The Classical Period
The Classical Art Period consisted of ancient Greek and Roman art and fell between the years 900 BC and 31 BC. During the Classical Period, Athens and Sparta were dominant cities in the Greek region. These cities were suspicious of one another, but managed to live peacefully together until the 5th century, BC. Cultural and political differences between the two cities caused a rivalry to form. The rivalry was eventually quelled after a brutal war which ultimately ended in the demise of both cities and the rise of Macedonia as the dominant power in the region. Eventually, the social structure in the Classical Period became somewhat of a democracy and an open society which we have emulated in the United States (“History of
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Depending upon the time period of the Middle Ages (Byzantine, Romanesque, or Gothic), one can either see distinct similarities or differences when comparing to the art of the Classical period. One of the differences between the two periods is the absence of sculptures from the Byzantine era of the Middle Ages. Religious powers at the time did not allow for sculpting as an art form because it was seen as idolatry. In the Classical Period, sculpting was a very common form of art. Another difference between the two periods is the way emotion was portrayed on the faces of portraits or sculptures. In the Classical Period logic was favored over emotion, so most facial expressions in paintings and portraits were emotionless. During the Middle Ages, most portraits featured faces with solemn or melancholic expressions. The Gothic Period of the Middle Ages brought similarities with the Classical period forward. Sculpting was an accepted form of art during the Gothic period, as it was during the Classical Period. The Gothic Period also brought back the element of realism that was prominent during the Classical Period.
Historically, the Classical Period and Middle Ages were significantly different. Society during the Classical period allowed for a lot more independence for the general population than the peasants of the Middle Ages were allowed to enjoy. Peasants
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(ca. 320 BC). Marble Funerary Statues of a Maiden and a Younger Girl. [Marble sculptures]. New York, NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Artist unknown. (ca. 1260-1280). Enthroned Virgin and Child. [Elephant ivory sculpture]. New York, NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Boardman, J. (2012). The Classical Period (5th-4th Century B.C.). http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved from: http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/sculpture/styles/classical.htm
General Introduction to the Medieval Period. (2014). http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au. Retrieved from: http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/staffhome/siryan/academy/theory_history/Medieval_Period.htm
History of Greece: Classical Greece. (2014). http://www.ancient-greece.org. Retrieved from: http://www.ancient-greece.org/history/classical.html
Medieval Art. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 25, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_art#Subsequent_reputation
Middle Ages Art. (2014). www.lordsandladies.org. Retrieved from:
In regards to subject matter, both pieces of sculpture are of leaders, Mycerinus and Kha-merer-nebty II were the pharaoh and queen of Egypt around 2500 BCE., and Caesar Augustus was the Emperor of Rome from September 23, 63 BCE to August 19, 14 CE., shown in this work as a general from Primaport, Italy.
Ridgway, Brunilde S. Hellenistic Sculpture II: The Styles of ca. 200-100 B.C. Madison, Wisc.: The University of Wisconsin Press, 2000.
Roman art was also deeply influenced by the art of the Hellenistic world, which had spread to southern Italy and Sicily through the Greek colonies there. The Etruscans and Babylonians can also be seen as inspirations. “With the founding of the Republic, the term Roman art was virtually synonymous with the art of the city of Rome, which still bore the stamp of its Etruscan art” (Honour and Fleming,1999). During the last two centuries, notably that of Greece, Roman art shook off its dependence on Etruscan art. In the last two centuries before Christ, a distinctive Roman manner of building, sculpting, and painting emerged. Indeed, because of the extraordinary geographical extent of the Roman Empire and the number of diverse populations encompassed within its boundaries, “the art and architecture of the Romans was always eclectic and is characterized by varying styles attributable to differing regional tastes and the...
This Amphora was sculpted and painted between 540-530 B.C. by the same artist, Exekias. The shape of the piece
Many different classes of people existed in the Middle Ages. Each class had a certain and very different way of life than the other. Peasants in the Middle Ages had extremely difficult lives. Domestic life for the peasants during the Middle Ages was endured with many hardships and sacrifices, but in the end they were just everyday citizens doing what they had to in order to survive.
The Archaic Period (600-590 B.C.) is the start of a transformation headed for a more realistic representation of the human form. One type of sculpture that surfaced in this period is the korai, sculptures of women dressed in draped clothing representative of ancient Greek attire. Kore (maiden), can be seen at the Louvre in Paris, dated 630 B.C. and to most likely be from Crete. Another important sculpture of the period is known as the New York Kuoros (Youth) is a depiction of a nude young man, dated around 600-590 B.C. and can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum. Although the sculptures look stiffly frontal like in Egyptian art, their figures have a more naturalistic approach.
