GREEK AND ROMAN
SCULPTURES
by Group 2
REPORT OUTLINE
I. Brief History of the Greek and Roman Sculptures
II. Characteristics of the Greek Sculptures
III. Characteristics of the Roman Sculptures
IV. Similarities and Differences
History
The art of the ancient Greeks and Romans is called classical art. This name is also applied to later times when artists looked to this vintage aesthetic for inspiration. The Romans contributed to the Greek art's transmission to later eras by learning sculpture and painting largely from the Greeks. The reason why classical art has endured is because of its beauty, humanity, and simplicity.
Brief
The first and greatest period of classical art began in Greece about the middle of the 5th century bc. By that time Greek sculptors had solved many of the problems that faced artists in the early archaic period.
They were interested chiefly in portraying gods, however. They thought of their gods as people, but grander and more beautiful than any human being. They tried, therefore, to portray ideal beauty rather than any particular person. Their best sculptures achieved almost godlike perfection in their calm, ordered beauty.
Acropolis of Athens Artemision Bronze Aphrodite
Chracteristics
GREEK SCULPTURES
Aphrodite of Milos
Ermis of Praxitelis
Primarily Religious Idealism
Many of the Greek Sculptures depicted gods, goddesses, and other religious figures, and these sculptures were often placed in temples and other religious sites as a way of honoring and worshiping these figures.
Idealism in Greek sculpture is a manifestation of the Greek belief in the perfectibility of the human form, and the desire to create art that embodied the highest ideals of beauty, order, and harmony.
Realism Sense of Movement
Despite the idealized form, Greek sculptors paid close attention to the details of the human anatomy. They depicted muscles, bones, and other physical features with great precision and accuracy.
Greek sculptures often convey a sense of motion and fluidity, even when the figures are standing still. This was achieved through the use of contrapposto, a pose in which the weight is shifted onto one leg, creating a naturalistic stance.
Use of Marble
Greek sculptures were typically made from marble, a material that allowed for intricate detail and smooth surfaces. The use of marble also gave the sculptures a sense of timelessness and durability.
Facts
Ancient Greek artifacts reveal that most Greek Sculptures were created primarily for religious reasons throughout the Archaic and Classical periods. Many Greek sculptors created the sculptures for use in dedication to a specific religious deity or mythological being for various temples.
Chracteristics
ROMAN SCULPTURES
Emperor Marcus Aurelius
(Equestrian Emperor)
Augustus of Primaporta
(bronze statue of approx. 20 B.C., Early 1st century)
Realism
Roman sculpture aimed for a more realistic depiction of the human form than Greek sculpture. This was achieved by showing naturalistic wrinkles, expressions, and movements.
Portraiture
Roman sculpture was often commissioned as portraits of historical figures, emperors, and prominent citizens, which emphasized individual likeness and captured the sitter's features in detail.
Monumentality
Roman sculpture was often large in scale, designed to create an imposing presence in public spaces and convey power and authority.
Narrative Scenes
Roman sculpture often depicted narrative scenes, such as battles, mythological events, or historical moments, which conveyed a story or conveyed a moral message.
Symbolism
Roman sculpture incorporated symbols and allegories to convey political or religious message
Technical Skills
Roman sculptors were highly skilled in a range of techniques, including carving in marble or bronze, casting, and modeling.
Facts
Many Roman sculptures were originally painted in vivid colors, but much of the paint has worn away over time. The Romans were also skilled at creating animal sculptures, including lifelike depictions of horses, lions, and other creatures. Many of the most famous Roman sculptures were copies of earlier Greek works, which were highly prized by the Romans for their beauty and artistic merit.
Facts
Some Roman sculptures were designed to be viewed from all sides, which meant that the figures had to be carefully crafted to look realistic from any angle. ( refer to the image presentation below )
The ancient Romans had a special type of sculpture called a "togatus," which depicted a figure wearing a toga, the traditional garment of Roman citizens. Roman sculptors often created life-size portraits of their patrons, which were displayed in public spaces to celebrate their achievements and status.
Head of a Roman Patrician from Otricoli,
c. 75-50 BCE. Image via Wikimedia Commons.)
Similarities
Marble and bronze were the primary materials used in both Grecian and Roman sculpture.
Particularly in the realm of portraiture, both cultures placed a high importance on realism and the representation of the human form.
Roman and Greek sculptures were both utilized to adorn public areas and to express mythical and spiritual ideas.
Similarities
Both cultures incorporated allegory and symbolism into their sculptures, frequently using mythology and other cultural practices as inspiration.
Both Greek and Roman sculptures depicted both more epic storylines, such as battles and legendary tales, as well as more commonplace events, such as hunting and sports.
Differences
Roman sculptures placed more emphasis on realism and personality than Greek sculptures, which tended to be more idealized and concentrated on the human form's perfection.
Roman sculptures often featured dressed or partially clothed figures, but Greek sculptures frequently featured naked figures.
Differences
Ancient Greek mythology and religion had a significant effect on Greek sculpture, whereas Roman sculpture drew from a wider range of materials, encompassing both Greek and Roman mythology as well as actual historical figures and events.
Roman sculptures were frequently bigger and more massive, whereas Greek sculptures were typically smaller and more delicate.
Differences
Roman sculptures served a larger variety of goals, such as ornament, propaganda, and memorial, compared to Greek sculptures, which were frequently made for ceremonial or religious reasons.
Overall, while Greek and Roman sculptures share many similarities in terms of their materials, themes, and techniques, they also have distinct differences in terms of their styles, functions, and cultural contexts.