Preview

Classical Societies Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
833 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Classical Societies Essay Example
Classical Societies

Classical Societies

In what is now known as the Classical Societies, art has evolved and taken many forms. It can be seen in sculpture, paintings, architecture, music, and other venues. The different classical societies consist of Classical Greece, Hellenistic Greece, Etruscan Society, The Roman Republic, and The Roman Empire. Each of these societies can be identified by the different style of art that encompasses them. In Classical Greek society, art was greatly classified in the sculptures that were produced. Made from many different materials such as stone, marble, limestone, and even clay, though few made of clay have survived. These sculptures were crafted to showcase the more aesthetic values of the human body. Suppression of the emotions was believed to be noble characteristics of all civilized men (University Press, 2008). The transposing of their beliefs into the sculpture’s that were crafted during that time shows a direct relationship to the intellectual evolution of the Classical Greek era. The Diadoumenos statue by Polykleitos shows these characteristics, as the form is free and in a more natural position, yet the face expressionless. The influence of the culture and the rapidly advancing intellectuality of Greece are apparent in the sculptures produced during that time, as well as the sculpture influencing the culture by idolizing the natural human form. Hellenistic Greece was much different than Classical Greece, as can be seen in the art and sculpture. Whereas Classical Greek sculpture had beauty in the form, they were expressionless. Hellenistic Greek sculpture was much more dramatic. Expressions were sculpted into the faces of the subjects. The form of the sculpture was made to express the emotion or action that was intended to be expressed. Sleeping Satyr is a wonderful example of this idea. He is in a relaxed pose, as if he is ready to sleep, his face showing his fatigue. This would not be seen in

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    By comparing the two sculptures of Khafre, image 3-11 ca. 2520-2494 BCE (1), with the statue of Doryphoros (Spear Bearer), image 5-40 ca. 450-440 BCE (2) you get a true sense of the evolution of art, from Pharaonic Egypt to Classical Athenian Greece two millennia later. This was not just a revolution in art but also philosophy, which transported itself into not only the types sculptures created but also the style used by their creators.…

    • 391 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    intro art

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Chapter 5 Greek Art (1) Name:___________________________ Matching a. main chamber of a temple holding a cult statue b. fifth century Athenian statesman c. half man half horse d. god of wine e. grooved member of Doric Frieze alternating with metopes f. black figure vase painter g. triangular space formed by roof and cornice h. warrior goddess, protectress of Athens i. slight convex curve of a column j. lowest division of the entablature of a temple k. architects of the Parthenon l. entrance gateway m. sculptor of the Discobolos n. female figure used as column o. storage jar with and egg shaped body p. sculptor of Hermes and Dionysus q. ornament from Ionic capital resembling a rolled scroll r. painting method using melted wax 1. ______ triglyph 2. ______ Polykleitos 3.…

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This work of art is from the Greek, Hellenistic period, c. 270- 250 B.C.E. This fifteen inch marble bust corresponds to a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty according to the typical facial features of the ruling family at that time. The Ptolemaic dynasty occurred when there was a succession of Macedonian Greeks over Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. until the annexation of Egypt by Rome and the suicide of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C. Therefore, this head was most likely created to symbolize a Ptolemaic Queen. Its subject matter, the themes or ideas in a work of art distinct from its form, is not evident immediately. At first, one believes this to simply be a portrait of a woman typical of the time. Upon further research, it is believed that this head was created to represent a queen or even perhaps a goddess. Recently, it has been identified by different scholarly organizations as the head of Arsinoe II, who ruled with her brother Ptolemy II from 278 B.C.E. until her death in 270 B.C.E.1 (Met)…

    • 1348 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Art 204 Final Essay

    • 2576 Words
    • 11 Pages

    The progression of Greek art does not simply begin with the Olympics in 776 BCE, but finds its origins in all of the civilizations that gave rise to the Greeks – the remnants of the besieged Mycenaeans, and all who conquered (and traded) with them. The loss of great civilizations often leads to dark periods, but from the ashes of Greece’s dark age emerged a civilization that revered humanity and went to great lengths to incorporate the idea of philosophy into all aspects of their empire – including art. City states joined forces, democracy was established, and skills lost during times of turmoil (reading, writing, painting, sculpting, architecture) were not only rediscovered, but reinvented. From the eastern inspired geometrics of earliest Greece, to stylize humanism in the Archaic, the mathematical perfection of the Classical periods, and the flowery realism of the Hellenistic - Greek art remains the standard by which all future art will be judged. This article will mainly focus on changes in Greek sculpture as an analogy for the changes in all of Greek art, simply because an attempt to chronicle all of the changes in the historical period would require much more than a short essay, and it’s my belief that sculpture most thoroughly reflected how art reflected the greater changes in the society. Regardless of historical argument about whether or not Greek culture and society were as great or as evil as either extreme proclaims, the fact remains that incredible works of art were spawned by great thinkers. Sure, maybe there was slavery, and maybe women were treated poorly, but that doesn’t negate the artistic value of the truly innovative art forms, starting with the very earliest pieces attributed to the Greeks, those in the period of the first Olympics, which also marks the point when the Greeks themselves considered their various city states united as one people, citizens of “Hellas” – distinct in that they spoke a…

    • 2576 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Successful sculptural forms are created through careful attention to common artistic elements and techniques. In order to discover an artist’s intentions while looking at a sculptural piece, it is vital to note the artist’s visual cues. Such visual cues may include form, shape, texture, material, lighting, space, and dynamism. In addition, classical sculpture is commonly comprised of well-balanced idealized forms, with a sense of naturalistic beauty and elegance in mind. Great sculpture also must convey a strong sense of gracefulness and stability. The Lansdowne Bust of Athena of Velletri very successfully exhibits artistic qualities and sculptural…

