CHAPTER 6 SECTION 1
GREEK ART OF THE GOLDEN AGE
ARTS OF GOLDEN AGE
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400’s BC—era of cultural progress called golden age of Greek culture
Athens see as symbol of Greece’s golden age
o Drew artists and teachers from all of Greece
o Made Athens center of learning an artistic achievement
ARCHITECTURE
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Athenians surrounded themselves with beauty
o Built public temples, gymnasiums and theatres
 Artists decorated them with their finest work—especially
sculptures
Acropolis center of original city-state
o Perfect setting for special creations
o Magnificent gate marked entrance
o Nearby was bronze statue of Athena
At top of hill stood Parthenon
o White marble temple built in honor of Athena—goddess of wisdom
o Considered finest of Greek architecture—perfect proportions height x
width x length
o Had doors but few windows—built as shrine not for worship
o Colonnades surrounded structure
o Sculptured figures painted in bright colors decorated marble above
columns
o Inside Parthenon was statue of Athena done in ivory and gold—stood 38
feet tall
PAINTING
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Most original artwork has been lost or damaged
o Information comes from written descriptions or Roman copies
Best preserved Greek paintings found on vases
o Scenes of everyday life and mythological events
o Some artists used light and shade to show contour and depth
Initially adopted styles from other cultures then transformed them to own style
o Greek traders impressed by animal paintings found in Egypt
o Greek artists replaced animals with human figures
SCULPTURE
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Original sculptures rare—most study comes from Roman copies
o Sculpture shows Egyptian influence
 Highly structured figures in stiff unnatural poses
 Figures portrayed with arms straight down
By 400’s Greek’s creating figures more lifelike—used mathematical proportions
to create realistic sculptures
o Myron – sculpted The Discus Thrower
o Phidias—created statue of Athena in acropolis and Parthenon
 Also created statue of Zeus at Temple of Olympia
 40 feet high
 One of 7 wonders of ancient world
Praxiteles—100 years after Phidias
o Phidias had made large formal works appropriate for gods
o Praxiteles sculpted figures more lifelike and natural in form and size
 Expressed admiration of the beauty of the human body
NATURE OF GREEK ART
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All reflected views of themselves and the world
Artistic ideals expressed in 4 main ways
1. Glorified human beings
 Most portrayed gods and goddesses
 Emphasis on human qualities and actions
 Created detailed statues of athletes, warriors, and ordinary citizens
 Faces and figures represented Greek ideal of beauty
 Also included strength, intelligence, pride, and courage
2. Symbolized pride in city state
 Art meant for public enjoyment
 Public buildings were monuments to power and glory of polis
 Art honored and thanked gods and tried to win their favor
3. Expressed beliefs in harmony, balance, order and moderation
 Stressed simplicity and restraint
 Searched for calmness, clarity and freedom from details not
absolutely necessary
4. Combined beauty and usefulness
 Art was functional and had clearly defined purpose
 Vases designed with different shapes for different functions
 Adapted decorations to curves and shapes of vases