Planning trip to Greece, many people are interested not only in comfortable hotels, but also in the fascinating history of this ancient country, an integral part of which are art objects.
A large number of treatises by famous art historians are devoted specifically to ancient Greek sculpture, as the fundamental branch of world culture. Unfortunately, many monuments of that time did not survive in their original form, and are known from later copies. By studying them, you can trace the history of the development of Greek fine art from the Homeric period to the Hellenistic era, and highlight the most striking and famous creations of each period.
Aphrodite de Milo
The world famous Aphrodite from the island of Milos dates back to the Hellenistic period Greek art. At this time, through the forces of Alexander the Great, the culture of Hellas began to spread far beyond Balkan Peninsula, which is noticeably reflected in the fine arts - sculptures, paintings and frescoes have become more realistic, the faces of the gods on them have human traits– relaxed postures, distracted gaze, soft smile.
Aphrodite statue, or as the Romans called it, Venus, is made of snow-white marble. Its height is slightly larger than human height, and is 2.03 meters. The statue was discovered by chance by an ordinary French sailor, who in 1820, together with a local peasant, dug up Aphrodite near the remains of an ancient amphitheater on the island of Milos. During its transportation and customs disputes, the statue lost its arms and pedestal, but a record of the author of the masterpiece indicated on it was preserved: Agesander, the son of Menidas, a resident of Antioch.
Today, after careful restoration, Aphrodite is exhibited in the Louvre in Paris, attracting millions of tourists every year with its natural beauty.
Nike of Samothrace
The creation of the statue of the goddess of victory Nike dates back to the 2nd century BC. Research has shown that Nika was installed above sea coast on a steep rock - her marble clothes flutter as if from the wind, and the tilt of the body represents constant movement forward. The thinnest folds of clothing cover the strong body of the goddess, and powerful wings are spread in joy and triumph of victory.
The statue's head and arms were not preserved, although individual fragments were discovered during excavations in 1950. In particular, Karl Lehmann and a group of archaeologists found right hand goddesses. The Nike of Samothrace is now one of the outstanding exhibits of the Louvre. Her hand was never added to the general exhibition; only the right wing, which is made of plaster, was restored.
Laocoon and his sons
A sculptural composition depicting the mortal struggle of Laocoon, the priest of the god Apollo and his sons, with two snakes sent by Apollo in revenge for the fact that Laocoon did not listen to his will and tried to prevent the Trojan horse from entering the city.
The statue was made of bronze, but its original has not survived to this day. In the 15th century, a marble copy of the sculpture was found on the territory of Nero’s “golden house” and, by order of Pope Julius II, it was installed in a separate niche of the Vatican Belvedere. In 1798, the statue of Laocoon was transported to Paris, but after the fall of Napoleon's rule, the British returned it to its original place, where it is kept to this day.
The composition, depicting Laocoon's desperate dying struggle with divine punishment, inspired many sculptors of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and gave rise to a fashion for depicting the complex, whirlwind movements of the human body in fine art.
Zeus from Cape Artemision
The statue, found by divers near Cape Artemision, is made of bronze, and is one of the few pieces of art of this type that has survived to this day in its original form. Researchers disagree about whether the sculpture belongs specifically to Zeus, believing that it can also depict the god of the seas, Poseidon.
The statue is 2.09 m high and depicts the supreme Greek god, who raised his right hand to throw lightning in righteous anger. The lightning itself has not survived, but from numerous smaller figures it can be judged that it had the appearance of a flat, highly elongated bronze disk.
From almost two thousand years of being under water, the statue was almost undamaged. Only the eyes, which were presumably made of ivory and encrusted with precious stones, were missing. You can see this work of art at the National Archaeological Museum, which is located in Athens.
Statue of Diadumen
A marble copy of a bronze statue of a young man who crowns himself with a diadem - a symbol of sports victory, probably adorned the site of the competition in Olympia or Delphi. The diadem at that time was a red woolen bandage, which, along with laurel wreaths, was awarded to the winners Olympic Games. The author of the work, Polykleitos, performed it in his favorite style - the young man is in slight movement, his face displays complete calm and concentration. The athlete behaves like a deserved winner - he does not show fatigue, although his body requires rest after the fight. In the sculpture the author managed to very naturally convey not only small elements, but also general position body, correctly distributing the mass of the figure. Full proportionality of the body is the pinnacle of development of this period - classicism of the 5th century.
Although the bronze original has not survived to this day, copies of it can be seen in many museums around the world - the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the Louvre, the Metropolitan, and the British Museum.
Aphrodite Braschi
The marble statue of Aphrodite depicts the goddess of love baring herself before taking her legendary, often mythical bath that restores her virginity. Aphrodite holds in her left hand the removed clothes, which gently fall onto the jug standing nearby. From an engineering point of view, this solution made the fragile statue more stable and gave the sculptor the opportunity to give it a more relaxed pose. The uniqueness of Aphrodite Brasca is that this is the first known statue of the goddess, the author of which decided to depict her naked, which at one time was considered unheard of audacity.
There are legends according to which the sculptor Praxiteles created Aphrodite in the image of his beloved, the hetaera Phryne. When her former admirer, the orator Euthyas, found out about this, he raised a scandal, as a result of which Praxiteles was accused of unforgivable blasphemy. At the trial, the defense lawyer, seeing that his arguments did not satisfy the impression on the judge, tore off Phryne’s clothes to show those present that such a perfect body of the model simply could not conceal dark soul. The judges, being adherents of the concept of kalokagathia, were forced to completely acquit the defendants.
