This gallery shows the main Periods in Greek Art
Funerary ornament (kneecap?), Unknown, "early 8th c. BC" - "", From the collection of: Museum of Cycladic Art
Geometric Period
- Around 900 BC Classical Greek began forming with the development of the alphabet and political system. Art was mainly sculptures, small bronze figurines, and painted scenes on large vessels the portrayed funerary rituals, and hero warriors. Geometric images had lack of inscriptions and identifying attributions.
Greek scaraboid. Archaic period., Unknown, -0500/-0475, From the collection of: Numismatic Museum
Archaic Period
- Greek artwork began to change. Artists engaged in jewelry, making metal working and gem. Cutting influenced by foreign styles of the Near East and Egypt.
Wild Boar, Unidentified Artist, 530 BCE - 520 BCE, From the collection of: Harvard Art Museums
Pictoral motifs of animal hunts, griffins, sphinxes and sirens began to appear.
Pyxis and lid with sphinx-shaped handle, Etruscan, 650-625 BC (Orientalizing), From the collection of: The Walters Art Museum
The Archaic Period lasted 200 years during the sixth century BC.
Human sculptures became the norm. Artists began depicting the countrys myths and customs through their artwork which led to the Classical Period.
Venus with the Apple, Bertel Thorvaldsen, 1813/1816, From the collection of: Thorvaldsens Museum
Classical Period
-The "Golden Age" of Greek Art
Characterized by Expression movement and celebration of mankind. Human anatomy was fully represented in stone or bronze.
The South-east Corner of the Parthenon, Athens, Giovanni Battista Lusieri, 1803, From the collection of: National Galleries Scotland: National
Works of architecture were completed during the Classical Period such as Parthenon of Athens.
Parthenon sculpture: Centaur and Lapith, -447/-438, From the collection of: British Museum
Mythological figures were represented.
The Classical Period lasted from approximately 380 BC to 323 BC.
Portrait of Alexander the Great, Unknown, From the collection of: National Museum of Denmark
Hellenistic Period
-Began in 330 BC until the conquests and ultimate death of Alexander the Great.
-Lasted until 31 BC
- pieces focused on dramatic posing and contrasts of shadows and light. An example would be in Winged Victory of Samothrace
Youthful Hero or God, Skopas, 1st century BCE - 2nd century CE, From the collection of: Harvard Art Museums
An even higher degree of naturalism came into play with the works of fourth century with sculptures such as Lysipos and Skopas.
Pergamon Altar, Unknown, c. 170 BCE - c. 160 BCE, From the collection of: Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Artwork leans toward more violence and intensity,with groups of mythical subjects engaged in violence. An example would be The Great Altar of Zeus at Pergamon.
Credits: All media
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