Ancient Greek Art
Part 3
Classical Sculpture
480-320 BCE
Classical Sculpture Key Ideas
• Contrapposto – Innovation in stance of
sculpture
• Idealized form in a naturalistic, but general
manner
• Classical canon of proportion developed by
Polykleitos (head is 1/7 size of body)
• Late period (Praxiteles as most prominent
sculptor) made head 1/8 of body
Kritios Boy, marble.
• Transition piece from
Archaic to Classical
• Named after artist
• Introduction of
contrapposto!!!
• Body turned slightly, while
head turns slightly the
other way, leading viewer’s
eyes to move over statue
How is this different than
the Archaic style?
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Point out as many differences
as possible.
The Discus Thrower,
Myron, marble copy of bronze
original
• Movement capture midswing
• Frontal view
• Idealized heroic body
• Pose looks pleasing, but
can’t throw that way!
• Expressionless face
Spear Bearer, Polykleitos,
marble copy from bronze
original
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Alternating tense/relaxed
Closed composition
Broad shoulders
Canon of proportions
He ignores your attention
Warrior/athlete
Spartan ideal
Warrior, bronze
Nike Adjusting Her Sandal,
marble
• From Temple of Athena
Nike
• High relief (not in the
round)
• Not nude, but suggestion
of form under wet drapery
Aphrodite of Knidos,
Praxiteles, marble copy
• Meant to be viewed
voyeuristically
• S-curves of body
• Sensual nude, innovative
for female nudity
Scraper, Lysippos, marble
copy from bronze original
• Only sculptor known to be
chosen by Alexander the
Great to create his portrait
• Athlete scraping off oil and
dirt after competition
• Arms extend into space
• lanky body
• Smaller head
• Torsion, twisting of knee
• Breaks from frontal
viewing
Hellenistic Art
320-30 BCE
Hellenistic Sculpture Key Ideas
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Focus shifts to the emotion of the individual
Expressionism
Use of negative space
Intended to be viewed from all sides
More movement, twisting forms
Gallic Chieftain Killing His
Wife and Himself, marble
copy after bronze original
• Enemy leader kills his wife,
then himself
• Twisting
• Emotional
• Heroic
• Hair is disheveled
• Barbarians
Dying Gaul, marble copy of
bronze original
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Trumpeter/soldier collapsing
and near death
Viewed from all around
Blood oozes form wound
Barbarian foe seen as heroic –
heightens the victory
Great emotion
Realistic
Twisting
Compare to archaic dying
warrior
Nike of Samothrace,
marble.
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Once part of a fountain
Wet drapery look
Commemorates naval victory
Dramatic twisting of torso
contrapposto
Aphrodite of Melos (Venus
de Milo), marble
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Reminiscent of classical, but
turning form of Hellenistic
Nude
Erotic
S- curves
One hand held an apple (her
symbol)
Laocoon, Rhodes Sculptors,
marble
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Trojan priest who attempted
to warn Troy about the horse
– punished by the gods who
supported the Greeks
Emotional, high drama
Twisting forms
Mostly frontal, but can be
viewed from any angle
Curved forms make your eye
wander
Tremendous negative space
More Hellenistic