Ancient Greek sculpture occupies a special place among the variety of cultural heritage masterpieces belonging to this country. The beauty of the human body, its ideal, is sung and embodied with the help of graphic means in it. However, not only the smoothness of lines and grace are characteristic features that marked the ancient Greek sculpture. The mastery of its creators was so great that they managed to convey a range of emotions even in a cold stone, to give a deep, special meaning to the figures, as if breathing life into them. Each ancient Greek sculpture is endowed with a mystery that is still attractive. The creations of the great masters do not leave anyone indifferent.
Ancient Greece, like other cultures, experienced various periods in its development. Each of them was marked by changes in all types of fine art, including sculpture. Therefore, it is possible to trace the main stages of the formation of this type of art by briefly describing the features of ancient Greek sculpture at different periods of the historical development of this country.
Archaic period
The archaic period is the time from the 8th to the 6th century BC. Ancient Greek sculpture at this time had a certain primitiveness as a characteristic feature. It was observed because the images embodied in the works did not differ in variety, they were too generalized (the figures of the girls were called barks, the young men were called kuros).
Apollo Shadow
The statue of Apollo of Tena is the most famous of all extant figures of this era. In total, several dozen of them are now known. It is made of marble. Apollo is depicted as a young man with his hands down, fingers clenched into fists. His eyes are wide open, and an archaic smile, typical of sculptures belonging to this period, is reflected in his face.
Female figures
The images of women and girls were distinguished by wavy hair, long clothes, but they were most attracted to the elegance and smoothness of lines, the embodiment of grace, femininity.
Archaic ancient Greek sculptures possessed some disproportion, schematism. Each work, on the other hand, is attractive with restrained emotionality and simplicity. For this era, in the depiction of figures of people, as we have already noted, a half-smile is characteristic, which gives them depth and mystery.
The Goddess with a Pomegranate, located at the Berlin State Museum today, is one of the best-preserved figures among other archaic sculptures. With the "wrong" proportions and the external roughness of the image of the hand, brilliantly executed by the author, attract the attention of viewers. The expressive gesture makes the sculpture especially expressive and dynamic.
"Kuros from Piraeus"
Located in the Athens Museum "Kuros from Piraeus" is a later, therefore, more perfect creation, made by an ancient sculptor. Before us is a young powerful warrior. Hand gestures and a slight tilt of the head indicate the conversation he is having. The violated proportions are not so evident. Archaic ancient Greek sculptures, as we have already mentioned, have generalized facial features. However, this figure is not as noticeable as the creations from the early archaic period.
Classic period
The classical period is the time from the 5th to the 4th century BC. The works of ancient Greek sculpture at this time underwent some changes, which we will tell you about now. Among the sculptors of this period, one of the most famous figures is Pythagoras of Regia.
Features of the sculptures of Pythagoras
His creations are characterized by realism and liveliness, which at that time were innovative. Some of the works of this author are considered even too bold for this era (for example, a statue of a boy taking out a splinter). Liveliness of mind and extraordinary talent allowed this sculptor to study the meaning of harmony using mathematical methods of calculation. He conducted them on the basis of the philosophical and mathematical school, which he himself founded. Pythagoras, using these methods, investigated harmony of various nature: musical, architectural construction, human body. There was a Pythagorean school on the principle of number. It was it that was considered the foundation of the world.
Other sculptors of the classical period
The classical period, in addition to the name of Pythagoras, gave the world culture such famous masters as Phidias, Polyclet and Miron. The works of ancient Greek sculpture of these authors are united by the following general principle - the reflection of the harmony of an ideal body and a beautiful soul, enclosed in it. This principle is the main one that guided various masters of that time when creating their creations. Ancient Greek sculpture is the ideal of harmony and beauty.
Myron
Great influence on the art of Athens 5th century BC. e. had the work of Miron (just remember the famous Discus-ball made of bronze). This master, unlike Polyclet, which we will talk about later, liked to depict figures in motion. For example, in the above statue of Discobolus, dating back to the 5th century BC. e., he portrayed a handsome young man at the moment when he waved in order to throw a disc. Tense and bent his body, captured by the movement, like a spring, ready to turn around. The trained muscles were buckled under the elastic skin of the arm laid back. Forming a reliable support, the toes went deep into the sand. Such is the ancient Greek sculpture (Discus ball). The statue was cast in bronze. However, only a marble copy made by the Romans from the original came to us. The image below shows a Minotaur statue by this sculptor.
