Classical Period Sculpture example essay topic

In visiting the Metropolitan museum of art in New York City I have chosen to discuss a group of three ancient Greek works. I have chosen three because I would like to emphasis the changes that have taken place from the Archaic period through the classical period to the Hellenistic period. Greek art has had and still has a tremendous influence in art, as we know it today. I have chosen pieces that illustrate some of the major evolutions of sculpture through ancient Greece. Through my travel in Europe I have been fortunate to see first hand both original Greek works and the influence these works played in roman times, up through the return to classical antiquity, the Renaissance, and through today. The first piece of artwork I would like to discuss is the New York Kouros.

The Kouros statues were used as funerary markers. This particular Kouros was created around 600 B.C. E and is made out of marble. The technique used is known as a deduction process. The technique consists of starting with a solid slab of marble and then chipping away to reveal the sculpture. It is during this time period when the Greeks become interested in the accuracy of the male anatomy. More emphasis is placed on musculature and the definition of human elements.

This time period is soon after the geometric era. The geometric, abstract forms on the sculpture give rise to the anatomical details that are executed in equivalent patterns. One can observe that rather than rounded definition, the muscles are displayed with a line technique. It is also during this time that we start to see freestanding sculpture. In this freestanding sculpture the Greeks try and capture a sense of movement.

One foot is placed in front of the other to indicate the movement. The Kouros statues are an idealized representation of the typical human male, or of an ideal god. Although more realism is apparent in the works of this period from previous periods one can still detect an Egyptian influence. The stance of the figure is similar to the Egyptian posture. We see the statue with one leg forward and his arms rigid held tightly to his side, his fists firm. Many statues in ancient Egypt were made using the same style.

For instance the statue of Nenkheftka from Serdab stands in this same pose (Gay Robins 71). Also the stylized hair and enlarged eyes are analogous of Egyptian art. The New York Kouros lacks the fluidity and attention to movement that is later adapted in Greek works. The next work of art I chose is the Diskos Thrower. This sculpture was created in the classical period of Greece in the fifth century B.C. It is constructed of a bronze cast, which is the most popular material used by the Greeks. However, much of the bronze artwork has been destroyed and most of what we study from this period are the marble Roman copies.

I chose this work because it seems to embody the achievements of the early classical period. Like the New York Kouros there is an attention to anatomy. However, in this sculpture unlike the Kouros, there is a rounded and sculpted element to the muscles of the statue. One is clearly able to see every muscle of the man, anticipating the throw of his diskos. Like the Kouros there was no attempt in capturing individualistic qualities of a particular person. This is the representation of a general idealized athlete.

The sense of determination and concentration of the athlete as he prepares to throw his disk is clear. This is one important evolution that has come to be incorporated into art. The psychological aspect to the human subject plays a great role. There is a beauty that lies in the calm and concentrated demeanor that forms part of a perfectly developed and disciplined body. Here, like in Disko bolos, there is a connection between mind body and spirit.

The emphasis is not only on the beauty of the physical body, but in the conviction that lies in the psychology of the figure. In the classical period there was a great attempt to capture a sense of movement. As compared to New York Kouros one can see that there is a more realistic distribution of weight which gives a better sense of movement. Although there is still a slight restrained element, the viewer sees the figure as he is caught in a moment. One can imagine the next movement of the discus switching hands to be thrown. Many of the features that are attributed to Egyptian influence have been lost by the classical period.

The facial features of the man depicted are more in proportion and have a greater sense of realism. The New York Kouros has the archaic smile, which is typical of this period. Now, however, the viewer sees more rounded features with an expression that captures the serious state of the mind of the subject. Also, the function of the sculptures has changed. Many freestanding sculptures in the Archaic period were used as funerary markers for elite or sometimes represented deities. In the classical period sculpture became more specific representations commemorating the greatness of an athlete or the representation of a god.

However, in both eras the beauty of the ideal male figure is emphasized. The last figure I would like to discuss is the sculpture of Eros sleeping. This sculpture was constructed in the Hellenistic period around the third or second century B.C. and is of bronze casting. It is during this period when the serious expressions and rigid movements of earlier Greece become full of expression, dramatic, and more relaxed.

One aspect that is consistent through the ancient Greek era is that all sculpture remains complete. The entire piece of work continues to be created completely whole no matter if certain elements were viewed or not. However, during this period new characterization was introduced into art. Now art displayed a realistic portrayal of age, as Eros appears here as a young child. The idealism that consumed the classical period and fourth century gave way to a greater emphasis of realism and the psychological.

Sculpture was about the portrayal of the inner being and more emphasis placed on expressing the inner psychology through posture and facial features. In this sculpture Eros, the god of love, is a plump child sprawled out and relaxed. There is no attempt to create a god with an idealized perfect form. Here the observer can clearly see the chubby body that less than gracefully sleeps soundly on a rock. Asleep on the rock the god has been brought down to earth and is seemingly powerless", a study in the relationship between mental and physical states". (John Griffiths Pedler 339).

He is the intermediary between the human and the divine and in past works has been shown as a stern force, but now is depicted as a harmless 'Faun'. This 'study' of mental and physical state is one that appears throughout the Hellenistic period. Eroticism is expressed in artwork through the use of figures such as Eros and Aphrodite. Gods can clearly be recognized as a move toward expressing individual uniqueness comes to into play.

Earlier portraits concentrated in representing figures in ideal and generalized terms, but now individual characteristics and features are emphasized. The subject matter of sculpture is focused mostly on the tales of mythology with some individual portraits. In the Hellenistic period unlike the Archaic or classical period, sculptures are characterized by dramatic and complex expressions, postures, and groupings. In the works are an apparent immediacy, intensity and variety of emotional portrayal. There is a greater emphasis placed upon movement in this art period than in previous. One can clearly see the flowing of movement in such works as the Laocoon group compared to the disc thrower of the classical period.

In the Laocoon group the exaggeration and flow of movement is apparent in the twisting of the bodies. The posture of the discus thrower is more ridged and lacks the fluid movements. In the Hellenistic artwork there is great attention placed upon detail of both the physical body and the psychological portrait that is conveyed through the physical frame. The complexity of movement allows the works to be observed from a variety of different viewpoints, unlike previous periods where the viewer was to see the figure from a specific point. This creates a change in the interaction between the viewer and the sculpture. We see sculpture completed during this time as almost a snapshot.

It is as if the figure being represented is caught in a moment of time. All emotions and movements at this particular moment have been captured within the piece. These three works of art are a representation of how Greek art evolved from the rigid and stylized archaic period up to the dramatic emotionally rich works of the Hellenistic period. Greek art has influenced artists for thousands of years. Even after the Roman take over the traditions of Greek art continued. In the fourteenth century during the birth of the Renaissance there was a turn back to antiquity to capture the beauty and perfection of the human form.

It is important to be aware of Greek art and culture because the influence it has in our lives. Not only has Greece influenced art, but it has also been the inspiration in such subjects as philosophy and mathematics. These innovations can be seen in through Greek art in the anatomical perfection and their mathematical precision, in both sculpture and architecture. To learn about Greek art and culture is to understand more about our own and the influences that have helped to create our own civilization.