Telling the Periods Apart

So we have six periods all with differences in their sculptures. How do we tell them apart?
Well, let's start in chronological order:

Geometric Period, 900 - 700 BCE

Very simple to remember, actually. This time period uses simple geometric shapes to create their figures. Nothing as complex as the later periods to be found here.

Archaic Period, 600 - 450 BCE

The time of the Archaic Smiles. All the figures created are smiling - even if they're on the brink of death. During this period we see a very subtle change in the way sculptures carry themselves: their waists are slightly moved forward, suggesting forward movement and better balance. The Archaic works also start to show more muscle detail in their figures.

Early Classical Period, 480 - 450 BCE

Here, we see the use of contrapposto - the whole human figure is no longer stiff. The shoulders and hips are usually angled towards each other to show natural balance. The head might be tilted for dynamic visual interest. The Greeks used a Canon of Proportions for the figures to appear more life-like and idealistic.

High Classical Period, 450 - 400 BCE

During this time, Athens was in power. Displays of power were shown through body movements instead of facial expressions. Also, the figures in a sculpture usually interacted with each other, though they could stand as an artwork just by themselves. The Greeks used a new extreme of realism and became more dramatic. They often used gods in their artworks.

Late Classical Period, 400 - 323 BCE

The Late Classical showed interest in people rather than gods. We start to see more relaxed figures with introspective feels to them, and we also see figures of women depicted nude appear. Sculptures start to occupy the viewers' space as well as their own. Often, they reach out towards the viewer.

Hellenistic Period, 323 - 31 BCE

Hellenistic sculptures wanted to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. Art became even more realistic and showed both Greek and other ethnic body types. We see the art become more melodramatic and start to depict everyday scenes from the lives of normal people.

Period By Song

Scott Pilgrim vs The World Soundtrack 13- Threshold (8 Bit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac_x9W_PiXk

Art Works - Geometric Period

Man and Centaur, 750 BCE

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_17.190.2072.jpg

Centaur, 10^th century BCE

http://kbagdanov.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/greece-1.jpg?w=192&h=300

Geometric Period

History: 900 – 700 BCE. This is the first time in history that the Greeks start showing their own style that becomes distinctly Greek. They began creating their own unique architectural forms and traded actively with their neighbors to the east.

Art:

·    They reduced their figures to simple geometric shapes.

·    They used negative, or open, spaces in sculpture to create a more pleasing, visual composition.

Period By Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKuKRczPpFg

Art Works - Archaic Period

Dying Warrior

http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/ltrupe/art%20history%20web/final/chap5Greece/Dying%20Warrior.jpg

Kouros



Check out the Archaic smile! This is a typical feature for sculptures of this era, even for dying people. Historians suggest that artists wanted to convey a human aspect to the figures.

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/11/5811-004-28FA4636.jpg

Archaic Period

History:  600 - 480 BCE. During the Archaic period, Greece was divided into many independent city-states. It was becoming more advanced, direct democracy was introduced, and commerce grew. Several dominant city-states had emarged: Athens, Sparta, Thebes, etc. Athens experiences a golden age and becomes the political and artistic leader. Specific artists started to grow in demand.

Artists

• start to sign their own names on their artwork.

Art:

• The most prominent feature was the Archaic smile. It was a simple smile that the figures wore and was seen on all sculptures from this period.

 Wealthy patrons and city councils sponsored art.

Period Extras

Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHWeuQyFouo

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk
I'm a woman's man, no time to talk

Story Behind Art

Doryphoros (Spear Bearer), also known as Achilles, was used to exemplify its maker's new idea and his style. The statue was made by Polykleitos as a representation of the canon of proportions he developed, called The Canon, which used mathematical terms to explain proportions in any statue built by that set of rules.  In addition, contrapposto is introduced, meaning the angle of his hips is balanced by an equal and opposite tilt of the shoulders, and his weight bearing and free parts alternate, making Doryphoros look natural and balanced.  This is strikingly different from the erect, direct positions of Archaic statues.  Furthermore, the statue carries other hallmarks of the Classical period, such as the lack of the Archaic smile.  The Spear Bearer looks off into the distance and away from the spear he used to hold, which encourages the viewer to inspect the sculpture from all sides, while it seems Archaic statue is mostly to be viewed frontally.  The artwork is generally more detailed and accurate than that of the preceding period, although features are still generalized.  However, in general this is an excellent work to depict the art style of the Early Classical period. 

Source: Stokstad Art History 3rd Edition, http://www.sikyon.com/Sicyon/Polykleitos/polycl_egpg1.html

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU81g9wmg8Q

Art Works - Early Classical

This is the marble Roman replica of the original Doryphoros (Spear Bearer).
Source: faculty.etsu.edu/kortumr/07hellenicgreece/htmdescriptionpages/22doryphoros.htm

This is what Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) would probably have looked like originally.
Source: www.caitloon.com/greeksculpture.html/

Early Classical Period

History: 480 - 450 BCE. In the mid-fifth century BCE, Greek cities in Ionia were incorporated into Cyrus the Great's Persian Empire.  Therefore, Miletos led the Greek city-states of Asia Minor in a revolt, which began a tumultuous period of warfare between Greeks and Persians.  Finally, in 490 BCE the Athenians drove off the Persians at the mainland town of Marathon.  As a result, marathons today are in rememberance of the man who ran over 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to tell of the victory then died of exhaustion as he gasped out those final words.  However, in 480 BCE, the Persians returned with a vengeance and destroyed several cities, including Athens.  To counter this, the city-states, led by Sparta and Athens, united on land and sea and triumphed.  Athens emerged as the leading city-state from about 480 to 450 BCE, and some suspect their victory against Persia was the factor that accelerated their artistic development.

