1. Greek Art
Ancient Greek art have influenced the culture of many
countries all over the world, especially in the areas of
sculpture and architecture. Most of the art in Roman
Empire is derived from Greek models in the West, while in
the East, Alexander initiated several centuries of exchange
between Greek, Central Asian and Indian cultures. The
Ancient Greek art is divided into five periods – The
Protogeometric(1050 BC), Geometric(900 BC), Archaic (750 BC) , Black Figure
(early 7th
century BC), and Red Figure (530 BC).
There are two figures in Greek art, terracotta figurines and Metal figurines. Clay is the main material in
Terracotta figurines. The terracotta figurines lost their religious nature in later period. With 4th
and 3rd
centuries
BC, Tanagra figurines shows a refined art, it often preserve extensive traces of surface paint. Bronze is use to
made metal figurines. There are thousands of works (mostly depicting animals) have been found. They are
usually produced in the lost wax technique and can be considered the initials stage in the development of Greek
bronze sculpture. Horses and deer are the common motifs during Geometric period.
Stone and bronze are the main material in Ancient Greek sculptures. Marble or high quality limestone were
frequently used and carved by hand with metal tools. Bronze have a higher status but survived in a smaller
numbers due to the reusability of metals. Highest form of sculpture that made by gold and ivory normally
cannot last longer.
During Archaic period the Greeks began to carve on stone again and their works is more dynamic than those
Egyptian sculpture. There are three type of figures prevailed, the standing nude youth (kouros), the standing
draped girl (kore), and the seated woman. All emphasize and generalize the essential features of the human
figure and show an increasingly accurate comprehension of human anatomy. The Greeks did not produce
sculpture for artistic display. Aristocratic or the state commissioned the status.
In Classical period, there was a revolution in Greek statuary. There are some changes in the style and function
of sculpture. Sculpture and statues were put to wider uses. Funeral statuary evolved from Archaic to Classical
period. The first time we can know the name of sculptor is during classical period. The greatest works of the
Classical period, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia and the Statue of Athena Parthenos are lost in a fire.
During Hellenistic period, Greek culture has spread as far
as India. Thus Greek art became more diverse and more
influenced by the cultures of the peoples drawn into the
Greek orbit. The sculpture become more and more
naturalistic in Hellenistic. Sculpture in Hellenistic also
marked by an increase in scale. A large number of works in
Hellenistic period were destroyed by the earthquakes and
looting.
Coins were invented in Lydia in the 7th century BC, but they were first extensively
used by the Greeks. Until today, the coin design still follow the patterns descended from Ancient Greek.
