ANCIENT GREECE
Famous Greek sculptor PolyKleitos created the 'Canon'. What is the 'canon'?
The Canon was the Greeks understanding and theory of proportions within the body. The Canon cannot be referred to without the direct reference to the ‘Contrapposto’, and the artwork, Doryphoros. The Canon splits the body up into mathematical portions from where the artist can base his/her view of the form accurately.
The Canon was the Greeks understanding and theory of proportions within the body. The Canon cannot be referred to without the direct reference to the ‘Contrapposto’, and the artwork, Doryphoros. The Canon splits the body up into mathematical portions from where the artist can base his/her view of the form accurately.
What impact did the 'canon' have upon the way human body was depicted?
After the development of the Canon, Greek artist were able to see the human form in a new way. Before the Canon the statues had an unrealistic sense to them and the idea of movement escaped them. This is what the Canon brought to Ancient Greek art. A more life-like, pose was depicted as the body was proportioned correctly.
After the development of the Canon, Greek artist were able to see the human form in a new way. Before the Canon the statues had an unrealistic sense to them and the idea of movement escaped them. This is what the Canon brought to Ancient Greek art. A more life-like, pose was depicted as the body was proportioned correctly.
Investigate how the following influenced Greek sculpture:
- Advancements in medicine (an interest in anatomy/ how the body works)
Greek sculpture was heavily impacted by the time and events occurring around them. There sculptures often resembled close interactions and studies of the human form. As the works developed and advances in medicine continued, artists were able to change the way they showed parts of the body, in particular the muscle tone. Greek culture was greatly led by the never-ending desire to find the ideal form. The emotions captured on the face of the sculpture, ‘Doryphoros’ is serious implying the subject was an intelligent and focused man.
- The establishment of the Olympic games
Another major influence of Greek society was the focus on the physical appearance and the ‘perfect’ human. Although many depictions of the body became unrealistic the search for this form became an over powering factor for artist particularly after the establishment of the Olympic games. The endurance and power associated with the games began a focus on capturing the figure in movement rather than a formal pose, this is evident in the artwork, ‘Diskobolos’.
- Religion and Greek mythology
As well as many other ancient cultures the Greeks were influences and strived greatly to relate their lives to those of the Gods. Greek mythology describes the Gods as both physically and intelligently perfect and the Greek aimed for these features within themselves, as shown in the artwork, ‘Riace Bronzes’. Being the creators of the art world, the Greeks used their knowledge of the Canon and processes to create works based on the idea of man being equal to God. Majority of the works within ancient Greece are of males due to this reason, that man had a stronger connection to the Gods.
- Advancements in medicine (an interest in anatomy/ how the body works)
Greek sculpture was heavily impacted by the time and events occurring around them. There sculptures often resembled close interactions and studies of the human form. As the works developed and advances in medicine continued, artists were able to change the way they showed parts of the body, in particular the muscle tone. Greek culture was greatly led by the never-ending desire to find the ideal form. The emotions captured on the face of the sculpture, ‘Doryphoros’ is serious implying the subject was an intelligent and focused man.
- The establishment of the Olympic games
Another major influence of Greek society was the focus on the physical appearance and the ‘perfect’ human. Although many depictions of the body became unrealistic the search for this form became an over powering factor for artist particularly after the establishment of the Olympic games. The endurance and power associated with the games began a focus on capturing the figure in movement rather than a formal pose, this is evident in the artwork, ‘Diskobolos’.
- Religion and Greek mythology
As well as many other ancient cultures the Greeks were influences and strived greatly to relate their lives to those of the Gods. Greek mythology describes the Gods as both physically and intelligently perfect and the Greek aimed for these features within themselves, as shown in the artwork, ‘Riace Bronzes’. Being the creators of the art world, the Greeks used their knowledge of the Canon and processes to create works based on the idea of man being equal to God. Majority of the works within ancient Greece are of males due to this reason, that man had a stronger connection to the Gods.
In what ways did the Greeks search for the 'ideal' extend beyond the reality of the human form? Refer to at least one example to support your argument.
As previously stated the search for the ideal form was often lost as the Greeks started to depict the form in an unrealistic physical manner. A perfect example of this is the ‘Riace Bronzes’. The muscle tone in these sculpture provided Greek men with an unrealistic goal of perfection. Also within these works the proportioning of the legs extending higher in to the waist. This was done to focus the viewer’s attention to the muscle tone within the upper half of the body.
As previously stated the search for the ideal form was often lost as the Greeks started to depict the form in an unrealistic physical manner. A perfect example of this is the ‘Riace Bronzes’. The muscle tone in these sculpture provided Greek men with an unrealistic goal of perfection. Also within these works the proportioning of the legs extending higher in to the waist. This was done to focus the viewer’s attention to the muscle tone within the upper half of the body.