Polyclet
The ancient Greek sculpture of Polyclletus has the following characteristic feature - the figure of a man standing with his arm raised up on one leg is in balance. An example of her masterful embodiment is the statue of Dorifor the Spear-bearer. Polycllet in his works sought to combine ideal physical data with spirituality and beauty. This desire inspired him to publish his treatise entitled "Canon", which, unfortunately, has not survived to our time.
Full of intense life of the statue of Polyclette. He loved portraying athletes at rest. For example, "Spear Bear" is a man of powerful build who is full of self-esteem. He stands motionless in front of the viewer. However, this peace is not static, characteristic of ancient Egyptian statues. As a man who easily and skillfully owns his own body, the lance-bearer bent his leg a little, moving it to another weight of the hull. It seems that a little time will pass and he will turn his head and step forward. We are faced with a beautiful, strong man, free from fear, restrained, proud - the embodiment of the ideals of the Greeks.
Fidium
Phidias can rightfully be considered a great creator, the creator of sculpture dating back to the 5th century BC. e. It was he who was able to master the mastery of casting from bronze to perfection. 13 sculptural figures were cast by Phidias, which became worthy decorations of the Delphic Temple of Apollo. One of the works of this master is also the statue of the Athenian Virgin in the Parthenon, whose height is 12 meters. It is made of ivory and solid gold. This technique of performing statues was called chryso-elephantine.
In the sculptures of this master, it is especially reflected that in Greece the gods are images of an ideal person. Of the works of Phidias, the best preserved 160-meter marble ribbon relief of the frieze, which depicts the procession of the goddess Athena, heading to the Parthenon temple.
Athena statue
The sculpture of this temple was badly damaged. Even in ancient times , Athena Parthenos died . This figure stood inside the temple. It was created by Phidias. The ancient Greek sculpture of Athena had the following features: her head with a rounded chin and a smooth low forehead, as well as her arms and neck were made of ivory, and her helmet, shield, clothes and hair were made of sheets of gold.
There are many stories associated with this figure. This masterpiece was so famous and great that immediately Phydius had a lot of envious people who tried in every possible way to annoy the sculptor, for which they looked for reasons to accuse him of something. This master, for example, was accused of having concealed part of the gold intended for the sculpture of Athena. Phidias, in evidence of his innocence, removed all the gold objects from the statue and weighed them. This weight coincided exactly with the amount of gold provided to him. Then the sculptor was accused of godlessness. The shield of Athena caused this. It depicted a battle scene with the Amazons of the Greeks. Phidias among the Greeks portrayed himself, as well as Pericles. The Greek public, despite all the merits of this master, nevertheless opposed him. The cruel execution ended the life of this sculptor.
The achievements of Phidias by sculptures made in the Parthenon were not exhausted. So, he created the figure of Athena Promachos from bronze, which was erected around 460 BC. e. in the Acropolis.
Statue of Zeus
The true fame came to Phidias after the creation by this master of a statue of Zeus for a temple located in Olympia. The height of the figure was 13 meters. Unfortunately, many of the originals have not survived; only their descriptions and copies have survived to this day. In many respects this was facilitated by the fanatical destruction of works of art by Christians. The statue of Zeus did not survive. It can be described as follows: a 13-meter figure was seated on a golden throne. He decorated the head of God with a wreath of olive branches, which was a symbol of his peacefulness. Chest, arms, shoulders, face were made of ivory. Zeus's cloak is thrown over his left shoulder. Beard and crown - of sparkling gold. Such is this ancient Greek sculpture, briefly described. It seems that God, if he stands up and straightens his shoulders, does not fit in this vast hall - the ceiling will be low for him.
Hellenistic period
The stages of development of ancient Greek sculpture completes the Hellenistic. This period is the time in the history of Ancient Greece from the 4th to 1st century BC. The sculpture at that time still had as its main purpose the decoration of various architectural structures. But it also reflected the changes taking place in government.
In sculpture, which at that time was one of the main types of art, in addition, many directions and schools arose. They existed in Rhodes, in Pergamum, Alexandria. The best works presented by these schools reflect the problems that worried at that time the minds of people of this era. These images, in contrast to the classic calm determination, carry a passionate pathetic, emotional stress, dynamics.
The strong influence of the East on all art as a whole is characterized by late Greek antiquity. New features of ancient Greek sculpture appear: numerous details, exquisite draperies, complex angles. The greatness and tranquility of the classics penetrate the temperament and emotionality of the East.
