Ancient Greece and Hellenistic Civilization, Part 3

Question 1: Explain how the styles of Hellenistic visual art reflected the beliefs and value of the culture.

Answer 1: Most Hellenistic art celebrated the human form, reflecting its beauty and seemingly perfect proportions. Artists utilized Greek advances in geometry to improve the symmetry of their representations, reflecting Greek emphasis on balance and moderation. Greeks valued self-discipline and restraint in their personal conduct. They reflected this in their art by using simple designs and avoiding excess. Figures were often shown in motion, reflecting the Greek emphases on athletic ability and fluidity of motion. Images of both humans and gods were similarly perfect, without flaw, reflecting values the Greeks admired such as strength, intelligence, and grace. Greek art was also intended to reflect pride in the polis. Most art was designed to be placed in public buildings, to be admired by visitors and upheld as a reflection of the city-state. Likewise, much Greek art combined the values and beauty and functionality. Vases, for example, were beautiful, but were also designed to hold water.

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Question 2: Describe what artifacts reveal about Greek painting.

Answer 2: Most original Greek painting that has survived from antiquity can be found on vases. Early Greek artists appear to have been familiar with Egyptian art, imitating many Egyptian styles. Earlier Greek vases focused on images of animals, as Egyptian art did. Over time, more Greek vases showed human forms, reflecting their culture’s focus on perfection and beauty of the human body. Other artifacts include funeral steles, carved stones that were made to honor the dead and record significant information about that person’s life. They portrayed images of the deceased at work or play. Because many works of art were incorporated into public buildings, artifacts that survive from such buildings reveal Greek art.

Question 3: List some major Greek sculptors and describe their most significant works.

Answer 3: Myron— First major sculptor to combine fluidity of motion with balance of composition; created figures of athletes in action, usually in bronze; major works include the Discus ThrowerPhidias— Oversaw artistic direction of the Parthenon; established popular artistic representations of gods; major works include Athena at the Parthenon and Zeus at the Temple of OlympiaPolyclitus — Wrote the Canon, a guide to the use of mathematical calculations in sculpting human body; known for bronze sculptures of athletes; major works include the Spear Bearer and Hera, created in ivory and gold.Praxiteles — Focused on sensuality rather than majestic grandeur; experimented with color in sculpture; major works include Hermes Carrying the Infant Dionysus and Aphrodite of Cnidus.Scopas — Expressed emotions in sculptures; major works include Maenad and Pothos; as architect, oversaw construction of several major templesLysippus — Led art schools at Argos and Sicyon; figures were slender and natural-looking; considered most prolific of Greek artists; most famous works include numerous statues of Alexander the Greatzza4zz

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