The original statue was taken to Constantinople, where it died in a fire. Many copies of Aphrodite have survived to this day, but they all have their own differences, as they were reconstructed from verbal and written descriptions and images on coins.
Marathon youth
Statue young man made of bronze, and presumably depicts the Greek god Hermes, although no prerequisites or attributes of it are observed in the hands or clothing of the young man. The sculpture was raised from the bottom of the Gulf of Marathon in 1925, and since then has joined the exhibition of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Due to the fact that the statue was under water for a long time, all its features were very well preserved.
The style in which the sculpture was made reveals the style of the famous sculptor Praxiteles. The young man stands in a relaxed position, his hand rests on the wall against which the figure was installed.
Discus thrower
The statue of the ancient Greek sculptor Myron has not survived in its original form, but is widely known throughout the world thanks to its bronze and marble copies. The sculpture is unique in that it was the first to depict a person in complex, dynamic movement. Such a bold decision by the author served as a striking example for his followers, who, with no less success, created works of art in the style of “Figura serpentinata” - a special technique depicting a person or animal in an often unnatural, tense, but very expressive, from the point of view of the observer, pose.
Delphic Charioteer
The bronze sculpture of a charioteer was discovered during excavations in 1896 at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, and is a classic example of ancient art. The figure depicts an ancient Greek youth driving a cart during Pythian Games.
The uniqueness of the sculpture lies in the fact that the inlay of the eyes with precious stones has been preserved. The young man's eyelashes and lips are decorated with copper, and the headband is made of silver, and presumably also had inlay.
The time of creation of the sculpture, theoretically, is at the junction of archaism and early classicism - its pose is characterized by stiffness and the absence of any hint of movement, but the head and face are made with quite great realism. As in later sculptures.
Athena Parthenos
Majestic goddess Athena statue has not survived to this day, but there are many copies of it, restored in accordance with ancient descriptions. The sculpture was made entirely of ivory and gold, without the use of stone or bronze, and stood in the main temple of Athens - the Parthenon. Distinctive feature goddess - a high helmet decorated with three crests.
The history of the creation of the statue was not without fatal moments: on the shield of the goddess, the sculptor Phidias, in addition to depicting the battle with the Amazons, placed his portrait in the form of a weak old man who lifts a heavy stone with both hands. The public of that time ambiguously assessed the act of Phidias, which cost him his life - the sculptor was imprisoned, where he took his own life with poison.
Greek culture became the founder for the development of fine arts throughout the world. Even today, looking at some modern paintings and statues, one can detect the influence of this ancient culture.
Ancient Hellas became the cradle in which the cult was actively nurtured human beauty in its physical, moral and intellectual manifestation. Residents of Greece of that time they not only worshiped many olympian gods, but also tried to be as similar to them as possible. All this is reflected in bronze and marble statues - they not only convey the image of a person or a deity, but also make them close to each other.
Although many of the statues have not survived to the present day, their exact copies can be seen in many museums around the world.
Symi Island
The island of Symi is one of the most beautiful and most visited in the Dodecanese. First of all, the port is striking in its beauty, which is called the most beautiful in Greece. The city climbs in terraces along the slopes of the hills facing the coast. It was built mainly in the 19th century. Houses with balconies and tiled roofs, painted in various warm colors. The city has been declared an architectural monument, and the reconstruction of old buildings and the construction of new ones is strictly prohibited.
Nikos Kazantzakis
Nikos Kazantzakis, Greek philosopher and writer, lived and worked at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries - a turning point in the history of Hellas. He gained worldwide fame thanks to the novel “The Life and Deeds of Alexis Zorbas”, based on which he was filmed in the 1960s feature film"Zorba the Greek", which received positive reviews from critics and three highest awards from the American Film Academy - an Oscar for better job cinematographer, best artist's work and best female role background.
Kalambaka and Meteora - attractions and historical past
Kalambaka is located 20 km. from the town of Trikala, and 6 km. from the Meteor monasteries, was built on the left bank of the Pineus River, at the southern foot of the Meteor Mountains, and at an altitude of 240 meters above sea level. Not far from Kalambaka, according to researchers, there was ancient city Aeginium, which is mentioned by the historian Strabo. He also points out that it was the city of Timpheus, bordering Trikka and Efikia and was built at the confluence of the rivers Iona and Peneus.
Litochoro in Pieria
Monastery of John the Baptist
In the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles there is evidence that in Veria, in the region of Imathia, the Apostle Paul preached the holy Gospel. After the apostle's first visit to the pagans, Saints Silas and Timothy remained in Berea, who continued to preach the holy Gospel. Judging by the accuracy of the descriptions, the disciple of the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Luke, also visited here.
Ancient Greek sculpture occupies a special place among the variety of masterpieces cultural heritage belonging to this country. It glorifies and embodies, using visual means, the beauty of the human body, its ideal. However, not only smooth lines and grace - characteristic features, which mark ancient Greek sculpture. So great was the skill of its creators that they were able to convey a range of emotions even in cold stone, to give a deep, special meaning to the figures, as if breathing life into them. Each ancient Greek sculpture is endowed with a mystery that still attracts today. The creations of great masters do not leave anyone indifferent.
Like other cultures, it experienced different periods in its development. Each of them was marked by changes in all types of fine arts, including sculpture. Therefore, it is possible to trace the main stages of the formation of this type of art by briefly describing the features of ancient Greek sculpture in different periods historical development of this country.
