Ancient World Figurative Sculpture Part 1

Ancient WorldFigurative Sculpture Part 1

Ancient Greece

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PRE/HISTORICHumans originate in Africa and migrate to cover the globe

Caves found in Europe:Lascaux, FranceSantander SpainChauvet FranceGermany

Venus of Willendorf. c. 25,000–20,000 BCE.height 4 1/2 in.

MESOPOTAMIA

SumeriansAkkadians

BabyloniansAssyriansPersians

Worshippers and deities from the Abu Temple. c. 2900–2600 BCE.height of tallest figure 30 in.

Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions, from the palace complex of Assurnasirpal II. c. 850 BCE.

height approximately 39 in.

Map of Ancient Mesopotamia, Babylonia, and Egypt.

EGYPT

Pyramids of Menkaure (c. 2470 BCE), Khafre (c. 2500 BCE), and Khufu (c. 2530 BCE).Original height of Pyramid of Khufu 480 ft., length of each side at base 755 ft.

King Khafre. c. 2530 BCE.height 66 1/8 in.

Title: Pair Statue of Menkaure and his Queen, Khamerernebty II

Artist: n/a

Date: Old Kingdon, Dynasty IV, c. 2548 – 2530 BCE

Source/Museum: Egypt, Giza Valley Temple of Menkaure. Harvard-Museum Expedition. Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Medium: Graywacke

Size: Height 54 ½ in.

Senwosret I led by Atum to Amun-Re. c. 1930 BCE.height 13 ft. 6 in.

GREECE

Video Intro: Nude in Art

The Greek World

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Figure 5-3 Hero and centaur

(Herakles and Nessos?), from Olympia,Greece, ca. 750–730 BCE. Bronze,

4 ½“15

Figure 5-6 Lady of Auxerre, ca. 650–625 BCE. Limestone, 2’ 1

1/2” high. Louvre, Paris.

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5.2 Archaic Period (6th century BCE)

• Notice how representation of the human figure changes

• Recognize the emergence of the Doric and Ionic orders of architecture

• Realize the refinement of Greek vase painting and differentiate between black-figure and red-figure vases

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The Human Figure in Archaic Art

• Understand the development and influences relating to the early Greek kouros (male youth)/kouroi (pl.)

• Understand the development and influences relating to the kore (maiden)/korai (pl.).

• What culture(s) had a significant influence on the New York kouros? How is it uniquely Greek?

• What was/were the purpose(s) of such statues?

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Figure 5-7 Kouros, ca. 600 BCE. Marble,

6’ 1/2” high. Metropolitan

Museum of Art, New York.

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Figure 5-8 Calf Bearer, dedicated by

Rhonbos on the Acropolis, Athens,

Greece, ca. 560 BCE. Marble, restored height

5’ 5”; fragment 3’ 11 1/2” high. Acropolis Museum, Athens.

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Figure 5-9 Kroisos, from Anavysos, Greece, ca. 530

BCE. Marble, 6’ 4” high. National Archaeological

Museum, Athens.

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GREEK KOUROS FIGURES

Figure 5-10 Peplos Kore, from the Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca. 530 BCE. Marble, 4’ high. Acropolis Museum, Athens.

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Most stone statues were painted. Notice also that the Peplos Kore is clothed.

Figure 5-11 Kore, from the Acropolis, Athens, Greece, ca.

520–510 BCE. Marble, 1’ 9” high. Acropolis Museum,

Athens.

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