This document provides an overview of Geometric art from 900-700 BCE in Greece. It describes the three phases of the Geometric style and the dominant medium of vase painting. Vases from this period are decorated with geometric patterns like triangles and zigzags. Sculptures begin to depict heroes and myths. Important works highlighted include a 10th century BCE Athenian vase and two 8th century BCE bronze sculptures - a horse and a scene of a man and centaur. The artistic styles of this period were defined by geometric shapes.
2. Brief History
•There were three phrases of the Geometric Style. The early stage lasted
from 900 BCE to 850 BCE, the middle stage lasted from 850 BCE to 750
BCE, and the late stage that lasted from 750 to 700 BCE.
• During this period, the most common medium was painting on vases.
However, a few limited works of sculpture and bronze casts survive.
•Art from this period tends to be, true to the period's name, especially
geometric, confining itself to representations and repetitions of shapes
rather than the more realistic work of the earlier periods.
•Sculptures and carvings began to be made representing each city states'
heroes and past legends including animals and humans.
•The armed warrior, the chariot, and the horse are the most familiar
symbols of the Geometric period.
3. IMPORTANT WORKS OF ART
VASE PAINTING
Characteristics:
•In the Early Geometric period (900-850 BC) almost the entire surface of
the vase is covered by black glaze and the decorative motifs are set in
panels and zones on the neck, shoulder and belly.
• Triangles and zigzags are the dominant ornaments during this period.
•The height of the vessels has been increased, while the decoration is
limited around the neck until the middle of the body of the vessel.
•The height of the vessels has been increased, while the decoration is
limited around the neck until the middle of the body of the vessel.
•The remaining surface is covered by a thin layer of clay, which during the
cooking takes a dark, shiny, metallic color.
4. This vase is from
the early Geometric
stage. This
particular vase was
from Athens in the
c.10th century BCE;
currently it is in the
Kerameikos
Museum, Athens
(Beccati 13).
5. •The Middle Geometric period (850-760 BC) is
characterised by the rapid development of trade and the
revival of contacts both with the East and between
different Greek city-states.
•The decorative zones appear multiplied by creating a
laced mesh, while the meander dominates and is placed in
the most important area, in the metope which is arranged
between the handles.
•The decoration tends to cover the entire surface of the
vase in zones separated from each other by vertical groups
of fines, creating panels.
6. This vase is an
exemplary illustration of
Greek artists evolving
their work into a more
intricate and
ambitious portrayal
of Geometric
Style. The vase
depicted is
a very elaborate and
defined stylization of
the Geometric Period
7. •The late phase of the Geometric style is characterized
mainly by monumental funerary vases.
•Vases are adorned by multifigural scenes of everyday life,
such as naval and land battles hunting, and dances at
religious ceremonies, confined within zones or panels.
•People and animals depicting geometrically in a dark
glossy color, while the remaining vessel is covered by strict
zones of meanders, crooked lines, circles, swastikas, in the
same graphical concept.
8. This piece is a perfect
example of what the world of
geometry created. This was
a starting point for the new
style that arose and became
quite popular after the end of
the Geometric Period. On
this vase, the artists are trying
to tell a story with this
aryballos. It would appear to
be a battle in which (guessing
from the lion which
symbolizes glory and
therefore victory) the one
who made this aryballos had
a favorable outcome.
10. Bronze Horse
The Statuette of a Horse is
thought to have been created
in 8th century BCE. The horse
in the picture is clearly
indicated as a male. The
overall thinness of this
artwork complies with the
standard of bodies and
objects being reduced in size
and the shapes of the objects
being geometric. Miniature
sculptures of animals, like
this sculpture, were found in
sanctuaries around Greece.
This statuette is only 11.5cm
off the ground.
11. Man and Centaur
The Man and Centaur, or sometimes
referred to as Hercules and Nessos,
was estimated to have been created
between the years 750 and 730 BCE.
The Man and Centaur is a small solid
bronze cast that stands 4' 1/2" high off
the ground. The artist depicted the
fictional animal, the centaur, as a man
in the front and a horse in the back.
Both the centaur and the man are
wearing hats and have facial hair. The
front legs are more resembling of a
human than the hind legs, who have
the shape of a horse's legs; as if a
centaur was just a regular human
being with the back end of a horse
attached to its back. This sculpture
was created by using the lost-wax
method.
12. INSIGHTS:
Artist during geometric art are very
resourceful and creative. All their artworks has its
own stories to tell. When it comes to their work of
art, even a simple shapes they try to make it into
creative masterpiece . After making some research
about geometric Greek art it made me appreciate
for their hardworks especially during those times
art materials are not yet invented but because to
their passion and love for the art, nothing is
impossible to them.
