From its beginnings in the Minoan Civilization to the age of Hellenistic art, Ancient Greek art remains a great time in the development of arts and crafts. Each new century brought profound changes in the Egyptian art that preceded it. From the Bronze Age to the birth of the Romans, Greece dominated world art and its influence continues. of the present day.
Minoan art
Ancient Greek art, indeed in Europe, goes back to the Bronze Age. On the small Aegean island of Crete (now part of Greece), the Minoan Civilization developed, almost on a par with Ancient Egypt. For example, Minoan art is based on the schismatic style (repetition of human figures, for example) that is commonly found in Egyptian art. The art of carving and painting was included until 1500 BC, when what is commonly called the “Palace Period” emerged, and the painting of walls / a> first appeared in Europe, although only fragments remain today.
But Minoan art, unlike Egyptian art, shows a naturalism and subtlety that was not seen in the art of Egypt. Their navigational orientation provided the natural material that shines through in Minoan painting. Frescoes with dolphins (1500-1450 BC), still hanging in the remains of the Palace of Gnoson, Crete, show a wonderful knowledge of the oceans and marine animals, such as dolphins.
Another fragmentary painting that remains from the Minoan Civilization is the “Toreador Fresco” (1500 BC). One of the most frequent motifs of Minoan culture and art is the leaping bull. Thought to be in some way connected with the Minoan religion, the painting depicts a 3-headed bull leaping over the horns of a bull. It is very rare in the tapestry that it depicts the fall of the following period, in which we see the acrobats covering the bull’s horns, then the middle arch, and the extreme acrobat landing with outstretched arms.
Mycenaean art
Succeeding the Minoan civilization in mainland Greece, the Mycenaean civilization flourished in the Bronze Age. Its history and stories were captured by Homer in the epic poems, “Iliad” and “Odyssey”, which refer to the end of the Mycenaean period (“heric age”). , who led the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War.
Fragments of Mycenaean tablets have been found in two places: Tiryns and Pylos, with scenes of everyday life. In contrast to Minoan art, the Mycenaean was much more serious in nature. The Mycenaean civilization collapsed around 1100 BC, marking the end of the Bronze Age and predating the end of prehistory (that is, the period of history before written records). By 650 BC, Greece had emerged as Europe’s most advanced civilization.
Caesae the Greek potter
Following the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, the memory of painting in Greek art almost disappeared. Where the Egyptians, the Minoans, and the Mycenaeans used frescoes, the Greeks later painted on wooden panels disintegrated in time, and the chief evidence of the art is found in pottery remains. Pottery always served a certain purpose (storage barrels, drinking vessels, containers for spices, and so on). In this pottery a new trend was outlined: the Greek fixation on the human figure, which would become the central theme of Ancient Greek art.
Ezekias, one of the most famous potters, at least two of his works (typically black pots) remain to this day. His most famous “Dionysus in a boat” (540 BC), is important not only because of its perfect balance, but also because it represents a new direction in representation – from symbols to a style that shows more of the world. he has himself
Another change in the evolution of pottery can be seen in the “red figure” art, in which the human figures are not painted, but molded, with black paint applied around them, allowing the red chalk to show through. “Pallas Athena” and “Finis Partis” (490 BC), are two important examples of this style.
Depicting the human form
A focus on the human figure is first seen in Greek pottery and later in sculpture. The depiction of the Greek human body in their art had a direct impact on inclusion and development. Roman art, and later in Western art in general. Ancient Greek statues such as the “Kouros” (before the 6th century BC) were buried in the Egyptian grid. Gradually the lines of the body lost their rigidity – as we saw in the “Kritio Puero” (480 BC) – and finally emerge in sculptures that capture the musculature natural human form, as in “Disc Thrower” (450 BC).
Etruscan Painting
With the expansion of the ancient Greek civilization came a new artistic development, discovered on the Italian peninsula in the 8th century BC. The changes in Greek art, but singularly theirs, the Etruscans were most admired by the Greeks. The first Etruscan art was represented by wall painting, and an important example remains in the “Tomb of the Leopards” (470 B.C.) at Tarquinia The mural shows the joy of a group of bacchanalians, drinking and dancing instruments.
moreover, the work of the Etruscans was only on the left bank, with a fixed plan of slippery life. In “Magientus” (beginning of the 5th century BC), a fresco from the tomb of Rivo di Puglia depicts a scene of brightly colored mourners who lament the inevitable progress of time.
Classical Period
The most important painter of the Classical Period of ancient Greek art (475-450 BC) was Polyanotus, but none of his works remain. We know his famous painting “The Discus Thrower” from ancient Greek writings. The main surviving painting from the 4th century BC is the “Rapture of Proserpina” (340 BC), which was included in the tomb complex, which also contained the remains of Philip II of Macedon.
Full of life and abundance, this naturalistic picture is an explanation of the times among the Greeks. Proserpina is the daughter of Demetrius, the goddess of fertility, who is carried away to the Underworld and emerges as spring.
Hellenistic art
After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, the rise of the city-state emerged, and Hellenistic art in Ancient< /a> Greece. By now Alexander’s influence had become cosmopolitan and flourished through a mixture of Eastern and Western styles. Hellenistic culture prevailed in the region until well after the Roman Empire.
Oriental influence began to flourish because of its art, more ornate ornaments, and religion relegated to the background. Instead of religious subjects, for art focused on gardens, capturing still lifes, portraits, and everyday Greek life. . Art is also much broader. Tables in barbers’ and tailors’ shops and in palaces (as mentioned in ancient writings).
Art in the Hellenistic era was even more concerned with “truth”, even when this meant violent, dramatic scenes. The last example of this philosophy can be seen in “Laocoon and his Two Sons” (1st century AD), a sculpture that depicts a horrific scene. A statue taken from Virgil’s “Aeneid” depicts a Trojan priest with his two sons in the process of strangling sea monsters a>, the revenge of the gods.
The sculpture, rediscovered in 1506, had a great influence on Renaissance artists, such as Michelangelo, who called “Laocoon and his Two Sons” a unique miracle of art. The influence of sculpture continued, and later El Greco’s three works were also painted on the story of Laocoon.