This is a copy of the sculpture of Athena Parthenos, dressed in battle attire, that was originally created by Phidias during the period of 447-39 B.C. The statue of Athena Parthenos was to be constructed, not of bronze, but of gold and ivory. The face, arms, and feet of the statue were to be made of ivory and the clothing, of thickly plated gold. The statue was an enormous size that towered thirty-three feet tall. The costly nature of the materials out of which it was designed was intended to overwhelm the viewer, creating a sense of religious awe.
The trip to the metropolitan museum was a great trip to learn and to study art. What is art you may ask, well art is an expression you use to show a visual picture. It can be through painting or through sculptures. Some other example of art is music, literature and dancing. For today 's paper we will be talking about art as a sculpture. The two sculptures in this photo are King Sahure and a Nome God and Marble Statue of Dionysos leaning on archaistic female figure (Hope Dionysos). You can find these statues in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. King Sahure and a Nome God is an Egyptian art that was made in 2458-2446 BCE. The artist is unknown. It was during the 5th dynasty and it also belong to the old kingdom. The Marble statue of Dionysos Leaning in the archaistic female figure is a Greco-Roman art. Belonging to the Roman imperial period of the late first century A.D. Augustan or Julio-Claudian period 27 B.C., to 68 AD. It is classified as a stone sculpture and it is made out of marble. The height of the statues is 82 ¾ inches. There is no evidence who was the original artist.
For my analytical essay I've chosen the Renaissance art movement. I choose this movement because it played such a monumental part in European history. Basically, the Renaissance, also known as the rebirth, was a cultural movement that started an artistic transformation and started the scientific revolution. This time period also links the transition from the end of the Middle Ages to the beginning of the Modern Age. The Renaissance started in Italy in the 14th century and spread to northern Europe by the 16th century.
"Statuette of a standing maiden [Etruscan] (17.190.2066) | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
The Romanesque and Gothic architecture period both occurred during the Middle Ages with the Gothic period taking place during the later half. Gothic and Romanesque architecture were related in many ways, but they also contrasted in style too. Over time, masons began to test the waters and push the limits. They thought of new ways to add lighting and ways to allow more height to the building without it being to heavy and weak. Many of the reasons for the change in styles had a lot to do with society and the changes it faced. There was a greater intensity occurring in piety and literature. The Gothic style embodied this new urban society. Romanesque and Gothic shared similar characteristics, but Gothic architecture was a greater departure from its previous predecessor.
So what is the Classical era? The Classical Greece era dates back to 500-323 BCE and was considered to be the period of maturity, discovery and achievement. During this era Athens was governed by a democratic government, there came a more rational approach to exploring and explaining the world and the Greeks took art to a more realistic and humanistic approach for the first time. (Sakoulas, 2002) During the Classical era the culture was based on a blend of their old culture and the new. The old being based upon religious beliefs while the new happen largely in part due to trade routes. Trade routes helped to bring men from different areas and cultures into Athens. This allowed Athens to become a sort of “melting pot” and allowed for great economic growth. From this sprouted things like the production of dramas, comedies, plays and artists. As stated by Steven Kreis “The Athenian d...
The shift between the Middle Ages and Renaissance was documented in art for future generations. It is because of the changes in art during this time that art historians today understand the historical placement and the socio-economic, political, and religious changes of the time. Art is a visual interpretation of one’s beliefs and way of life; it is through the art from these periods that we today understand exactly what was taking place and why it was happening. These shifts did not happen overnight, but instead changed gradually though years and years of art, and it is through them that we have record of some of the most important changes of historic times.
There were two main types of architecture during the middle ages, the Romanesque style and the Gothic style. The Romanesque period took place approximately between 1096 and 1270 (the eleventh and twelfth centuries) and the Gothic period took place approximately between 1150 and 1450 (the thirteenth through the fifteenth centuries) (Bersson 383). Evidence of both styles of architecture emerged throughout Europe. The political landscape had changed and the Christian church provided a measure of unity throughout the centuries of this medieval era (Stalley 13).
The next important era was the time of Greek art. Their work was greatly influenced by the Egyptians. Their early art was very geometric in shape and glorified Gods and people in their works. Eventually as time progressed, they began to soften their edges and lines and concentrate on the human form, which they considered the most beautiful of all creation.