Greek Sculpture
Greek Sculpture
Two Enduring Understandings about Greek
sculpture:
Greek sculpture demonstrates a
discernable pattern of development that
we can categorize
2. A specific vocabulary can be used to
describe Greek sculpture
1.
Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
Identify periods of Greek sculptural
development.
Define vocabulary to describe sculpture.
Apply period names and vocabulary
terms to analysis of example sculptures.
A Pattern of Development
Enduring Understandings about Greek
sculpture:
1. Greek sculpture demonstrates a
discernable pattern of development that
we can categorize
A Pattern of Development
Evolution of the Kouroi to the Kritios Boy and Comparison with the
Hellenistic Apollo Belvedere.
The Evolution of Realism: 1) c. 600 BC, 2) c. 575-550 BC, 3) c. 560
BC, 4) c. 530-520 BC , 5) c. 515-500 BC, 6) c. 485 BC, 7) c. 320 BC
http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Arts/Evolution.htm
A Pattern of Development
Greek Sculpture Development
Periods
and their Styles
Vocabulary to Describe Styles
Example Pieces
Example Types
Periodization
Historians use a technique we may term
periodization to assign events, individuals
and works of art and literature to a
specific time period.
Periods
of Greek Sculpture
500’s and earlier B.C.
400’s B.C
300’s B.C. and later
Archaic
Classical
Hellenistic
Archaic
Two Archaic
Sculpture Types:
Kouros & Kore
Male: kouros (youth)
Female: kore (maiden)
Classical
Hellenistic
Period ________
Vocabulary to Describe
Greek Sculpture





stylized: elimination or exaggeration of
details; subjects are portrayed using a pattern
or standard of expression
symbolic: use of symbols to convey meaning
idealize: attempt to create perfect
representations
contraposotto: weight shift that renders a
graceful attitude to the sculpture.
naturalistic or realistic: portraiture, replicate
life without relying on ideals, styles, or
symbols; we may think of this as life-like
How to look at
Greek Sculpture
Ask Three Questions
To Identify the
Period
of a Greek Sculpture
How to look at
Greek Sculpture

What is the FACIAL EXPRESSION?

What is the POSE?

How are the KNEES portrayed?
How to look at
Greek Sculpture

What is the FACIAL EXPRESSION?
Archaic
stylized: elimination or
exaggeration of details;
subjects are portrayed using
a pattern or standard of
expression
note hair, eyes, nose, mouth
and symmetry
How to look at
Greek Sculpture

What is the FACIAL EXPRESSION?
Classical
idealized:
represents an attempt to create perfect
representation of the human form
How to look at
Greek Sculpture

What is the FACIAL EXPRESSION?
naturalistic or
realistic:
portraiture, replicates
life without relying on
ideals, styles, or
symbols
We may think of these
pieces as life-like.
Hellenistic
Archaic
What is the POSE?
note head position and attention
note arm position and flexion
note foot/leg position: stylized/
or symbolic of motion or being at
rest * the meaning is debated
note symmetry
Classical
What is the POSE?
frozen action or static pose
contraposotto:
weight shift that renders a
graceful attitude to the
sculpture.
Hellenistic
What is the POSE?
awkward
frozen
position
moment
emotion
physical
demonstrated
age imperfection
evident or exaggerated
Period ________
Archaic
How are the KNEES
portrayed?
block-like
stiff, flexed muscles
patella (knee cap) over
emphasized
Classical
How are the KNEES
portrayed?
a pose “in motion” may
render differences
between the two knees
muscles are more
gracefully joined, often
somewhat over
emphasized
patella (knee cap)
slightly over-emphasized
Hellenistic
How are the KNEES
portrayed?
more
graceful musculature
knee
cap evident but not
over emphasized
possibly
clothing
Period ________
obscured by
Hellenistic
How are the KNEES portrayed?
more
graceful musculature
knee
cap evident but not
over emphasized
Period ________
possibly
clothing
obscured by
Greek Sculpture
Quiz
The Laocöon
Group
(Rome, Vatican
Museums)
Discobolos
(c450 BC) Roman
marble copy after
bronze original
(Rome, National
Museum)
Doryphoros
Polykleitos
(The Canon, or
Spear Carrier)
marble, c450 BC
(Vatican
Museums)
Diadoumenos,
or the Fillet
Binder
Polykleitos
(Roman copy after
bronze original
c.450)
Wounded
Amazon,
copy after originals
known to have
been created by
Phidias for
competition
Metropolitan
Museum, New
York
Wounded
Amazon,
copy after originals
known to have
been created by
Polykleitos for
competition
?In Ephesus?
Won by Polykleitos
Vatican Museum
Greek Sculpture Quiz:
Peplos Kore
(c530 BC)
polychromed
(painted) marble
Peplos Kore
(c530 BC)
polychromed
(painted) marble
Greek Sculpture Quiz:
Moscophoros,
the Calf-Bearer
(Acropolis Museum)
Greek Sculpture Quiz:
"Rampin
Horseman"
Athens, Acropolis
Museum
Greek Sculpture Quiz:
Kroisos from
Anavyssos,
grave marker
(c540-515 BC)
(Athens, National
Museum)
polychromed
(painted) marble
Greek Sculpture Quiz:
Kroisos from
Anavyssos,
grave marker
(c540-515 BC)
(Athens, National
Museum)
polychromed
(painted) marble
Kritios
(c480 BC) marble
(Athens, Acropolis
Museum)
Aphrodite
of Melos,
second century
BC (Paris,
Louvre)
Aphrodite
of Melos,
second century
BC (Paris,
Louvre)
Greek Sculpture Quiz:
Apollonios,
Seated Boxer
(Rome, Museo
delle Terme) )
Greek Sculpture Quiz:
Satyr with
Infant
Dionysos
(Rome, Vatican
Museums)
Greek Sculpture: Quiz
Name_______________________
Date__________
Directions:
Examine the figures as noted. Above and beside each figure create a flower as indicated by the diagram on the balckboard.