton,
Palace of Knossos, 1500 BC
Minoan Art
• Introduction:
– Minoan art reveals much about that society:
• Joyous people
• In touch with their environment/nature
• In awe of movement
– Minoan art is fluid
– Minoan art was produced for its beauty rather than
function.
• Most art had a political or religious function. So did Minoan to
an extent. But, lots of their art is for arts sake.
Minoan Art
Gold Ring, 2000 BC
• Many types:
Early Minoan I/II 2500 BC
Snake Goddess
1600 BC
Spectators Fresco, Knossos, 1450 BC
Minoan Art
– Minoan art frequently involved trivial details of
everyday life: cat stalking prey, octopus,
sporting events rather than battles or political
events.
– This is art done out of interest in everyday life.
– Most depictions of humans represent them them
in the less meaningful events of life: walking,
carrying a vase, etc.
Minoan Art
• Everyday Life:
Water Bearers,
Knossos, 1400 BC
The Fisherman, Akrotiri, 1500 BC
Minoan Art
– This is the great Minoan legacy: producing art
for pleasure. Art for arts sake. This led to a
revolution in Greek art later on.
– Minoan artist catches his subjects in the midst
of action.
Minoan Art
The Boxers:
• Subjects in action:
The Dolphins, Palace of Knossos, 1600 BC
Akrotiri, 1600 BC
Minoan Art
• History:
– Not much survives from the early Minoan
period
• First palaces built
– Much art from the Middle Minoan period
(1900-1700 BC).
– Art reached its zenith during the late Minoan
period
– But also declined during the late Minoan
period.
Minoan Art
• POTTERY:
– Proto-palatial (middle Minoan) 2000-1600:
introduction of potters wheel. Pottery now had
thin walls and symmetrical shapes.
Minoan Art
• Chronology of Pottery:
– Monochrome neolithic wares: until EM period.
– Early Minoan Period: pottery decorated with
dark paint on light clay and then the opposite.
– Middle Minoan: white-yellowish paint put over
a dark painted background.
– Late Minoan: dark painting on light with
naturalistic decoration.
Minoan Art
• Pottery: EM: 2500-2000 BC
Early Minoan I/II 2500 BC
Beak Spouted Cup 2200-2000 BC
Vasiliki Ware (EM) 2300-2000 BC
Minoan Art
• Pottery: MM: Kamares Style 1800’s BC
Crater
Beaker Jug
Cup Kamares Style
Minoan Art
• Kamares-ware: Named after the cave they were
found in. Characteristic of this time. Thin walls,
swollen curves, elegant spouts and decorations.
Very popular in Crete, Egypt and Syria.
– Notice: evidence of contact
Minoan Art
• Pottery: LM: 1500’s BC
Glaze covered Vase
3 Handled Amphora
Octopus Vase: Marine
Style: Octopus Vase
Minoan Art
• Pottery: Stone Vessels: Hagia Triada, Crete.
Harvester Vase, 1500 BC (Black Steatite)
– Notice: musical instrument is a “Sistrum”Egyptian
Minoan Art
• PAINTING:
– Best known for its focus on nature.
– Their paintings show a vitality and love of life
through their subjects and use of bright colors.
– Painting goes back to the Pre-Palace period:
wall paintings.
Minoan Art
• Fresco Painting: Painting on wet plaster.
– Two types of Fresco:
• Nature scenes: consist of borders that consist of odd
shapes that are colored. Floors may also have been
painted in Fresco style.
• Court and religious life. Large number are Bull
Leaping scenes. These are the most famous.
Minoan Art
• Painting: nature:
The Dolphins:
Palace, 1500 BC
The Birds: Palace
Knossos, 1500 BC
Blue Bird: Knossos,
1500 BC
Minoan Art
• Bull Leapers:
Knossos and other locals,
1500’s
Bull Leaping
Minoan Art
One possible interpretation of
Bull Leaping fresco.
From the art you have seen, what is a problem
associated with this interpretation?
Minoan Art
• Painting:
– Style: Egyptian Influence
• Men shown with red skin.
• Women shown with white
skin.
• Egyptian side view with
frontal eye.
– Style: Uniquely Minoan
• Small waists
• Fluidity
• Elasticity, spontaneity,
fluid motion
• Bright colors.
Minoan Art
• Painting: women and men
Spectators by a Shrine
La Parisienne
Fisherman
Dancing Woman
Minoan Art
• Men and Women:
The Ladies: Knossos, 1400 BC
Feather Prince,
Palace, 1550 BC
Minoan Art
Different Female Faces
“No generics here!
Minoan Art
– Differences:
• Egyptians used dry fresco method.
• Minoans used true “wet fresco” method. Painting on
wet plaster allowed the the pigments of metal and
mineral oxides to bind well to the walls. It required
quick execution. The nature of this technique
allowed for spontaneity and improvisation.
– Since the painter had to work in a quick time frame, the
brush strokes were very fluid and translated into
gracefulness of art.
Minoan Art
• Style: The figures in Minoan
frescoes are depicted in natural
poses of free movement that reflect
the rigors of the activities they are
engaged in.
La Parisienne
Sarcophagus Lid,
Minoan Art
• Sculpture:
– Very little sculpture of Minoan Crete has
survived.
– Most of it not monumental but small articles
dedicated to kings and gods.
– Best example: Snake Goddess. Long flowing
dress to ground, arms outstretched holding
snakes. Probably a goddess. Typical Minoan
woman attire.
Minoan Art
Minoan boat 1700-1650 BC
• Sculpture
Snake Goddess: Various
locations1600 BC
Bull Leaper: Crete, 1500?
Minoan Art
• Metal work:
– Exquisite metal works were created in ancient Crete
with gold and copper imported from abroad.
– Several techniques employed: lost wax technique,
embossing, gilding, faience (granulation), nielo.
– Faience: tiny beads of gold adhered to the surface of
cast jewelry with a special low heat solder alloy.
– Gilding: gold leafing (thin sheets of hammered gold
foil).
Minoan Art
• Metal work:
Gold Ring: Goddess
and Griffin
Gold Pendent
Crouching Lion: Gold
Gold ring with a depiction
of a bull-jumping scene