Greek and roman art history

Greek Art HistoryGreek Art History

This period in art history took This period in art history took place from about place from about 800 B.C to 800 B.C to

50 B.C.50 B.C.

Culture, Religion, and ArtCulture, Religion, and Art

The Greeks believed in living the perfect life. The Greeks believed in living the perfect life. They believed that a variety of different gods They believed that a variety of different gods (as in Greek Mythology) controlled different (as in Greek Mythology) controlled different aspects of every persons destiny on earth. aspects of every persons destiny on earth. They believed these gods acted in very human They believed these gods acted in very human ways and had great respect and fear for them.ways and had great respect and fear for them.

As a result, many buildings and works of art As a result, many buildings and works of art were created to please the different gods and were created to please the different gods and give the Greek people places to worship.give the Greek people places to worship.

The AcropolisThe Acropolis

A sacred hill in Athens, Greece that rises A sacred hill in Athens, Greece that rises some 500 feet above the surrounding some 500 feet above the surrounding city. It is covered with buildings, city. It is covered with buildings, temples, and statues. It was intended to temples, and statues. It was intended to be a tribute to the Gods and placed at be a tribute to the Gods and placed at high on the land so they could be closer. high on the land so they could be closer.

It was also intended to symbolize the It was also intended to symbolize the glory and power of Athens to those that glory and power of Athens to those that approached.approached.

The ParthenonThe Parthenon

One of the Greeks greatest One of the Greeks greatest contributions was in architecture. An contributions was in architecture. An example of this would be the example of this would be the Parthenon. Parthenon. It took 10 years to build It took 10 years to build this massive structure that sits atop this massive structure that sits atop the Acropolis. Its purpose is that of a the Acropolis. Its purpose is that of a temple. temple.

The Parthenon (Cont.)The Parthenon (Cont.)

Its appearance today is much different Its appearance today is much different than how it originally looked. Inside there than how it originally looked. Inside there was a giant statue of Athena, a Greek was a giant statue of Athena, a Greek goddess, along with other statues and goddess, along with other statues and embellishments. Centuries of war and embellishments. Centuries of war and environmental factors have left it just a environmental factors have left it just a shell of what it once was. shell of what it once was.

Oddly enough, there is a full scale replica Oddly enough, there is a full scale replica in Nashville,TN.in Nashville,TN.

The Three Orders of The Three Orders of Greek Decorative StyleGreek Decorative Style

The Three Orders of The Three Orders of Decorative StyleDecorative Style

Over time, the Greeks developed three Over time, the Greeks developed three different styles of architecture. For the different styles of architecture. For the most part you can tell the difference in the most part you can tell the difference in the decorative style decorative style by looking at the type of by looking at the type of column and capital that is used in column and capital that is used in construction. construction.

These three decorative styles have been These three decorative styles have been used since being developed by the ancient used since being developed by the ancient Greeks and are still very popular today.Greeks and are still very popular today.

The Doric StyleThe Doric Style

A simple, heavy A simple, heavy column without a column without a base, topped by a base, topped by a plain capital that plain capital that has no has no ornamentation.ornamentation.

The Ionic StyleThe Ionic Style

Used an elaborate Used an elaborate base and capitol in base and capitol in the form of scrolls.the form of scrolls.

It was the second It was the second of the three styles of the three styles developed.developed.

The Corinthian StyleThe Corinthian Style

The most elaborate The most elaborate of the three orders. of the three orders. It is elongated and It is elongated and decorated with decorated with leaves. It usually leaves. It usually sits atop a plain sits atop a plain column and has column and has heavy detail.heavy detail.

Greek Sculpture Greek Sculpture Three Distinct Periods Three Distinct Periods

..

The Archaic The Archaic Period Period

Sculptors created Sculptors created large, rigid, large, rigid, freestanding freestanding sculptures called sculptures called Kouros. Original Kouros. Original intention of intention of these sculptures these sculptures is unknown. Very is unknown. Very similar to similar to Egyptian Egyptian sculpture.sculpture.

The Classical The Classical PeriodPeriod

Greek sculptors Greek sculptors were interested in were interested in to the human form to the human form moving in space. moving in space. There was also There was also great care taken to great care taken to create the create the ideal ideal proportions of the proportions of the human form. human form. Anatomical Anatomical perfection was perfection was important.important.

The Hellenistic PeriodThe Hellenistic Period Aesthetic beauty was Aesthetic beauty was

less important to the less important to the sculptors of this time sculptors of this time period. They were period. They were interested in showing interested in showing emotion on the face emotion on the face and used realistic and used realistic proportions as proportions as opposed to ideal opposed to ideal proportions of the proportions of the classical period.classical period.

Greek PaintingGreek Painting

The ancient Greeks loved color…at one time The ancient Greeks loved color…at one time most of the sculptures were painted in most of the sculptures were painted in bright, vivid colors and layered in gold. Over bright, vivid colors and layered in gold. Over time this has worn away, but there are some time this has worn away, but there are some that are still found with traces of faded color.that are still found with traces of faded color.

Unfortunatly, most of the paintings and wall Unfortunatly, most of the paintings and wall murals have been destroyed over the years murals have been destroyed over the years by h, time, and war.by h, time, and war.