Artists: Polykleitos

• Develops "The Canon" to mathematically balance figures' proportions
• Uses contrapposto (described below)

Art:

• Figures are now more relaxed and natural
• Contrapposto-the use of balancing weight-bearing and free parts-is introduced

Patrons:

• Seek strong, heroic figures and stories in art

Period Extras

Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfbZvtfKdpY

I'll take you on.
And strike you with desire of fault lines
No clutch, no storm.
I can bind you with no ties and leash, and watch you fall.

Story Behind Art

Lapith Fighting a Centaur is one of 92 action reliefs adorning the Doric frieze of the Parthenon.  It is from the south side, which was mainly composed different battles between a lapith and a centaur to represent entire events.  The story behind it is that Peirithous, king of the Lapiths, invited the centaurs to his wedding.  The centaurs became drunk and attempted to abduct the bride Hippodameia and other women.  A war began, and in the end the Lapiths drove the centaurs out of Thessaly.

Source: http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/lapithwar.html

Art Works - High Classical

Lapith Fighting a Centaur

Source: tagdesignstudios.com/Teachitalhistfinal/Greek-structures/Greek-structures-Pages/Image64.html



High Classical Period

History: about 450-400 BCE, during the time Sparta was dominating the Peloponnesus and Athens the Aegan.  This was essentially Athens's Golden Age, and the political leader Perikles was a major patron of the arts, which led to the creation of some of the greatest works that pervade even present-day models.

Artists: Pheidias

• Used more active poses
• Used cloth for backdrop or added detail

Art:

• Bigger and bolder
• Somewhat more active designs

Patrons:

• Perikles said, "Future generations will marvel at us, as the present age marvels at us now."
• Big, bold, and beautiful to display Athenian power

Period By Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRCkAumK5b4

Art Works - Late Classical

Artwork: THe Man Scraping Himself (also called ' The Scraper' and 'Apoxyomenos')
Period: Late Classical - 350 - 325 BCE
Artist: Lysipos

Late Classical Period

History: 450 - 323 BCE. After the Spartans defeat the Athenians, Athens recovers its independence and its economy revives; however, it never regains its dominant military/political standing among its fellow city states. While this happens, Alexander the Great rises up and spreads the Greek territories.

Artists: Praxiteles, Skopas, and Lysipos

• A growing trend for dramatic narrative subjects 

Art:

• Leaders now appear calm and collected 
• Sculptures seen with wistful introspection, dreaminess
• Depictions of fully nude women begin to appear

Patrons:

•  Patrons lose interests in images of heroics & mighty Olympian gods
• Acquires a taste for minor deities in light-hearted moments

Story Behind Art

In this epic tale, the Roman poet Virgil describes the dramatic scene in which the Trojans discover an enormous Wooden Horse standing outside the city of Troy. The prescient priest Laocoon warns against bringing the gigantic Horse into Troy in a famous speech:

"'O my poor people,
Men of Troy, what madness has come over you?
Can you believe the enemy truly gone?
A gift from the Danaans, and no ruse?
Is that Ulysses' way, as you have known him?
Achaeans must be hiding in this timber,
Or it was built to butt against our walls,
Peer over them into our houses, pelt
The city from the sky. Some crookedness
Is in this thing. Have no faith in the horse!
Whatever it is, even when Greeks bring gifts
I fear them, gifts and all.'"
(Virgil, The Aeneid, Book II, 59-70)

Immediately after saying these words, Virgil has Laocoon hurl his spear into the flank of the Wooden Horse. However, this gesture was to come back to haunt Laocoon. For soon after this incident, while the priest is sacrificing to his god Poseidon, a pair of giant sea serpents emerge from the sea and envelope both Laocoon and his two sons (this tragic scene is immortalized in the aforementioned Hellenistic statue - see the gallery page below for details and an image). The Trojans interpret this grotesque punishment as a sign that Laocoon offended the gods - either Athena or Poseidon in particular - for attacking the Wooden Horse. In the end, the Horse in brought into Troy, which is a fatal mistake and seals the city's doom.

Source: http://www.loggia.com/myth/laocoon.html

Period By Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYKMZUNHTAI

He's a cold hearted snake
Look into his eyes
He's been telling lies

Art Works - Hellenistic

Laocoon and his sons

Artwork: Laocoon and his Sons
Period: Hellenistic - Circa 1st Century CE
Artist(s): Athanadoros, Hagesandros, and Polydoros of Rhodes

Hellenistic Period

History: 323 - 31 BCE. This is the period where thanks to the expansion of the Greek culture through Alexander the Great, various multicultural influences appear in Greek art as well as visa versa.  However, it is during the period that Alexander the Great dies without a successor, leaving the empire to be divided by his generals.


Artists Turn from --> To

• Apathy --> Emotion
• Drama --> Melodrama
• Gods --> Mortals
• Heroic scenes --> Everyday life
• Idealism --> Realism

Patrons:

• A fascination grows for unique physical types and ordinary individuals

*KEY DEFINITIONS:  Expressionism ~ Sculptures attempt to elicit a specific response in the viewer.