Archaic period
Time from 8th to 6th century BC. Ancient Greek sculpture at this time had a certain primitiveness as a characteristic feature. It was observed because the images embodied in the works were not diverse; they were too generalized, called kors, young men - kouros).
Apollo of Tenei
The statue of Apollo Tenaeus is the most famous of all the extant figures of this era. In total, several dozen of them are now known. It is made of marble. Apollo is depicted as a young man with his hands down, his fingers clenched into fists. His eyes are wide open, and his face reflects an archaic smile, typical of sculptures dating from this period.
Female figures
The images of women and girls were distinguished wavy hair, long clothes, but what attracted them most was the elegance and smoothness of lines, the embodiment of grace and femininity.
Archaic ancient Greek sculptures were somewhat disproportional and sketchy. Each work, on the other hand, is attractive with its restrained emotionality and simplicity. For this era, the depiction of human figures is characterized, as we have already noted, by a half-smile, which gives them depth and mystery.
Located today in Berlin state museum The "Goddess with Pomegranate" is one of the best preserved figures among other archaic sculptures. With the “wrong” proportions and external roughness of the image, the hands, brilliantly executed by the author, attract the attention of the audience. An expressive gesture makes the sculpture especially expressive and dynamic.
"Kouros from Piraeus"
Located in the Athens Museum, "Kouros from Piraeus" is a later, therefore more perfect creation, made by an ancient sculptor. A young powerful warrior appears before us. and a slight tilt of the head indicate the conversation he is having. The disturbed proportions are no longer so striking. Archaic ancient Greek sculptures, as we have already mentioned, have generalized facial features. However, in this figure this is not as noticeable as in creations dating back to the early Archaic period.
Classical period
The Classical period is the time from the 5th to the 4th century BC. The works of ancient Greek sculpture at this time underwent some changes, which we will tell you about now. Among the sculptors of this period, one of the most famous figures is Pythagoras of Rhegium.
Features of Pythagoras sculptures
His creations are characterized by realism and liveliness, which were innovative at the time. Some works by this author are even considered too bold for this era (for example, a statue of a boy taking out a splinter). Vivacity of mind and extraordinary talent allowed this sculptor to study the meaning of harmony with the help of mathematical methods calculation. He conducted them on the basis of the philosophical and mathematical school, which he founded. Pythagoras, using these methods, explored harmony of various natures: musical, architectural structures, the human body. There was a Pythagorean school based on the principle of number. It was this that was considered the basis of the world.
Other sculptors of the classical period
The classical period, in addition to the name of Pythagoras, gave world culture such famous masters, like Phidias, Polykleitos and Myron. The works of ancient Greek sculpture by these authors are united as follows: general principle- displaying the harmony of an ideal body and the beautiful soul contained in it. This principle is the main one that guided various masters of that time when creating their creations. Ancient Greek sculpture is the ideal of harmony and beauty.
Miron
Great influence on the art of Athens in the 5th century BC. e. were rendered by the works of Myron (just remember the famous Discus thrower, made of bronze). This master, unlike Polykleitos, whom we will talk about later, loved to depict figures in motion. For example, in the above statue of the Discobolus, dating back to the 5th century BC. e., he depicted a handsome young man at the moment when he swung his hand to throw the disc. His body is tense and curved, caught in the movement, like a spring ready to unfold. Trained muscles bulged under the elastic skin of the arm pulled back. Forming a reliable support, we pressed deep into the sand. This is the ancient Greek sculpture (Discobolus). The statue was cast from bronze. However, only a marble copy made by the Romans from the original has reached us. The image below shows a statue of the Minotaur by this sculptor.
Polykleitos
The ancient Greek sculpture of Polykleitos has the following characteristic feature - the figure of a man standing with his arm raised up on one leg is characterized by balance. An example of its masterful embodiment is the statue of Doryphoros the spear-bearer. In his works, Polykleitos sought to combine ideal physical characteristics with spirituality and beauty. This desire inspired him to publish his treatise called “The Canon,” which, unfortunately, has not survived to this day.
The statues of Polykleitos are full of intense life. He loved to depict athletes at rest. For example, the “Spearman” is a powerfully built man who is full of self-esteem. He stands motionless in front of the viewer. However, this peace is not static, characteristic of ancient Egyptian statues. Like a person who easily and skillfully controls his own body, the spearman bent his leg slightly, moving it to the other weight of the body. It seems that it won't be long before he turns his head and steps forward. Before us appears a handsome, strong man, free from fear, restrained, proud - the embodiment of the ideals of the Greeks.
Phidias
Phidias can rightfully be considered a great creator, creator of sculpture dating back to the 5th century BC. e. It was he who was able to master the art of bronze casting to perfection. Phidias cast 13 sculptural figures, which became worthy decorations of the Delphic Temple of Apollo. The statue of Virgin Athena in the Parthenon, whose height is 12 meters, is also among the works of this master. It is made of ivory and pure gold. This technique of making statues was called chryso-elephantine.
The sculptures of this master especially reflect the fact that in Greece the gods are images ideal person. Of Phidias's creations, the best preserved is the 160-meter-long marble frieze relief ribbon, which depicts the procession of the goddess Athena heading to the Parthenon Temple.
