ART TIMELINE

Art Timeline

ART/101 December 18, 2011

ART TIMELINE Art Timeline

As curator of the museum, an interactive timeline that focuses on Greek Sculptures from the Classical period, 480-233 BC will be developed to improve the content displayed on the museums website. Greek sculptures are known for their different characteristics, which viewers will mainly see the contrapposto pose. You will notice that most of the poses you will see were natural. The Classical Greek art style is characterized by freedom of expression and movement, and celebrates mankind as an independent entity (GreekLandscapes.com, 2011, para.1). This presentation will include ten examples of Greek sculptures for you to view. I hope you enjoy.

Figure 1 Zeus of Artemision (also called Poseidon) Original Artist: Unknown Bronze, Circa 460 - 450 BC H: approx. 7 ft. (2.1 m.) Athens National Museum

The figure above demonstrates the Greeks beliefs such as strength and natural beauty. This statute was found in 1920s located on the bottom of a sea off of the Cape of Artemision (GreekLandscapes.com, 2011). This statute can be considered as a three-dimensional sculpture,

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which was created with the idea to be viewed from one angle. Zeus was created with details to show case muscular and nudity. You will notice that the left harm and left foot are facing towards the enemies which he may encounter. Zeuss right arm is bent in an upward position and the right leg is slightly raised, which portrays movement. Zeus is represented in superhuman form. This statute was one of the first statutes which showed just how fond the Greeks were of the human anatomy. This belief led the Greeks to create art pieces of the human anatomy in stone or bronze materials (GreekLandscapes.com, 2011).

Figure 2 Kritios Boy Original Artists: Kritios and Nesiotes Marble , 480 BCE H: 33 7/8" The New Acropolis Museum, Athens In 1865 while performing excavation at the foundation of the old museum at Athenian Acropolis, the torso of the Kritios Boys sculpture was found (The New Acropolis Museum, 2009). The head of the statute was found approximately twenty three years later between the museum and the Acropolis south wall (The New Acropolis Museum, 2009). In this sculpture you

ART TIMELINE will notice that the statute shows the contrapposto stance. The weight of the body has been supported by the left leg, while the right leg is in a relaxed position slightly bent at the knee. There are muscular and skeletal parts, which give the statute a natural look. This sculpture

demonstrates how the Greeks desired to bring out the human features that create natural look in their art.

Figure 3 Diskobolos (Discus Thrower) Original Artist: Myron Bronze, Circa 450 BCE H: 1.700 m Panathinaikon Stadium in Athens One of the Greeks most famous statutes comes from the Classical period and is known as the Myron's Discus Thrower statute (British Museum, 2011). The statute demonstrates the bodys movement, rhythm, and balance. The muscles are flexed to represent the strength and he has no facial emotion which implies that he is focused. This unnatural pose has influenced disk

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throwing athletes throughout the world as one of the best techniques used to throw the discus. The piece represents athletic energy along with competiveness. The body clearly demonstrates proportion along with the energy it takes before the release of the disc.

Figure 4 Votive Relief of An Athlete Crowning Himself Original Artist: Unknown Pentelic marble, 460 BCE H: 0,48 m W: 0,495 m The National Archaeological Museum In Sounion, Attica near the Temple of Athena the Votive Relief was located in 1915 (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). The athlete is shown as standing left with nudity, and appears to be crowning himself. You will notice that some of the pieces are missing off of the sculpture. This sculpture shows off archaic attributes, which were common for the Greeks to incorporate in their pieces during the Classical period. There are tiny traces of blue paint found in the background. This statute may portray a competitor who could have been declared as a winner for one of the local games.

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Figure 5 Youth of Marathon Original Artist: Praxiteles Bronze, 340-330 BC H: 1,94 m The National Archaeological Museum of Athens In 1990 Youth of Marathon was found on the sea floor in the Antikythera shipwreck south of Peloponnese (Marathon Bay) (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). This statute represents portrays a young boy that may possibly be God of Hermes. This statute showcases nudity of a young boy with facial features and muscular features. The left leg is supporting the Sshaped body. There are objects that are missing from this statute, which he was holding in his left and right hands. The head appears to be turned slightly to the left. You will notice his thick hair that appears to be adorned by a ribbon and a hornlike projection (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). These were characteristics of Praxiteles that demonstrates ease of movement with the body.

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Figure 6 Aphrodite of Knidos Original Artist: Praxiteles (original) Plaster replica; marble original, 364 BC (modern day) H: 68.5 cm Vatican Museums The first female depicted in the nude during the Classical period was the statute of Goddess Aphrodite of Knidos (Museum of Antiquities, 2011). This statute shows the nude torso of Aphrodite when she was finished with her bath. This was a ritual bath, which was intended to restore her purity (Museum of Antiquities, 2011). There were two versions of this statute that were originally made. One was created nude while the other statute was draped. Several attempts have been made to restore the parts missing such as the head, arms and legs, but each attempt failed. This statute was meant to showcase that the body can become whole. The original statute perished in a fire in Constantinople. The Aprhodites statute is one of the most replicated statutes in the world.

