Greek and Roman Art & Architecture: Key Characteristics
Greek Architecture Characteristics
Greek architecture characteristics: Arquitravada (structure of buildings based on horizontal and vertical lines), near visual harmony, made to measure human (rejection of the monumental), gives artistic form to the outside of buildings and classified into architectural orders (arises from the need to establish a relationship between each of the parts of the building. At the time the order classical Greek fixed relationship between the element that supports the column, and sustained the lintel or architrave). The materials used are stone and marble. The types are temples, theaters, agora, gyms, and stadiums.
Characteristics of Greek Sculpture
Characteristics of Greek sculpture: Materials: Bronze and marble stone, wood, gold, and ivory. Tipology: Relief (pediments and friezes to decorate temples and shrines) and without (reflecting the Hellenic beauty with proportion, balance, symmetry, movement, expressiveness, the volume). Focus: Human Figure (main reason for study and reflection of the Greeks, who represent the gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines of classical mythology, athletes are considered model beauty physical, spiritual), is based on the proportion and balance, similar to the natural (the canon is the ideal man). Policromia: Lost in time, consisted of painted statues of various colors.
Three Stages of Greek Sculpture
- Archaic Period (7th-6th centuries BC): Advanced frontality, stiffness (hieratic), Egyptian influence, arms glued to the body, archaic smile, almond-shaped eyes, schematic muscles, and polychromatism.
- Classical Period (5th century BC): Prevents symmetry, loses frontality, proportion or rate, balanced sculpture expression. Phidias uses the technique of “wet cloths” (to highlight the ways women are wearing these), male nudity, anatomical flexibility, Contrapposto (one foot holding the body weight rating, another is flexed), naturalism, arms separated from the body, bronze and marble materials, energy, and movement (Miro).
- Hellenistic Period (323-31 BC): Breaks with the classical serenity and balance, theatrical values the pathos (extreme intensity of emotions), more movement and dynamism, the importance of sculptures, influenced by Asian cultures, grandeur, anecdotal themes (The child’s spine), seek immediate cause sensations, artists are recreating in his art and seek to resolve technical problems.
Features of Roman Architecture
Features of Roman architecture: Incorporating two new commands to those already used: composite (with elements of the Ionic and Corinthian) and Tuscan (similar to the Doric but smooth shaft and base). Dare to use the vault, the barrel, and the arch half point. Using the dome. Common materials: stone, marble, brick, mortar, concrete, and wood. Development of architecture of a clear conception planning. The city was the reference point of Roman civilization. The city consisted of two main streets or guiding: the cardo (north-south) and decumanus (east-west). The forum came from the Greek agora, was crossroads of these two axes and the center of economic, political, and social city.
Features of Roman Sculpture
Features of Roman sculpture: Great Hellenistic influence, to the extent that is due to Roman copy that is known Greek statues. A marked realism opposed to Greek idealism. Sculpture subordination to architecture. Force had intended to realizations sculptural architectural ornament, as in the reliefs commemorating. Materials: Bronze, stone, and marble. Type: portraits and commemorative reliefs acquired a significance and originality. The portrait tried to be faithful to the models, despite its defects. Within this gender representation of the bust to be very successful also include equestrian portraits. The commemorative reliefs, for his part, used to evoke and celebrate historic events.
Painting and Mosaic
Painting and Mosaic: Preference for mural painting, also kept copies of the painting on wood. The mosaic floors and walls covered mainly. A meticulous realism. Will create the illusion of Verismo, converted into a mirage at first dull. Primacy of mythological themes, daily, landscape, and architectural constructions of fantasy, and portraits. Tendency to represent the individual features. A deep respect for the architectural environment, the purpose of painting and decorative tile was.