Free Standing Males 5th Classical Period Flashcards
What are the dates of the classical period
490-323 bc
How does the kritios boy break the kouros pose ?
Weight no longer evenly distributed with its hips not horizontal
Contraposto - counter balance with tilted hips and tilted shoulders at opposite angles.
Contracts one side and extenuates other
Head turned slightly to the right breaking the frontal emphasis of the kouros
OBTAINS REALISM
What is significant about the kritios boys’ eyes ?
Inlaid eyes
Made separately to show colour contrast
What is sophrosyne ?
Why was it adapted.
A Greek virtue of being moderate and rational , having control of their appetites and desires as opposed to hubristic individuals
This was adapted to emphasise how Greeks were virtuous in contrast to the hubristic Persians
In Persian wars
When were the Persian wars , who fought them and where ?
490 bc
Battle of marathon
Darius invasion
Greek victory against overwhelming odds
480 bc
Salamis
Xerxes invasion
Greek victory against overwhelming odds
What is contraposto
Counter balance
Hips tilted and shoulders tilted in the opposite way
One side of the torso contracts and the other extends
Who sculpted the kritios. Boy
Kritios
What function does the kritios boy have ?
Found at Athenian acropolis ? Votive ?
What does it mean to orchestrate classical idealism ?
Neutral expression
In control !
What problems still persist with the kritios boy ?
hair is unnatural
It is short with a ring going around it with carved in swirls
However baby hairs make it more realistic
How does the kritios boy obtain realism ?
Breaks kouros pose
Organic muscles
Eyes would have been more realistic
What is the plural for polis
Poleis
Name the main 2 Panhellenic games
Olympic Games
Pythian games
What is the function of the Delphi charioteer ?
Why is this significant ?
Commemorates victory at Pythian games
Votive and political !
First statue of political significance
Conveys superiority of individual from particular polis highlighting the superiority of that polis
What material is the Delphi charioterrr
Bronze
How is the Delphi charioteer similar to other statues in the classical period ?
Sophrosyne
Objects to convey identity I.e. Artemisinin Zeus and Myron’s diskobolos
Realism obtain in proportions!
How does the Delphi charioteer’s hair differ from the kritios boys’ hair ?
How is it able to do this ?
There is a textural improvement allowing the hair to be conveyed in greater detail
(There is also a headband to indicate victory)
Pieces have been solder on separately under his ear
This is able to happen as the material ,bronze, was originally made out of clay which allows more detailed sculpting as you build up rather than break down material
What is new about the Delphi charioteer compared to the other statues seen previously
(3)
Eyelashes !
Clothed statue! In chiton with flow depicted well
Would have been a group statue
Who was the Delphi charioteer commissioned for ?
Polyzalos
However not a statue of him !
As slave would have rode
What is the significance of the blond boy
POLYCROMED - traces of paint remain on the hair
Classical idealism expression
Where was the blond boy found ?
What does this indicate
Athenian acropolis
Votive statue
What is significant about the blond boy’s turn to the right
Indicates lack of frontal emphasis and technical difficulties involved in foreshortening
Which objects would the Artemision Zeus have ?
Lightning bolt - zeros
Trident - Poseidon
How does the artemision zeus’ facial expression showcase a shift in perfection of gods
Sophrosyne’s neutral , controlled expression here contrasts to the previous Archaic smile
Shift from benevolence to omnipotence
Emphasising power of the Gods in Greeks after Persian wars as it was strongly believed that the wars were won because they viewed themselves as instruments of the Gods with massive power
Which new technique is introduced in the artemision Zeus?
Frozen moment technique
What is frozen moment technique ?
How is it depicted in the artemision Zeus ?
What is it’s effect
Sculpture captures transference of weight in a moment of motion
Feet slightly off the ground in process of lifting off to throw
Has the effect of conveying statue as dynamic
Successfully captures potential of high tensile strength material
What drawbacks does the Artemision Zeus have ?
2
Hair on beard has no weight despite advances with clay
Poor all round view
How is the Artemision Zeus conveyed as a God
Objects - trident or lightning bolt
Bronze - celestial glow and dazzling aesthetic
Arms elongated to ensure that height is equal to arm spans (step towards idealism beyond possibility / augmented reality)
Sophrosyne expression compared to violent action emphasising the gulf between mortals and Gods
What is a chiasmatic composition
?
Limbs arranged in a way where the weight bearing limbs horizontally oppose but are diagonally symmetrical
Why does Spivey argue that the Riace warriors may have been part of a a monument celebrating the battle of marathon
Second one has a helmet which resembles helmet of Perikles who commanded at marathon
How do the Riace warriors convey idealism rather than naturalism ?
No coccycx !
Tensed front , relaxed back
Lack of realism because of material limits shifts to a deliberate lack of realism in favour of idealised form
Back is relaxed compared to tense front
Hi does the first Riace warrior convey sense of alertness ?
Turn to right contrasts relaxed physique
How do the Riace warriors not show sophrosyne
Gritted teeth 😬
How is Myron’s diskobolos similar to the Delphi charioteer ?
A participant in the Panhellenic games is depicted
How is Myron’s diskobolos. Similar to Artemision Zeus.
Frozen moment technique is used here with participant about to throw the discuss and foot about to come off the floor demonstrating potential movement and dynamism
Describe the pose of Myron’s diskobolos ?
How does it contrast
Unnatural unbalanced and contorted pose in graceful compositional curve with right hand to left foot.
This juxtaposed with the the zig zag created from right arm to arm pit along the backside towards the left leg’s inner knee to the foot.
What is Myron’s diskobolos’ contrast with the New York Kouros
NY kouros uses lines on the body’s Myron used the body to create lines
He uses advanced symmetry to create the ideal natural male
How does classical idealism contribute to Myron’s diskobolos
Classical idealism gives the athlete serenity in midst of strenuous action
Outline very briefly how Myron’s diskobolos’ zig zag / curve could reflect Greek ideal ?
The aesthetically opposite elements of curve and zig zag, which fit together in one whole
Could represent the mentally classically idealised individual who incorporates the elements of life into a harmonious whole
What is Polykleitos famous for creating artistically
A new cannon of proportions for depicting the human body
Which statues are roman copies of Greek originals
Myron’s Diskobolos
Polykleitos’ Diadoumenos
Polykleitos’ Doryphoros
What issue still persists in the 5th century classical period ?
HAIR
How does Piny describe Polykleitos’ Doryphoros.
‘Virile looking boy’
Describe the movement in Polykleitos’ Doryphoros ?
Sauntering relaxed stroll - compared to frozen moment technique ( Artemision Zeus )
Which 2 statues face the problem of a poor all round view?
Myron’s diskobolos
Artemision Zeus
What do both of Polykleitos’ statue copies have which is annoying ?
Supports !
What is significant about the pose of the Doryphoros
Not frozen moment technique but sauntering, relaxed style !
What is the function of the diadoumenos ?
Celebrate Athletic victory
How does the Diadoumenos convey a sense of serenity ? (3)
Sophrosyne expression
Soft and fluid action conveys elegance as he winds fillet around his head
Polykleitos used a system of theoretical rods to eliminate strong lines (vertical and horizontal)from the composition
