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2. The Foundations of Western Art: Ancient Greece and Rome

Introduction 1

  • kouros: male statue; Koure: female statue.
  • Greeks were obsessed with the ideal human form; however, Romans were more interested in the actual human form.
  • The statue of Praxiteles was the first nude woman statue; as the Greeks were sculpting men nude and women clothed.
  • Romans copied Greek art and architecture; and even the gods, but they changed their names:
    • Zeus became Jupiter.
    • Athena became Minerva.
    • Aphrodite became Venus.
    • Poseidon became Neptune.
  • The ideal size of the body was 8 heads tall, while the realistic one was 6-6.5 heads tall.

Greek Art and Architecture 2 3 4 5 6

  • Parthenon:
    • It is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena built by Pericles 461-429 BCE.
    • It was built from Pentelic marble.

Hellenistic Art and Architecture 7

Roman Art and Architecture 8 9 10 11 12

Optional Resources 13

References

  1. Ancient Greek and Roman art [Video]. (n.d.). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/approaches-to-art-history/very-beginner/ancient-medieval-art/v/greek-and-roman-art ↩

  2. Hemingway, C. & Hemingway, S.. (n.d.). The Art of Classical Greece (ca. 480–323 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tacg/hd_tacg.htm ↩

  3. Polykleitos, Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) [Video]. (n.d.). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap/greece-etruria-rome/v/polykleitos-doryphoros-spear-bearer ↩

  4. Hemingway, A. C. (n.d.). Architecture in Ancient Greece. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grarc/hd_grarc.htm ↩

  5. The classical orders [Video] (n.d.). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap/greece-etruria-rome/v/the-classical-orders ↩

  6. Haynes, N. (n.d.). When the Parthenon had dazzling colors. BBC Culture. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180119-when-the-parthenon-had-dazzling-colours ↩

  7. Hemingway, C. & Hemingway, S. (n.d.). Art of the Hellenistic Age and the Hellenistic Tradition. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/haht/hd_haht.htm ↩

  8. Ambler, J. (n.d.). Introduction to Ancient Roman Art. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/beginners-guide-rome/a/introduction-to-ancient-roman-art?modal=1 ↩

  9. Rome’s history in four faces at The Met [Video]. (n.d.). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman ↩

  10. Ambler, J. (n.d.). Roman wall painting styles. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/wall-painting/a/roman-wall-painting-styles ↩

  11. Ambler, J. (n.d.). Roman Architecture. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/x7e914f5b:beginner-guides-to-roman-architecture/a/roman-architecture?modal=1 ↩

  12. Smarthistory. (n.d.). Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZQJgqBcyw4 ↩

  13. Who owns the Parthenon sculptures? [Video]. (n.d.). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap/greece-etruria-rome/v/who-owns-the-parthenon-sculptures ↩