Athena statue
The sculpture of this temple was badly damaged. Even in ancient times, this figure died inside the temple. It was created by Phidias. The ancient Greek sculpture of Athena had the following features: her head with a rounded chin and a smooth, low forehead, as well as her arms and neck were made of ivory, and her helmet, shield, clothes and hair were made of sheets of gold.
There are many stories associated with this figure. So famous and great was this masterpiece that Phidias immediately had many envious people who tried in every possible way to annoy the sculptor, for which they looked for reasons to accuse him of anything. This master, for example, was accused of allegedly concealing part of the gold intended for the sculpture of Athena. To prove his innocence, Phidias removed all the gold objects from the statue and weighed them. This weight coincided exactly with the amount of gold provided to him. Then the sculptor was accused of godlessness. Athena's shield caused this. It depicted a battle scene with the Amazons of the Greeks. Phidias depicted himself among the Greeks, as well as Pericles. The Greek public, despite all the merits of this master, still opposed him. The life of this sculptor ended with a brutal execution.
Phidias' achievements were not limited to sculptures made in the Parthenon. Thus, he created a bronze figure of Athena Promachos, which was erected around 460 BC. e. in the Acropolis.
Zeus statue
Phidias came to true fame after this master created a statue of Zeus for the temple located in Olympia. The height of the figure was 13 meters. Many originals, unfortunately, have not survived; only their descriptions and copies have survived to this day. This was largely due to the fanatical destruction by Christians. The statue of Zeus did not survive either. It can be described as follows: a 13-meter figure sat on a golden throne. The god's head was decorated with a wreath of olive branches, which was a symbol of his love of peace. The chest, arms, shoulders, and face were made of ivory. Zeus' cloak is draped over his left shoulder. The beard and crown are made of sparkling gold. This is this ancient Greek sculpture, briefly described. It seems that God, if he stood up and straightened his shoulders, would not fit in this vast hall - the ceiling would be low for him.
Hellenistic period
The stages of development of ancient Greek sculpture are completed by the Hellenistic. This period is a time in history Ancient Greece from 4th to 1st century BC. Sculpture at this time still had the main purpose of decorating various architectural structures. But it also reflected the changes taking place in government.
In sculpture, which was one of the main forms of art at that time, many trends and schools arose. They existed in Rhodes, Pergamon, and Alexandria. Best works, represented by these schools, reflect the problems that worried the minds of people of this era at that time. These images, in contrast to the classical calm purposefulness, carry passionate pathos, emotional tension, and dynamics.
Late Greek antiquity is characterized by the strong influence of the East on all art as a whole. New features of ancient Greek sculpture appear: numerous details, exquisite draperies, complex angles. The greatness and tranquility of the classics is penetrated by the temperament and emotionality of the East.
The Baths of Aphrodite of Cyrene, located in the Roman Museum, is full of sensuality and some coquetry.
"Laocoon and his sons"
The most famous sculptural composition belonging to this era is “Laocoon and His Sons”, made by Agesander of Rhodes. This masterpiece is today kept in the Vatican Museum. The composition is full of drama, and the plot suggests emotionality. The hero and his sons, desperately resisting the snakes sent by Athena, seem to understand their terrible fate. This sculpture was made with extraordinary precision. The figures are realistic and plastic. The faces of the characters make a strong impression.
Three great sculptors
In the works of sculptors dating back to the 4th century BC. e., the humanistic ideal is preserved, but the unity of the civil collective disappears. Ancient Greek sculptures and their authors are losing the feeling of fullness of life and the integrity of their worldview. Great masters who lived in the 4th century BC. e., create art that reveals new facets of the spiritual world. These searches were expressed most clearly by three authors - Lysippos, Praxiteles and Scopas.
Skopas
Skopas became the most prominent figure among the other sculptors working at that time. His art breathes deep doubt, struggle, anxiety, impulse and passion. This native of the island of Paros worked in many cities in Hellas. The skill of this author was embodied in a statue called "Nike of Samothrace". This name was received in memory of the victory in 306 BC. e. Rhodesian fleet. This figure is installed on a pedestal, reminiscent in design of a ship’s bow.
Skopas's "Dancing Maenad" is presented in a dynamic, complex perspective.
Praxiteles
Other creativity had This author sang the sensual beauty of the body and the joy of life. Praxiteles enjoyed great fame and was rich. The statue of Aphrodite that he made for the island of Cnidus brought this sculptor the greatest fame. She was the first depiction of a nude goddess in Greek art. The beautiful Phryne, the famous hetaera, beloved of Praxiteles, served as the model for the statue of Aphrodite. This girl was accused of blasphemy, and then acquitted by judges admiring her beauty. Praxiteles is a singer of female beauty, which was revered by the Greeks. Unfortunately, Aphrodite of Cnidus is known to us only from copies.
Leohar
Leochares is an Athenian master, the greatest of Praxiteles' contemporaries. This sculptor, working in various Hellenic cities, created mythological scenes and images of gods. He made several portrait statues in the chryso-elephantine technique, depicting members of the king's family. After this, he became the court master of Alexander the Great, his son. At this time, Leochares created a statue of Apollo, very popular in antiquity. It was preserved in a marble copy made by the Romans, and received world fame under the name of Apollo Belvedere. Leohar demonstrates virtuoso technique in all his creations.
After the reign of Alexander the Great, the Hellenistic era became a period of rapid flowering of portrait art. Statues of various speakers, poets, philosophers, generals, and statesmen were erected in city squares. The masters wanted to achieve external similarity and at the same time emphasize the features in the appearance that turn a portrait into a typical image.
