23 - Monumental Painting Flashcards
Hierarchy of Mediums
According to ancient writers, monumental painting was the apogee of art
Apelles
Like Lysippos, a favorite of Alexander’s. Known through literary sources such as Plinius the Elder and Lucian - anecdotes, etc.: wrote treatise about art. Less known about style and more about anecdotes.
Wooden votive pinax from the Pitsa cave
540 BCE. Unusual to find examples of wooden paintings because of Greece’s dry climate.
Mummy portraits
Much later, from Roman times, but may give some hint as to the quality of painting in Greek times.
So-called Grave of Persephone in Vergina
4th BC (Macedonian). Shows the rape of Persephone - the abduction scene. Helpful in understanding the practical aspects of painting, as the preparatory drawing that was later changed can be seen under Hades’ face. Never truly finished.
So-called Philipp’s grave at Vergina
330 BCE. Frieze with metopes underneath.
Metope from the Apollon Temple at Thermos
7th cent. Produced out of clay, then painted as if it was in a wooden background.
Painted clay pinax from the Acropolis
500 BCE. Shows running warrior.
Painted Marble Throne from Vergina
350 BCE. Example of painting on marble.
How paintings were viewed
Smaller ones within a box that you would open when you wanted the paining inside to be seen. Known via vase paintings.
Two buildings within Athens particularly associated with paintings
The Pinacoteca on the Acropolis (used for hosting guests too)
The Stoa Poikile on the north side of the Acropolis was a political building created between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. Famous for 4 paintings showing mythological and real battles, including battle of Marathon.
Paintings in Hellenistic and Roman Houses
Reveal ancient ways of displaying painting. At the House of Lucretius Fronto - question raised whether wall paintings in Roman houses are exact copies of Greek ones (they are not).
Roman mosaic after Nikomachos
A variation on the earlier Persephone and Hades painting - no way the mosaic maker could have seen the painting as it was in a tomb. Both refer to something older. So changes were probably made.
Roman wall paintings associated with famous Greek paintings
In Pompei, wall paintings after both Nikias and Timanthes.
Repurcussions of Greek Painting
From the Renaissance on, painters interpreted the literary descriptions of Greek paintings.
