Sculpture Flashcards
acroterion (central/lateral)
sculpture set on a roof
agalma/agalmata
synonymous w a votive statue
anastole
central upswept lock(s) of hair
anthropomorphic
a non-human being in human form
arete
(mostly manly) virtue i.e. nobility, restraint
caduceus
staff attribute of Hermes and asclepius
caryatid
female statue acting as a column
contrapposto
weight shifted pose onto a foot across mid axis w the upper body corresponding
chryselephantine
gold and ivory
diadochoi
the successor individuals to AtG
fillet
ribbon of cloth, often a funerary offering
gorgoneion
face of the gorgon as an emblem
kore
literally unwed girl; archaic draped female votive or grave statues
kouros
archaic standing nude male statue
thiasos
procession of Dionysos with attendants (satyrs, silens, nymphs, maenads)
votive (statue, artefact in general)
a gift dedicated to a deity
chiton
tunic that fastens at the shoulder, often worn UNDER a himation
himation
outer cloak-like garment worn over left shoulder, often worn OVER a chiton
peplos
thick, full length garment for women
symmetria
consistent proportionality and correspondence between parts of the body
rhythmos
sense of potential movement with coordination of seemingly moving body parts
akribeia
detailed observation of bodily features on a small and larger scale
‘Leonidas’ Spartan portrait
c.470s-60s
Tyrannicides, Ath Agora
477/76
Harmodius and Aristogeiton
R copy of bronze originals; displayed in agora, first mortal men displayed there - imp of the men to athens’ civic mythology; physique and posture v classical; some elements m archaic e.g. H’s snail curl hairstyle
Delphi Charioteer
478/4
bronze original; votive sculpture dedicated by rulers of Syracuse to Delphi; fixed stare and heavy drapery charac of severe style; classical realism of face and feet as well as relatively organic posture; cold work includes inlaid eyes and copper eyelashes
Athena Statue, Parthenos
438/7
Erechthion Caryatids, Athens
409
What are the 4 primary considerations when analysing a sculpture?
subject
style
technique
context
For what purpose would sculptors create a piece?
from a commission, likely little own influence
What was the highest regarded material for sculptures?
bronze
What is the problem with roman copies? (2) Advantages?
often not the original material (bronze original made by romans in marble) and decontextualised
records now lost greek works
What are the four types of sculptural context in classical period?
TEMPLE
VOTIVE
CEMETERIES
PUBLIC
What are two key changes in E Class sculpture for both male and female statues?
Bodies - m realistic, dynamic, and engaging for viewer
Personal styling - hair’s shorter, textured, and less ostentatious; pubic hair m realistic; outfits generally just himation.
What does the term super verum mean?
highly idealised and realistic
not as realistic as the 4th cent portraiture but more so than archaic
Motya Charioteer
Motya = island off coast of Sicily was secondary location; votive; original piece in parian marble; facial features and unique dynamism of pose v classical; snail curl hair left over from archaic p; v realistic features include veins in arm; possibly a depiction of an elite man who had some success w horse competition
Riace bronzes
contested date; likely displayed as a group in a sanctuary context VOTIVE; originally carried weapons; relaxed dynamism of poses; long hair of A suggests warrior hero status and B’s shorter hair likely more like general (warrior and hero combo is attested in literature); inlaid ivory and gems, copper nipples and lips, and veins on hands and feet show level of e class detail
What is the theory of symmetria that appears to have influenced early classical style?
consistent proportionality and correspondence between parts of the body
Diskoboulos
‘discuss thrower’; athlete subject, dedicated for a successful individual; organic posture, extremely short hair, and hard musculature are the primary E classical features; very unique pose
Doryphoros
‘spear bearer’; terminus ante quem c400 but more likely 470-50 BCE period; athletic youth, dedicated for a successful individual; trailing back leg with tense foreleg; archaic styled hair but classical short; many roman casts have been made but for each one is scale and body config
Diadoumenos
‘diadem wearer’; athletic victor dedicatory statue; tying fillet/diadem to his head; again, trailing back leg w tense foreleg; naturalistic hairstyle, accentuated volume with flattening of hair by diadem; by Polykleitos like Doryphoros often said to be the latter of the two
What are the schemes of the Parthenon sculpt decoration?
E pediment: Birth of Athena
W pediment: Athens and Poseidon in their conflict over patronage of Athens
Metopes:
W - Amazonomachy
N - Trojan war scene
W - gigantomachy
S - centauromachy
Ionic F: Great Panathenaea
What are the schemes of the T of Zeus at Olympia?
E pediment: Oinomaos v pelops chariot race, celebration of Pelops
W pediment: centauromachy involving the Lapiths
Metopes: 12 labours of Herakles
What are the three main spaces for sculptural (and other) imagery in the G city in which people can engage with them?
intra- and extraurban sanctuaries
agora
periurban cemetries
What is an important social interaction that Hölscher identifies as influencing the display of sculpture? Significance?
gift exchange
The giver and recipient are both reflected in the gift
What are the two factors influencing votive offerings/statues as gifts?
gratitude to the god/goddess or hero/heroine on the one hand
self-assertion of the dedicator before the community
Who were the first mortals to be honoured with public images?
athletic victors at Panhellenic games
How did Olympia adapt to the 6th cent change of dedicatory statues becoming more self indulgent? Cities?
set out and enforce various regulations around the practice of statue display incl limiting to heights of no more than life size
Far less restriction as the self-indulgence was celebrated by community as a sense of pride.
What are the diff situations in which a dedicatory statue was erected?
-athlete sets up his own statue after a victory
-athlete sets up a grand statue/monument after a collection of victories
-athletes wait until later in life to erect a statue/monument for their victories (loss of religious signif comp to prev 2)
-relatives/friends set up a statue/monument to emphasise familial prestige
-posthumous statue by relatives/descendants, again signif to family’s rep
-developing a group monument of statues of relatives even in some cases to create a gallery like arrangement
-polis erecting statue for one of their atheletes in a panhell sanct
-posthumous statue by polis, emph of the past of community
-grouping athletes with shared disciplines as celebrations of particular abilities
What was the change in placement of dedicatory statues at Olympia? Signif of these placements?
At first they were in very centre of the religious and athletic events so served as visual models for athletes actually competing.
Then, statues were arranged along walkways, 5th cent saw many placed along main route of relig procession. Maximised the impact of these statues and added engagement w statues.
What does Hölscher continually emphasise as to the signif of statues in greek culture? Specific signif of particular types?
they were part of the communities in which they stood that brought a vitality of the dead/gods/famous figures into daily life
God statues: means mortals could interact w them in ritual activity; the Dead: the living could interact w them in rites and memories; Virtuous indivs: models of beahviour and achievements
What was the function of public honorific statues?
secured the presence and memory of a person and what they represented within the community
What type of monument does Hölscher say the Tyrannicides were first of?
political monument, especially as displayed in agora that had exclusively religious dedications previously
What function did honourific statues have for the polis?
built up an ‘historical physiognomy’
In what aspects of human socialisation did imagery intervene?
Social spaces - displayed in particualr spaces relevant to the subject and intention.
Social time - promoted conversation and discourse among ppl.
Social action - dealt with in religious rituals, referred to in political debates, viewed, reflected upon and discussed in situations of private life.
What is the reciprocity that occurred in viewing/engaging w a statue?
statues provided their impact
the viewer then responds with a reaction
when were battle friezes particularly popular in mainland greece?
end of 5th into 4th cents BCE