The Aphrodite of Cyrenus, located in the Roman Museum, is full of sensuality, some coquetry.
"Laocoon and his sons"
The most famous sculptural composition related to this era is “Laocoon and his sons”, performed by Agesander of Rhodes. This masterpiece is today kept in the Vatican Museum. The composition is full of drama, and the plot suggests emotionality. The hero and his sons, desperately resisting the snakes sent by Athena, seem to understand their terrible fate. This sculpture was made with extraordinary precision. Realistic and plastic figures. The faces of the heroes make a strong impression.
Three great sculptors
In the works of sculptors dating back to the 4th century BC. e., the humanistic ideal is preserved, but the unity of the civic collective disappears. Ancient Greek sculptures and their authors lose their sense of fullness of life and the integrity of their worldview. The great masters who lived in the 4th century BC e., create art revealing new facets of the spiritual world. Most clearly, these searches were expressed by three authors - Lysippus, Praxiteles and Skopas.
Skopas
Skopas became the most prominent figure among the rest of the sculptors who worked at that time. His art breathes deep doubts, struggle, anxiety, impulse and passion. This native of the island of Paros worked in many cities on the territory of Hellas. The mastery of this author was embodied in a statue called "Nika of Samothrace." This name was received in memory of the victory in 306 BC. e. Rhodes Navy. This figure is mounted on a pedestal, reminiscent of the design of the ship's nose.
Skopas's “Dancing Maenad” is presented in a dynamic, complex perspective.
Praxitel
The sculptor Praxiteles had a different creativity . This author sang the sensual beauty of the body and the joy of life. Praxiteles enjoyed great fame, was rich. The greatest fame was brought to this sculptor by the statue of Aphrodite, made by him for the island of Knidos. She was the first Greek artist to depict a naked goddess. Beauty Frina, the famous geter, the lover of Praxiteles, served as the model for the statue of Aphrodite. This girl was accused of blasphemy, and then acquitted of judges admiring her beauty. Praxiteles is a singer of female beauty, which was honored by the Greeks. Unfortunately, only by copies is Aphrodite of Cnidus known to us.
Leohar
Leochar is the Athenian master, the largest of Praxiteles' contemporaries. This sculptor, working in various Hellenic policies, created mythological scenes and images of the gods. He performed several portrait statues in chryso-elephantine technique, depicting members of the family of Philip, the king of Macedonia . After that, he became the court master of Alexander the Great, his son. At this time, Leochar created a statue of Apollo, very popular in antiquity. It was preserved in a marble copy made by the Romans, and gained world fame under the name of Apollo Belvedere. Leochar in all his creations demonstrates masterly technique.
After the reign of Alexander the Great, the Hellenistic era became the period of the heyday of portraiture. Statues of various speakers, poets, philosophers, commanders, statesmen were erected on city squares. The masters wanted to achieve an external resemblance and at the same time emphasize the features that transform the portrait into a typical image.
Other sculptors and their creations
Classical sculptures became examples of various creations of masters who worked in the Hellenistic era. Gigantomania is clearly visible in the works of that time, that is, the desire to embody the desired image in the enormous size of the statue. Especially often it manifests itself when ancient Greek sculptures of the gods are created. The statue of the god Helios is a prime example. It is made of gilded bronze, towering at the entrance of the Rhodes harbor. The height of the sculpture is 32 meters. Worked on it for 12 years, tirelessly, Hares, a student of Lysippus. This work of art has rightfully taken pride of place in the list of wonders of the world.
Many statues after the capture of the Roman conquerors of Ancient Greece were exported outside this country. Not only sculptures, but also masterpieces of painting, collections of imperial libraries and other cultural objects suffered this fate. Many people working in the field of education and science were captured. Thus, in the culture of Ancient Rome, various elements of the Greek were interwoven, having a significant impact on its development.
Conclusion
Of course, the different periods of development that Ancient Greece went through brought their own corrections to the process of sculpting, however, one united artists from different eras - the desire to comprehend spatiality in the art, the love of expression using various techniques of human body plastics. Ancient Greek sculpture, the photo of which is presented above, unfortunately, has only partially survived to our days. Often, marble served as the material for the figures, despite its fragility. The only way to convey the beauty and elegance of the human body. Although bronze was a more reliable and noble material, it was used much less frequently.
Ancient Greek sculpture and painting are original and interesting. .