Other sculptors and their creations
Classical sculptures became examples of various creations of masters who worked in the Hellenistic era. Gigantomania is clearly visible in the works of that time, that is, the desire to embody the desired image in a huge statue. It manifests itself especially often when ancient Greek sculptures of gods are created. The statue of the god Helios is bright that example. It is made of gilded bronze and stood at the entrance of the Rhodes harbor. The height of the sculpture is 32 meters. Hares, a student of Lysippos, worked on it tirelessly for 12 years. This work of art has rightfully taken an honorable place in the list of wonders of the world.
After the capture of Ancient Greece by the Roman conquerors, many statues were taken outside this country. Not only sculptures, but also masterpieces of painting, collections of imperial libraries and other cultural objects suffered this fate. Many people working in the fields of education and science were captured. Into culture Ancient Rome Thus, various Greek elements were intertwined, having a significant influence on its development.
Conclusion
Certainly, different periods developments that Ancient Greece experienced made their own adjustments to the process of sculpture formation, but one thing united the masters belonging to different eras, - the desire to comprehend spatiality in art, the love of expression through various techniques of plasticity of the human body. The ancient Greek sculpture, the photo of which is presented above, unfortunately, has only partially survived to this day. Marble was often used as a material for figures, despite its fragility. This was the only way to convey the beauty and elegance of the human body. Bronze, although a more reliable and noble material, was used much less frequently.
Ancient Greek sculpture and painting are unique and interesting. Various examples of art give an idea of the spiritual life of this country.
D The sculpture of Ancient Greece from the Classical era, the heyday of the polis, is characterized by the following features. The main object of the image is still the human figure. But compared to archaic sculpture, the image becomes more dynamic and anatomically correct. But the figures and faces of the sculptures are still devoid of individual features: these are generalized, abstract images of heavily armed warriors, athletes, athletes, gods and heroes.
Famous sculptors of Ancient Greece
The development of sculpture is directly related to the names of three famous sculptors of Ancient Greece - Myron, Polykleitos and Phidias.
Miron- sculptor of Ancient Greece of the 5th century. BC worked in bronze. As an artist he set his main task capturing the moments of transition from one movement to another, noticing the culminating moments in these movements. For your famous "Disc thrower", with which we are familiar from a late Roman marble copy, is characterized by a careful, but somewhat generalized rendering of the anatomy of the human body, and the cold beauty of the lines of the figure. In it, Myron completely abandoned the solemn stillness of his model.
Another work of Miron is a group composition "Athena and Silenus Marsyas", installed on the Acropolis of Athens. In it, the artist tried to convey the culminating points of the movement of the human body: Athena, standing in a calm pose, throws the flute she invented, and the wild forest demon is shown in motion, he wants to grab the flute, but Athena stops him. The dynamics of the movement of Marcia's body are suppressed by the immobility and stiffness of the pose of the figure of the goddess Athena.
Polykleitos- another ancient Greek sculptor who also lived in the 5th century BC, he worked in Argos, Athens and Ephesus. He owns numerous images of winning athletes in marble and bronze. Polykleitos in his sculptures was able to convey the appearance of idealized and courageous hoplite warriors, members of the civil militia of the polis. Polycletus also belongs "Diadumen"- a statue of a young man tying a winner's bandage around his head.
Another theme of his work is images of young warriors who embodied the idea of valor as a citizen. For the heraion in Argos he created an ivory image of the goddess Hera. The sculptures of Polykleitos are characterized by proportionality, which was recognized by contemporaries as a standard.
Phidias- famous sculptor of Ancient Greece of the 5th century BC. He worked in Athens, and... Phidias took an active part in reconstruction in Athens. He was one of the leaders in the construction and decoration of the Parthenon. He created a 12 meter high statue of Athena for the Parthenon. The base of the statue is a wooden figure. Ivory plates were placed on the face and naked parts of the body. Clothing and weapons were covered with almost two tons of gold. This gold served as an emergency reserve in case of unforeseen financial crises.
The pinnacle of Phidias' creativity was his famous statue, 14 meters high. It depicted the Thunderer sitting on a richly decorated throne, his upper torso naked and his lower torso wrapped in a cloak. In one hand Zeus holds a statue of Nike, in the other a symbol of power - a rod. The statue was made of wood, the figure was covered with ivory plates, and the clothes were covered with thin gold sheets. Now you know what kind of sculptors there were in Ancient Greece.
Ancient Greek sculpture is the leading standard in world sculptural art, which continues to inspire modern sculptors to create artistic masterpieces. Frequent themes of sculptures and stucco compositions of ancient Greek sculptors were the battles of great heroes, mythology and legends, rulers and ancient Greek gods.
Greek sculpture received particular development in the period from 800 to 300 BC. e. This area of sculptural creativity drew early inspiration from Egyptian and Middle Eastern monumental art and evolved over the centuries into a uniquely Greek vision of the form and dynamics of the human body.
Greek painters and sculptors achieved a pinnacle of artistic excellence that captured subtle human features and displayed them in a way that no one else had ever been able to show. Greek sculptors were particularly interested in proportion, balance, and the idealized perfection of the human body, and their stone and bronze figures became some of the most recognizable works of art ever produced by any civilization.