Greek Vase MakingGreek Vase Making The Greek vase The Greek vase

served the purpose served the purpose of grave markers for of grave markers for the ancient Greeks. the ancient Greeks. Although not urns Although not urns for ashes, they for ashes, they marked the burial marked the burial site. Early vases site. Early vases were decorated with were decorated with simple, geometric simple, geometric patterns.patterns.

Greek Vase DecorationGreek Vase Decoration

Later vases used Later vases used realism to construct a realism to construct a story on the outside of story on the outside of the vase about the the vase about the deceased. Similar to deceased. Similar to the way the Egyptians the way the Egyptians before them would before them would use hieroglyphs inside use hieroglyphs inside of the tombs. of the tombs.

ROMAN ARTROMAN ART

This period lasted from This period lasted from approx. 100 B.C. to 300 A.D.approx. 100 B.C. to 300 A.D.

Roman ArchitectureRoman Architecture

One of the Romans biggest One of the Romans biggest contributions was in contributions was in architecture.architecture. The span of their empire was vast, The span of their empire was vast, and examples of their architectural and examples of their architectural style can be seen all over Eastern style can be seen all over Eastern Europe.Europe.

BasilicasBasilicas

Were large rectangular buildings Were large rectangular buildings constructed to hold large numbers of constructed to hold large numbers of people. It was often used as a public people. It was often used as a public forum and meeting place.forum and meeting place.

The PantheonThe Pantheon

Was a temple built for the Roman gods Was a temple built for the Roman gods but eventually became a Christian but eventually became a Christian church. Its main feature is a massive church. Its main feature is a massive domed roof with a hole in the middle to domed roof with a hole in the middle to allow for light. Of course, the rain gets allow for light. Of course, the rain gets in, but the Romans designed it so that in, but the Romans designed it so that the floor sloped down to the middle and the floor sloped down to the middle and they built a drainage system for the they built a drainage system for the water collected.water collected.

The Colosseum-The Colosseum-

It was built to house all sorts of It was built to house all sorts of sporting events...chariot races and sporting events...chariot races and gladiator fights among them. The gladiator fights among them. The Colosseum is a great example of the Colosseum is a great example of the use of arches. It’s design allowed it use of arches. It’s design allowed it to fill up and empty out in just to fill up and empty out in just minutes.minutes.

ColosseumColosseum

Just like in the movie, the floor of the Just like in the movie, the floor of the Colosseum was lined with trap doors Colosseum was lined with trap doors that could be raised and lowered. that could be raised and lowered. However, the movie comes shy of However, the movie comes shy of the real slaughter that took place. the real slaughter that took place. On some occasions, as many as On some occasions, as many as 5,000 pairs of gladiators and 11,000 5,000 pairs of gladiators and 11,000 animals were killed in the event.animals were killed in the event.

A Triumphal ArchA Triumphal Arch

A heavily decorated A heavily decorated arch used by the arch used by the Romans to Romans to celebrate a celebrate a successful military successful military campaign. Upon campaign. Upon return from battle return from battle the victorious would the victorious would march thru the arch march thru the arch in celebration.in celebration.

The Aqueduct SystemThe Aqueduct System

Was a system used by the Romans to Was a system used by the Romans to bring water down out of the bring water down out of the mountains to be used in the city. mountains to be used in the city. Gravitational flow and the use of Gravitational flow and the use of arches in construction help make this arches in construction help make this system work. This was a major system work. This was a major advancement for cities.advancement for cities.

Roman RecreationRoman Recreation

The Roman Empire was a wealthy The Roman Empire was a wealthy one and recreation was an important one and recreation was an important part of daily life. The Romans built part of daily life. The Romans built many structures to support their many structures to support their forms of recreation.forms of recreation.

The Famous Roman The Famous Roman BathsBaths

Roman baths were vast enclosed Roman baths were vast enclosed structures that contained libraries, structures that contained libraries, gyms, restaurants, and other forms gyms, restaurants, and other forms of leisure. Of course, the most of leisure. Of course, the most important feature was the bath itself. important feature was the bath itself. The “bath” was a series of pools that The “bath” was a series of pools that went from hot water to cool water. went from hot water to cool water.

The Baths…cont.The Baths…cont.

These temperatures were maintained These temperatures were maintained by slaves who worked in the rooms by slaves who worked in the rooms underneath the pools to keep them underneath the pools to keep them hot by stoking the fires. You would hot by stoking the fires. You would start in the hot pool and work your start in the hot pool and work your way down to the cool pool. Baths way down to the cool pool. Baths were one of the centers of the were one of the centers of the Roman social scene.Roman social scene.

Roman Sculpture and Roman Sculpture and PaintingPainting

Romans were very Romans were very keen on Greek Art keen on Greek Art and followed their and followed their classical forms. classical forms. Realism Realism was an was an important factor in important factor in their artwork.their artwork.

Portrait SculpturesPortrait Sculptures

The public often commissioned The public often commissioned portrait sculptures, portrait sculptures, and artists and artists strived to create what the person strived to create what the person actually looked like. actually looked like. This was in This was in contrast to the Greeks who were contrast to the Greeks who were more interested in the ideal forms.more interested in the ideal forms.

Mural PaintingsMural Paintings

Were used to decorate the often-Were used to decorate the often-elaborate homes of the Romans. elaborate homes of the Romans. These paintings were not hung on These paintings were not hung on the wall, but painted on the wall for the wall, but painted on the wall for decor.decor.

The End.The End.