Ancient Greek Art

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Ancient Greek Art:

Ancient Greek Civilization spanned almost three thousand years, from the emergence of cultural centers on Crete and at Mycenae to the eventual absorption by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great. Over this long and diverse stretch of time, Greek art evolved continually, borrowing aspects from other cultures, until Greek artists developed what art historians term “Classical Art”. During the Renaissance, artists sought to emulate this classical tradition.

Early Greek art appeared during the predominance of the kingdoms on Crete and at Mycenae. According to tradition, mythical kings Agamemnon and Minos ruled during this period. Historians date the Trojan Wars around this time. Richly colored frescoes at Knossos and Mycenae remain, revealing the daily life and rituals of these ancient people. Votive and household sculptures from this period are small and simplistic. After the collapse of the early cultural centers, Greek civilization suffered civil war and social turmoil for nearly three hundred years, during which, people produced little to no art. When Greek civilization stabilized, Greek art resumed again, this time, borrowing heavily from the Egyptians. Greek sculpture and painting at this time appeared massive and static, figures portrayed in rigid, monolithic stances. Foreign cultures also proved a threat to Greek culture. In the fifth century BCE, the encroaching Persian Empire invaded and, after many hard fought and costly battles, the Greek city-states established their independence and military prowess. Following the Persian wars, Greek art and civilization flourished, constituting the Classical Age.

Classical Greek artists strove for the ideal in their art, depicting perfected human forms shown with youth and vigor. Sculpture developed into fluid representation, defying gravity and evoking movement and energy. Greek artists concentrated on the drapery of clothing and cloth, the detail of hair and facial features, and the structure and composition of human muscle and bone. In attempting to idealize humanity and create an essentially Greek art form, the Greeks produced some of the most revolutionary and powerful art ever created. The Draped Female Statue, what the Greeks called a kore, and the head of Zeus from the Museum of Olympia represent early attempts at idealism in Greek art. Both retain some of the stolid rigidity influenced by Egyptian art, but provided early glimpses of the intricacy of later Greek art. The meticulous detail paid to the two sculptures is evident in the lifelike folds of the hair and in the bone structure of the faces.

Greek art in its most highly evolved form can be seen in the Venus de Milo, also called the Aphrodite of Melos. This youthful, athletic portrayal of the goddess of love embodies the quintessence of Greek artistic endeavor. The figure leans to one side as if in mid-stride, in the midst of action. The lithe, idealistic form appears light and graceful, yet strong. If not for the lack of two arms, Venus would almost seem alive. This was the goal of Greek artists: beauty and perfection coupled with a realism and humanity. The images available on this site are evidence of that idea and that realization in Greek art.


James Webb©2005