The Origin of Sculpture in Ancient Greece
From the 8th century BC, archaic Greece saw an increase in the production of small solid figures made of clay, ivory and bronze. Of course, wood was also a widely used material, but its susceptibility to erosion prevented wooden products from being mass-produced as they did not exhibit the necessary durability. Bronze figures, human heads, mythical monsters, and in particular griffins, were used as decoration and handles for bronze vessels, cauldrons and bowls.
In style, Greek human figures have expressive geometric lines, which can often be found on pottery of the time. The bodies of warriors and gods are depicted with elongated limbs and a triangular torso. Also, ancient Greek creations are often decorated with animal figures. Many of them have been found throughout Greece at sites of refuge such as Olympia and Delphi, indicating their general function as amulets and objects of worship.
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The oldest Greek limestone stone sculptures date back to the mid-7th century BC and were found in Thera. During this period, bronze figures appeared more and more often. From the point of view of the author's intention, the plots sculptural compositions became increasingly complex and ambitious and could already depict warriors, battle scenes, athletes, chariots and even musicians with instruments of the period.
Marble sculpture appears at the beginning of the 6th century BC. The first life-size monumental marble statues served as monuments, dedicated to heroes and noble persons, or were located in sanctuaries in which symbolic service to the gods was carried out.
The earliest large stone figures found in Greece depicted young men dressed in women's clothing accompanied by a cow. The sculptures were static and crude, as in Egyptian monumental statues, the arms were placed straight at the sides, the legs were almost together, and the eyes looked straight ahead without any special facial expression. These rather static figures slowly evolved through the detailing of the image. Talented craftsmen emphasized the smallest details of the image, such as hair and muscles, thanks to which the figures began to come to life.
A characteristic posture for Greek statues was a position in which the arms are slightly bent, which gives them tension in the muscles and veins, and one leg (usually the right) is slightly moved forward, giving a sense of dynamic movement of the statue. This is how the first ones appeared realistic images human body in dynamics.
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Painting and staining of ancient Greek sculpture
By the early 19th century, systematic excavations of ancient Greek sites had revealed many sculptures with traces of multicolored surfaces, some of which were still visible. Despite this, influential art historians such as Johann Joachim Winckelmann objected so strongly to the idea of painted Greek sculpture that proponents of painted statues were labeled eccentrics and their views were largely suppressed for over a century.
Only in published scientific articles German archaeologist Windzenik Brinkmann described the discovery of a number of famous ancient Greek sculptures in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Using high-intensity lamps, ultraviolet light, specially designed cameras, plaster casts and some powdered minerals, Brinkmann proved that the entire Parthenon, including the main part, as well as the statues, were painted in different colors. He then chemically and physically analyzed the original paint's pigments to determine its composition.
Brinkmann created several painted different colors replicas of Greek statues that have gone on tour around the world. The collection included copies of many works of Greek and Roman sculpture, demonstrating that the practice of painting sculpture was the norm and not the exception in Greek and Roman art.
The museums in which the exhibits were exhibited noted the great success of the exhibition among visitors, which is due to some discrepancy between the usual snow-white Greek athletes and the brightly colored statues that they actually were. Exhibition venues include the Glyptothek Museum in Munich, the Vatican Museum and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The collection made its American debut at Harvard University in the fall of 2007.
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Stages of the formation of Greek sculpture
The development of sculptural art in Greece went through several significant stages. Each of them was reflected in the sculpture with its own characteristic features, noticeable even to non-professionals.
Geometric stage
It is believed that the earliest incarnation of Greek sculpture was in the form of wooden cult statues, first described by Pausanias. No evidence of this survives, and descriptions of them are vague, despite the fact that they were likely objects of veneration for hundreds of years.
The first real evidence of Greek sculpture was found on the island of Euboea and dates back to 920 BC. It was a statue of a Lefkandi centaur by an unknown terracotta sculpture. The statue was collected in parts, having been deliberately broken and buried in two separate graves. The centaur has a distinct mark (wound) on his knee. This allowed researchers to suggest that the statue may depict Chiron wounded by the arrow of Hercules. If this is true, this can be considered the earliest famous description myth in the history of Greek sculpture.
The sculptures of the Geometric period (approximately 900 to 700 BC) were small figurines made of terracotta, bronze and ivory. Typical sculptural works of this era are represented by many examples of equestrian statues. However, the subject repertoire is not limited to men and horses, as some found examples of statues and stucco from the period depict images of deer, birds, beetles, hares, griffins and lions.
There are no inscriptions on early period geometric sculpture until the early 7th century BC statue of Mantiklos "Apollo" found at Thebes. The sculpture represents a figure of a standing man with an inscription at his feet. This inscription is a kind of instruction to help each other and return good for good.
Archaic period
Inspired by the monumental stone sculpture of Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Greeks began carving in stone again. The individual figures share the solidity and frontal stance characteristic of oriental models, but their forms are more dynamic than those of Egyptian sculpture. Examples of sculptures from this period are the statues of Lady Auxerre and the torso of Hera (early archaic period - 660-580 BC, exhibited in the Louvre, Paris).
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Such figures had one characteristic feature in the facial expression - an archaic smile. This expression, which has no specific relevance to the person or situation depicted, may have been the artist's tool to give the figures an animated, "live" quality.
During this period, sculpture was dominated by three types of figures: a standing naked youth, a standing girl dressed in traditional Greek attire, and a seated woman. They emphasize and summarize the main features of the human figure and show an increasingly accurate understanding and knowledge of human anatomy.
