Aegean Visual Art Overview

Aegean Visual Art

• Minoan art is characterized as violent.
• Mycenaean art is characterized as quiet.
• The Vapheio cup is a Mycenaean gold cup with scenes of bull-taming on both sides.
• The Stele from Grave Circle A in Mycenae was made of sandstone.
• The Stele from Grave Circle A in Mycenae is a sunken relief.
• The Stele from Grave Circle A in Mycenae is similar to other reliefs from Egypt and Sumer.
• The Minoan civilization was centered on the island of Crete.
• The Minoan palace at Knossos was built around 1900 BCE.
• The Minoan Palace at Knossos was destroyed by an earthquake or foreign invaders around 1700 BCE.
• The Minoan Palace at Knossos was rebuilt more grandly after the destruction.
• The Minoan Palace at Knossos was damaged multiple times by earthquakes and invasions.
• The Minoan Palace at Knossos was lastly damaged by the volcanic eruption of Thera (modern Thira or Santorini) in 1450 BCE.
• The Minoan civilization was named by archaeologist Arthur Evans after King Minos from Greek mythology.
• King Minos, in Greek mythology, was a king of Knossos, Crete.

Ancient Greece Pottery

• There are four main styles of Greek pottery: Geometric, Orientalizing, Black Figure, and Red Figure.
• Red Figure style is the most advanced of the four styles.
• There are a number of famous Attic red-figure painters, including:
  • The Berlin Painter
  • The Andokides Painter
• Examples of Greek pottery shapes:
  • Neck Amphora, a two-handled pot with a narrow neck.
  • Krater, a large, wide-mouthed pot with a broad body and base.
  • Bell Krater, a wide-mouthed pot with a bell shape.
  • Stamnos, a wide-mouthed jar with an offset neck, usually with a lid and two parallel handles.

Ancient Greece Classical Ideals

• Classical Ideals are a recurring theme throughout Art and Design history.
• Classical Ideals incorporate the Elements and Principles of Visual Art and Design.
• There are points of “Maturation” in the Timeline of Visual Art and Design, which can be categorized as:
  • Linear
  • Symmetry
  • Chiaroscuro
  • Color
  • Perspective
  • Proportion
  • Texture
  • Sfumato
• These points of "Maturation" are important because they offer a deeper level of understanding and reveal further truths about the art and design process.
• The use of math, science, and technology is crucial in achieving a deeper application of these truths.

Symmetry

• Symmetry means that a work of art is a mirror image of itself on both sides of a center line.

Proportion

• Proportion refers to the dimensions of a composition and the relationships between height, width, and depth.
• Proportion also describes the relationship between the sizes of different parts of a piece of art or design.

Parthenon

• The architects of the Parthenon were Iktinos and Kallikrates.
• The Parthenon was built to house a massive statue of the goddess Athena Parthenos by the sculptor Phidias.
• The Parthenon is an example of the Doric order of Greek architecture, which is characterized by simple, sturdy columns.
• The Parthenon is a representation of the Classical Ideals of symmetry and proportion.
• The construction of the Parthenon did not require the use of mortar.
• The Parthenon was used as a gunpowder store in the 17th century, and was subsequently damaged during a Venetian/Turkish bombardment.

Hellenistic Sculpture

• Classical Greek sculpture is known for its calm, serene, and stoic expression.
• Hellenistic Greek sculpture emphasizes emotion, movement, and storytelling.
• The "Wrestlers" is a Hellenistic sculpture that shows a more dynamic and emotive approach.
• The "Wrestlers" sculpture emphasizes the emotional aspect of the story.
• The "Seated Boxer" is a bronze Hellenistic sculpture by Lyssipus or Apollonius.
• The "Seated Boxer" sculpture portrays an aged, defeated boxer, possibly looking at the victor.
• The "Seated Boxer" sculpture elicits sympathy from the viewer.
• The "Nike of Samothrace" is a marble statue of the Greek goddess Nike (Victory), dating back to the 2nd century BC.
• The "Nike of Samothrace" statue communicates movement and speed.
• The "Nike of Samothrace" statue uses elements like "wet drapery" to imply underlying form.

The Dying Gaul

• The "Dying Gaul" statue is a Hellenistic sculpture that communicates death and dying.
• The "Dying Gaul" statue elicits sympathy for a defeated warrior.