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Figure 7 Doryphorus of Polyclitus Original Artist: Polykleitos of Argos Marble of bronze original, 450-440 BC H: 84 in. (213 cm.) Munich Museum When Polykleitos created his pieces his main goal was to capture ideal proportions of the human body. Polykleitos established a set of aesthetic principles, which are known as the Canon or Rule (University of Missouri, 2007). The statute of Doryphorus shows symmetria, which demonstrated these characteristics, a sense of proportion, balance, and contrast. Doryphorus stands in the contrapposto pose and is nude. The right hip was created with it being elevated upward, while the left hip was created downward. The left shoulder of Doryphorus is raised and the other shoulder is lowed position. The picture above is a copy of the original, which shows off the talents of the Greeks during this era.

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Figure 8 Bronze Portrait Head of a Boxer Original Artist: Silanion Bronze, 330-320 BC H: 0,28 m National Archaeological Museum of Athens In 1880 at Olympia the Bronze Portrait Head of a Boxer was found (National Archaeological Museum, 2011).In this sculpture you will notice the facial features, which were typical of the Greek sculptures that were created during the Classical period. The face does not showcase any emotions. There was speculation that this head may have belonged to a famous boxer called, Satyros of Elis (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). Satyros of Elis won multiple boxing matches at Olympia, Pythia, and Nemea (National Archaeological Museum, 2011).

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Figure 9 Head of Hygieia Original Artist: Sculptor Skopas Resin replica; marble original, 330-320 BC H: 40m Athens National Museum This female head was created out of marble and may be the head of Hygieia, was located in Tegea, Arkadia (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). Hygieia was considered to be the daughter of Asklepios and a goddess (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). You will notice that great details were used to show the females head had wavy hair. You can see that the hair was combed to the back on both sides. This represented beauty to the Greeks. The original was created in the late Classical period. Many felt that Skopas may have gotten away from the traditional of Classicism that they were used to.

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Figure 10 Athena of Varvakeion Original Artist: Pheidias Pentelic marble, 438 BC H: Height 1,05 m Athens National Museum In 1880 a replica of Athena of Parthenos was found, in Athens. This art piece is known as the best replica of the Athena of Parthenos (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). The original was nude and was larger in size, where many of the body parts were made out of ivory and the rest were covered with leaves of gold (National Archaeological Museum, 2011). In the above replica of Athena you will notice that she is wearing an Attic helmet. You will also notice that her breasts are covered with golden tassel cape. In the middle of the cape you will see the head of Medusas that is surrounded by snakes. The left hand is resting on a shield with a snake coiled on the inside of the shield. In certain parts of the statute you will notice that yellow and red can be seen embedded in them. As you can see the Greek Artist produced some magnificent pieces. It was clear to an artist of the Classical period of Greece that the beauty of the whole depended on the harmony of

ART TIMELINE the parts which comprise it, and that each part depends on the others in order to create a harmonious group (GreekLandscapes.com, 2011, para. 8) Artist today can be influenced by viewing pieces created during the Classical period.

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ART TIMELINE References Athens National Museum. (2011) Classical Greek Art: Image, (figure 1). Retrieved December 11, 2011, from http://www.ancient-greece.org/images/museums/athensclassical/ British Museum. (2011). Discus-thrower (discobolus). Image (figure 3). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/gr/d/discusthrower_discobolus.aspx Museum of Antiquities. (2011). Aphrodite of Knidos: Classical Greek. Image, (figure 6). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.usask.ca/antiquities/collection/classicalgreek/aphroditecnidos.html Museum of Antiquities. (2011). Aphrodite of Knidos: Classical Greek. Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.usask.ca/antiquities/collection/classicalgreek/aphroditecnidos.html GreekLandscapes.com. (2011). Sculpture of the Greek Classical Period (480 - 323 B.C.). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.greeklandscapes.com/greece/athens_museum_classical.html

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National Archaeological Museum. (2011). The Votive Relief of An Athlete Crowning Himself. Image 3344, (figure 4). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic01-en.html National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Classical Period: The Votive Relief of An Athlete Crowning Himself. Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic01-en.html

ART TIMELINE National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Youth of Marathon. Image, x15118 (figure 5). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic16-en.html

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National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Classical Period: Youth of Marathon Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic16-en.html National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Bronze Portrait Head of a Boxer. Image, x6439 (figure 8). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic15-en.html National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Classical Period: Bronze Portrait Head of a Boxer. Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic15-en.html National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Athena of Varvakeion. Image, 129 (figure 10). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic08-en.html National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Classical Period: Athena of Varvakeion. Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic08-en.html National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Head of Hygieia. Image, 3602 (figure 9). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic14-en.html National Archaeological Museum. (2011). Classical Period: Head of Hygieia. Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from

ART TIMELINE http://www.namuseum.gr/collections/sculpture/classical/classic14-en.html

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The New Acropolis Museum. (2009). The Archaic Gallery. Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.greek-thesaurus.gr/new-acropolis-museum.html The New Acropolis Museum. (2009). The Archaic Gallery. Image, (figure 2). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://www.greek-thesaurus.gr/images/a1/kritios_boy.jpg University of Missouri. (2007). Museum of Art and Archaeology: Doryphoros. Image, (figure 7). Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://maa.missouri.edu/objects/castgallery/castDoryphoros.html University of Missouri. (2007). Museum of Art and Archaeology: Doryphoros. Retrieved on December 11, 2011, from http://maa.missouri.edu/objects/castgallery/castDoryphoros.html