Ancient Greek statues of naked youths, in particular the famous Apollo, were often presented in enormous sizes, which was supposed to show power and masculine strength. These statues show much more detail of the musculature and skeletal structure than the early geometric works. Dressed girls have a wide range of facial expressions and poses, as in sculptures Athens Acropolis. Their drapery is carved and painted with the delicacy and care characteristic of the details of sculpture of this period.
The Greeks decided very early on that the human figure was the most important subject of artistic endeavor. It is enough to remember that their gods have a human appearance, which means that there was no difference between the sacred and the secular in art - the human body was both secular and sacred at the same time. A male nude without character reference could just as easily become Apollo or Hercules, or depict a mighty Olympian.
As with pottery, the Greeks did not produce sculpture just for artistic display. Statues were created to order, either by aristocrats and nobles, or by the state, and were used for public memorials, to decorate temples, oracles and sanctuaries (as is often proven by ancient inscriptions on statues). The Greeks also used sculptures as grave markers. Statues in the Archaic period were not intended to represent specific people. These were images of ideal beauty, piety, honor or sacrifice. This is why sculptors have always created sculptures of young people, ranging from adolescence to early adulthood, even when they were placed on the graves of (presumably) older citizens.
Classical period
The Classical period brought a revolution in Greek sculpture, sometimes associated by historians with radical changes in socio-political life - the introduction of democracy and the end of the aristocratic era. The Classical period brought with it changes in the style and function of sculpture, as well sharp increase the technical skill of Greek sculptors in depicting realistic human forms.
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The poses also became more natural and dynamic, especially at the beginning of the period. It was during this time that Greek statues began to increasingly depict real people, rather than vague interpretations of myths or entirely fictional characters. Although the style in which they were presented had not yet developed into a realistic portrait form. The statues of Harmodius and Aristogeiton, created in Athens, symbolize the overthrow of aristocratic tyranny and, according to historians, become the first public monuments to show the figures of real people.
The classical period also saw the flourishing of stucco art and the use of sculptures as decoration for buildings. Characteristic temples of the classical era, such as the Parthenon at Athens and the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, used relief molding for decorative friezes and wall and ceiling decoration. The complex aesthetic and technical challenges faced by sculptors of that period contributed to the creation of sculptural innovations. Most of the works of that period have survived only in the form of individual fragments, for example, the stucco decoration of the Parthenon is today partly in the British Museum.
Funeral sculpture made a huge leap during this period, from the rigid and impersonal statues of the Archaic period to the highly personal family groups of the Classical era. These monuments are usually found in the suburbs of Athens, which in ancient times were cemeteries on the outskirts of the city. Although some of them depict “ideal” types of people (a yearning mother, an obedient son), they increasingly become the personification of real people and, as a rule, show that the deceased leaves this world with dignity, leaving his family. This is a noticeable increase in the level of emotions relative to the archaic and geometric eras.
Another noticeable change is the flourishing of the creativity of talented sculptors, whose names have gone down in history. All information known about sculptures in the Archaic and Geometric periods focuses on the works themselves, and rarely is attention given to their authors.
Hellenistic period
The transition from the classical to the Hellenistic (or Greek) period occurred in the 4th century BC. Greek art became increasingly diverse under the influence of the cultures of the peoples involved in the Greek orbit and the conquests of Alexander the Great (336-332 BC). According to some art historians, this led to a decrease in the quality and originality of the sculpture, although people of the time may not have shared this opinion.
It is known that many sculptures previously considered the geniuses of the classical era were actually created during the Hellenistic period. The technical ability and talent of Hellenistic sculptors is evident in such major works as the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Pergamon Altar. New centers of Greek culture, especially in sculpture, developed in Alexandria, Antioch, Pergamon and other cities. By the 2nd century BC, the growing power of Rome had also absorbed much of the Greek tradition.
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During this period, sculpture again experienced a shift towards naturalism. Heroes for creating sculptures now became ordinary people– men, women with children, animals and domestic scenes. Many of the creations from this period were commissioned by wealthy families to decorate their homes and gardens. Lifelike figures of men and women of all ages were created, and sculptors no longer felt obligated to depict people as ideals of beauty or physical perfection.
At the same time, the new Hellenistic cities that arose in Egypt, Syria and Anatolia needed statues depicting the gods and heroes of Greece for their temples and public places. This led to sculpture, like ceramics, becoming an industry, with subsequent standardization and some decline in quality. That is why many more Hellenistic creations have survived to this day than eras classical period.
Along with the natural shift towards naturalism, there was also a shift in the expression and emotional embodiment of the sculptures. The heroes of the statues began to express more energy, courage and strength. A simple way to appreciate this shift in expression is to compare the most famous works created during the Hellenistic period with the sculptures of the classical phase. One of the most famous masterpieces The sculpture “The Ferryman of Delphi” is considered to be from the classical period, expressing humility and submission. At the same time, the sculptures of the Hellenistic period reflect strength and energy, which is especially clearly expressed in the work “Jockey of Artemisia”.
The most famous Hellenistic sculptures in the world are the Winged Victory of Samothrace (1st century BC) and the statue of Aphrodite from the island of Melos, better known as the Venus de Milo (mid-2nd century BC). These statues depict classical subjects and themes, but their execution is much more sensual and emotional than the severe spirit of the classical period and its technical skills allowed.
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Hellenistic sculpture also underwent an increase in scale, culminating in the Colossus of Rhodes (late 3rd century), which historians believe was comparable in size to the Statue of Liberty. A series of earthquakes and robberies destroyed this heritage of Ancient Greece, like many other major works of this period, the existence of which is described in the literary works of contemporaries.
After the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek culture spread to India, as shown by the excavations of Ai-Khanum in eastern Afghanistan. Greco-Buddhist art represented an intermediate stage between Greek art and the visual expression of Buddhism. Discoveries made since the late 19th century regarding the ancient Egyptian city of Heracles have revealed the remains of a statue of Isis dating back to the 4th century BC.
The statue depicts the Egyptian goddess in an unusually sensual and subtle way. This is uncharacteristic of the sculptors of that area, because the image is detailed and feminine, symbolizing the combination of Egyptian and Hellenistic forms during the time of Alexander the Great's conquest of Egypt.
Ancient Greek sculpture is the progenitor of all world art! Until now, the masterpieces of Ancient Greece attract millions of tourists and art connoisseurs seeking to touch the timeless beauty and talent.
The sculpture of Ancient Greece occupied an important place in ancient Greek art and was the highest achievement in the culture of the ancient world.
Ancient Greek sculpture in all its manifestations always remained deeply anthropocentric, expressing religiosity and spiritual world a person or a sacred act that the sculptor tried to capture and convey.
Most sculptures were made for offerings at sanctuaries or as funerary monuments. The peculiarity of Greek art was that the master, when creating works, tried to convey the beauty and perfection of the human body.
In the forms of the first statues, an attempt is made to balance the deity and man, in the expression of their emotions. The sculpture of Ancient Greece reached its greatest flowering in the 5th century BC. e, while the origin of sculpture in Ancient Greece can be dated back to the 12th-8th centuries BC. e.
Initially, Greek craftsmen used soft materials in their work - wood and porous limestone, and later marble. Bronze casting was first used by craftsmen on the island of Samos.
The figurines of the Homeric period depicted gods or heroes; in the work of the masters, an interest in body plasticity is only emerging.
During the archaic period sculpture of Ancient Greece, acquires an archaic smile, turning the faces of the sculptures more and more into the image of a person, the body acquires a harmonious balance of forms. The men were depicted naked, while the woman was clothed.
At this time, in the sculptural art of Ancient Greece, kouros were widespread - young men, who were mainly made for memorial rituals. The masters portrayed the kouros as restrained, with good posture, a smile, with clenched fists, and the kouros's hairstyle resembled a wig. One of the most famous kouros sculptures is “Kouros from Tenea” (κούρος της Τενέας). The sculpture was found near Corinth, in Tenea, in the temple of Apollo. It is now kept in the Munich Museum.
The Greeks depicted young girls or kors in traditional clothes, in a chiton or peplos. Kore (κόρη) is a specific type of statue with female forms from archaic times, namely from the second half of the 7th century BC. Rich hairstyle, fashionable jewelry and colorful clothing patterns - this is how the sculptors of Ancient Greece depicted them.
The Classical Age is what we call the period that begins in 480 BC. and ends in 323 BC, that is, from the end Greco-Persian wars until the death of Alexander the Great. During this period important social changes and parallel innovations occurred in the sculpture of ancient Greece. The ancient Greeks focus on conveying spirit and passion. Artists study body language to reveal their innermost thoughts, to show body movement: the placement of limbs, head and chest.
The first statue, which essentially depicts the end of one era and the beginning of another, is the "boy Kritias" (Κριτίου παίς), kept in the Acropolis Museum. This statue of a naked teenager, 1.67 m high, is one of the most beautiful and perfect examples of early classical art. The sculpture combines movement, plasticity, and seriousness appears in the facial expression.
Belongs to the early classical period famous sculpture charioteer (driving a chariot), kept in the Delphi Museum. The statue of a young man is made of bronze, has a height of 1.8 m, he is wearing a chiton with sleeves, shows the muscular arm of a young man, in his hand he holds scraps of reins. The drapery of folds on clothes that correspond to movements is well conveyed.
In 450-420 BC e. classical period, the sculpture of ancient Greece is modified. The sculptures now have more softness, plasticity and maturity. Features of classical art were represented by Phidias in the sculptures of the Parthenon.
At this time, other worthy sculptors appeared: Agorakritos, Alkamen, Kolot, who were specialists in making statues from gold and ivory. Callimachus was one of the inventors of the Corinthian order, Polykleitos, who depicted athletes, was the first to write a theoretical text on sculpture, and others.
During the late classical period, trends in the study of sculpture of ancient Greece appeared. human form in three-dimensional space, there is more sensual beauty and drama.
The great sculptors of this time are: Cephisodotus (“Eirene with the Child in Her Arms”), Πρaxiteles, who created the Youth of Marathon and Aphrodite of Cnidus, Ephranor, Silanion, Leochares, Scopas and Lysippos, the last sculptors of the late classical period who opened the way to the era of Hellenistic art.
The Hellenistic era in the sculpture of Ancient Greece was reflected in a more differentiated interpretation of plastic forms, more complex angles and the smallest details. Monumental plastic art is developing, huge relief compositions, multi-figure groups, reliefs appear, which are an integral part of the expression of sculptural art, small plastic art is complicated by the vital character of the images.
The most famous works of this time: “Nike of Samothrace” by Pythocritus, 3.28 m high, “Venus of Milo”, height 2.02 m, made by the sculptor Alexander of Antioch is kept in the Louvre, “Laocoon and his sons” by the Rhodian sculptors Agesander of Rhodes, Polydorus and Athenodorus, is in the Vatican.