Geometric
Archaic
900-700 BC
700-480 BC
Classical
480-323 BC
Hellenistic
323-31 BC
 Describe
some similarities that you
see on these 3 objects…
 Geometric shapes, pattern, abstract,
linear, angular
 More
naturalistic than the geometric
style, but still stylized
 Very
short period, the beginning of
natural depictions of the human form.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU81
g9wmg8Q
 Contrapposto: Assymetrical weight shift
 Realistic
figures which gave the illusion of
the form moving through space.
 For the first time in human history, human
anatomy was deemed worthy of being
immortalized in stone or bronze
naturalistically.
 The forward step of the kouros statues was
replaced by poses that showed movement.
 The stiff vertical figures of the archaic
period were replaced with threedimensional snap shots of figures in action.
 While
the archaic sculptures appeared
static the classical statues held dynamic
poses bursting with potential energy.
 The overall patterns of immobile muscles
were developed into a complex universe
of tension and relaxation.
 Rules
of the Classical Period are
abandoned for experimentation of form.
the art of copying
Temple of Athena Nike
Classical Greek
Temple of Portunus
Rome, Italy - ca. 75 BC
PARTHENON
Greek
PANTHEON
Rome
Polykleitos, Doryphoros,
High Classical Greek
Augustus Primaporta,
Pax Romana (Roman)
Athena and Alcyoneus
frieze from the Altar of
Zeus at Pergamon, c.180
BCE.
HELLENISTIC GREEK
Spoils from the Temple of
Solomon, Jerusalem.
Relief on the Arch of Titus
EARLY EMPIRE ROME
The Roman Architectural Revolution
Early Empire Period
Colosseum, 72-80 CE. EARLY EMPIRE ROMAN
Early Empire
Period
As the Roman Empire grew,
they had a need to supply
water to the outlying cities
with in their empire. Hence
the development of
aqueducts.
Pont-du-Gard, Nimes, France 19 B.C.
Early Empire Period
Pont-du-Gard, Nimes, France 19 B.C.
Early Empire Period
- Triumphal Arch
- The Roman arches
celebrated more than just
military victories, as they
often commemorated
events such as building
roads and bridges.
This arch
commemorates Titus’
sack of Jerusalem
around 70 AD. This is
the oldest arch of its
kind.
Arch of Titus, Rome, Italy, after A.D. 81
The Late Empire
Arch of Constantine
Rome, Italy A.D. 312-315
LATE EMPIRE ROMAN
The High Empire
Excluding the use of an eight
Corinthian column facade, the
temple was completely
revolutionary for it’s time.
The dome of the Pantheon steadily
decreases in thickness from the
base to the top. In the very middle
there is an open “Oculus” that is
used as a skylight, and the only
lighting of the building.
The “Oculus” measures 30 feet in
diameter.
This is the oldest domed building
in the World that still has its
original roof.
Pantheon,
Rome, Italy. 125-128 AD HIGH EMPIRE
The High Empire
From this indoor photo of
the Pantheon you can see
the carved panels as well
as the intense light that the
“Oculus” provides for the
room.
These decorative panels
are called coffers.
Pantheon,
Rome, Italy. 125-128 AD
The High Empire
TRAJAN’S COLUMN
Celebration of Victory
against the Dacians
Rome, 113 BC
HIGH EMPIRE ROMAN
The High Empire
Most ancient bronze statues were
melted down for their metal value
during the Middle Ages, but this one
happened to have survived.
Marcus possesses a superhuman
grandeur and is much larger than any
normal human would be in relation to
his horse. He stretches out his right
arm in a gesture that is both a
greeting and an offer of clemency (an
act that bestows or shows mercy
toward another person over whom
somebody has ultimate power)
The statue conveys the awesome
power of the godlike Roman emperor
as ruler of the whole world.
Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
Rome, Italy 175 A.D.
Republic Rome
Republican patrician portraits :
- Mostly men of advanced age
(generally these elders held the power
in the state)
- We are able to see this man’s
personality: serious, experienced,
determined- virtues that were admired
during the Republic.
- These portraits were not idealized as
seen in the Greek portraiture, but
instead showed every detail of the
person’s character.
Kresilas, Pericles
Classical Greece
Head of a Roman patrician, from
Otricoli, Italy, ca 75-50 B.C.
Dying Gaul
Pergamon, Turkey ca. 230-220 BC
HELLENISTIC PERIOD
The Late Empire
- No individualized features are
represented
- they are dressed identically,
even to their swords
- they are of equal height.
-their embraces indicate their
unity
- staring eyes, squatty forms, and
abstract quality are characteristic
of much later Roman sculpture
- where symbolism is more
important than realism and
individuality.
Portraits of the Four tetrarchs
Saint Mark’s, Venice, A.D. 305
LATE EMPIRE ROMAN
GREEK
Preferred
Structure:
Walls:
Trademark
Forms:
Support
System:
Temples to
Glorify Gods
ROMAN
Civic
Buildings to
honor
Empire
Made of cut Concrete
stone blocks with
Ornamental
facing
Rectangles, Circles,
Straight
Curved Lines
Lines
Post and
Rounded
Lintel
Arch
Column
Style:
Doric & Ionic Corinthian
Sculpture:
Idealized
Gods &
Goddesses
Realistic
humans,
idealized
officials
Subject of
Art:
Mythology
Civic
Leaders,
military
triumphs