Wednesday, October 6, 2010

High Classical Art: Athens Acropolis

Early Classical-Temple of Zeus, Olympia
-expressionless, idealized, athletic build, peplos dress (plain), broad cheeks, big chins, few details, "severe style"

High Classical-Acropolis, Athens
-more details, prettier faces, finer details and facial structure

Acropolis

Perikles (architect), Periklean building program
Athens Acropolis (high city, old citadel, religious center)
High Classical 450-400 BC
Marble
Four Buildings:
Nike Temple (tiny temple, temple to Athena nike (victory)) - tiny building by entry way
Propylaia (opening, entry gate) - far left, upper portion, in grey
Erechtheion (Erecthius's palace, legendary)
Parthenon (Athena as virgin) - large grey building, upper portion

Temple of Athena Nike
Acropolis
Athens
Ionic 

Nike Temple frieze
battle, shown nude (didn't fight nude, makes them look heroic), shows fighting easterners, most likely persians, most likely the Marathon battle

Nike Temple parapet and bastion
Nike-shown as a winged figure of victory, (later an angel), taking off sandal to show that it is sacred ground
Nike offers a trophy to athena (athena is athens)
Victory of the Athenians over the Persians-war monument

Evolution in the art:
Wet drapery-shows body underneath, clings to body

Propyleia
(Front Gate)
Exterior-Doric
Interior-Ionic

Erectheion
Acropolis
Athens
Used to be a frieze, 3 porches, unusual place for a building, ionic
Change in ground line, trying to enclose several sacred places (palace of Erecthius, olive tree, and broken rock from Poseidon, statue of Athena-wore wood and real clothing)
Athena Polios - Athena of the City

Caryatid Porch
Erectheion
Contopposto

Parthenon
Temple of Athena
Acropolis
Athens
Exterior-doric
Interior-doric and ionic
highly decorated, continuous frieze



Parthenon Optical Refinements
Stylobate curvature
bulge in center of columns, no 90 degree angles
Can see the curvature if you are looking for it

West pediment
Competition between Athena and Poseidon
composition of the "V" - reference to Athens at its high point

East Pediment
Birth of Athena
trying to show time of day, Athena was born at dawn, so the chariot is bringing the sun
some experimentation

Three Goddesses of the East Pediment

METOPES
South: Lapis fighting the Centaur
West: Greeks fighting Amazons
North: Greeks fighting Trojans
East: Gods fighting Giants
Greek Victory!

Parthenon Frieze: Panathenaic Procession


Panathenaic Festival Frieze
Parthenon
Acropolis, Athens


Pihdias
Athena Parthanon
Model of the lost chryselephantine statue
gold


















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