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The death of Alexander the Great inspired the beginning of the Hellenistic era of the fourth century. The characteristics of this period marked a separation and divide from earlier Greek’s works. Hellenistic artist’s begun expressing their sculptures with such high degree of naturalism contrasting with the earlier religious sculptures that used the idea of realism. Another essential idea that Hellenistic artists used to convey their message on sculptures was the use of emotion, drama, lighting and dynamics poses. The foundation of the Hellenistic era supported many of the works created during the Italian Renaissance. Many of the sculptures created during the Italian Renaissance comprised of religious beings such as Mary or JesuThis paper will…

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This Greek sculpture carved with parian marble was found on the island of Paros in 1775 and consists of a young girl wearing a woolen garment with her head bowed giving her farewell to two pet doves. The young girl’s facial expression is strong, yet somber while she holds one dove close to her serene face, while the other dove rests on the young girl’s left hand (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000). This sculpture would have been established in Greek cemeteries in memory of the deceased and symbolizes a young girl’s love for her pets and expresses emotion. The surface of the marble used to carve this sculpture is smooth and has a visual quality that is a representational illusion (Sayre, 2007). This particular work of art fits into the context of the time period primarily because the sculpture was carved at a time when decorated gravestones did not appear in Athens and parian marble was highly prized in antiquity (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000). This Grave monument of a young girl depicts her as she would have been in life, which during the 5th century; the deceased were able to be identified by more than their gender and occupation, but also by their age.…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Museum Paper

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Marble statue of the Diadoumenos is a Roman statue by Polykleitos from the Flavian period, A.D. 69-96. Polykleitos was a Greek sculptor in bronze of the fifth and the early fourth century BC. Next to Phidias, Myron and Kresilas, he is considered the most important sculptor of Classical antiquity. He was of the school of Argos, a contemporary of Phidias and, in the opinion of the Greeks, his equal. Diadumenos means “diadem-bearer”.…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Art Paper Outline

    • 1197 Words
    • 5 Pages

    There we observed the change in the form of statues. Being able to see the statues and painting we’ve studied and saw in our textbook in real life amused me. Being able to go up to them and look at the details rather than staring at the photographs also made me more interested in the art itself. For this assignment I decided to compare “Seated Statue of Gudea” and “Statue of Eros Sleeping”.…

    • 1197 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Greek Art Timeline Report

    • 2054 Words
    • 9 Pages

    As the museum’s new curator I have been informed that my goal is to improve the content of the museum’s website. After reviewing the guidelines and instructions set forth, I have decided to proceed with my commitment by focusing on the chosen art medium of sculptures and figurines. In addition, I intend to include ten chosen examples of thematically linked artwork in the area of Greek figural sculptures. So, before I precede any further I would like to give you a brief introduction into Greek Art in the seventh century.…

    • 2054 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eros Paper

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The statue of Eros sleeping is one of the key attractions in the metropolitan museum collections for the lovers of ancient Greek history. A glimpse at the magnificent work of art takes one away, far back in time to the Hellenistic age. Clearly it is one of the most remarkable works in the Metropolitan Museums total collection. The statues sculptor is not known but the time of its making has been correctly identified. Moreover historical studies have revealed much surrounding the statue of Eros as a sleeping baby. The Bronze Statue of Eros Sleeping dates back from the 3rd century B.C. to the early 1st century A.D. Recovered from the Rhode Island, the statue is one of the few surviving bronze art pieces from the Greek period to have endured the test of the centuries in an almost flawless state. The statue, which measured 85.2 cm in length, is displayed in the Greek wing of the museum. Undoubtedly, the Bronze Statue of Eros Sleeping is noteworthy not only for physical aspects but also for its iconographic significance in art history, particularly in understanding Greek culture of which the statue was once a part of. The ability of the statue to last for so long shows its sculptors determination to make a lasting piece that he no doubt meant to preserve the cherished culture of the time. The Greek bronze sculptures that were made at the time were complexes of geometric forms that resulted in the making of peculiar sculptures that distinguished the Greek culture. The sculptures of the Greek were different from the sculptures of the other contemporary cultures such as the Romans culture.…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gilded Age Essay Example

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Gilded Age was a period of rapid growth economically and in population in the 1870’s to 1900 in the US. I’m going to explain why we are in a second gilded age because we still have robber barons and that people still having major protests over the economic gap between the rich and the poor.…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Greek Gods In The Odyssey

    • 2166 Words
    • 9 Pages

    beauty.“Greek and roman culture is known for its sculpture of what has become the ideal of male…

    • 2166 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Very early on the Greeks made the decision that the human form was a significant subject for artistic endeavor. The standing male nude was vital during the Archaic period. Throughout that period, the sculptures were not meant to represent actual humans, they typically depicted what ideal beauty, piety, honor or sacrifice should look like. Next in the Classical period many changes took place. Poses became more relaxed, along with more technical skill of sculptors being greatly involved. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, was made in this period. Finally was the Hellenistic period. All art forms amidst this period became considerably more diverse as new cultures migrated to Greece. The sculptures of this time were further emotional and…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ancient Greek Culture

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Showing perfection becomes less important in later Greek sculpture as the beginning of the Hellenistic era takes hold. In order to put the era in context, this period is following the death of Alexander. This led to an abandonment of Greek restrained style giving artists a freedom to be more dynamic, more expressive, more real and free. This period in art is known as the Hellenistic era. It occurred as Greeks become afraid of the breakdown of Greek city-states. And so they turned to new philosophies that showed in their…

    • 1522 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays