9.4 Classical sculpture and pottery

Classical Greek sculpture and pottery revolutionized art from 480-323 BCE. Sculptors like Polykleitos and Pheidias created lifelike, dynamic figures using new techniques. Pottery shifted to red-figure, allowing for more detailed scenes of mythology and daily life.

These artistic developments reflected broader cultural changes. Public sculptures expressed civic identity, while funerary art revealed attitudes towards death. Both sculpture and pottery played crucial roles in religious practices and social rituals, showcasing Greek cultural influence across the Mediterranean.

Stylistic Developments in Classical Greek Sculpture

Evolution of Sculptural Styles

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• Early Classical or Severe Style (480-450 BCE) transitioned from Archaic to Classical characterized by more naturalistic poses and facial expressions
• High Classical period (450-400 BCE) developed contrapposto creating a more dynamic and lifelike stance in sculpture
• Late Classical period (400-323 BCE) introduced more fluid, graceful forms and emotional expressions (works of Praxiteles and Lysippos)
• Shifted from Archaic frontal poses to three-dimensional compositions allowing viewers to appreciate sculptures from multiple angles
• Portraiture evolved moving from idealized representations to more individualized and realistic depictions of specific people
  • Examples: Portrait of Pericles, Alexander the Great portraits by Lysippos

Influential Sculptors and Techniques

• Polykleitos' Canon established mathematical proportions for the ideal human form influencing sculptural aesthetics throughout the Classical period
  • Example: Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer) embodying Polykleitos' principles
• Chryselephantine sculpture combining gold and ivory reached its pinnacle during the Classical period
  • Monumental works like Pheidias' statue of Zeus at Olympia
  • Other examples: Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon
• Myron's innovations in capturing movement and tension in sculpture
  • Example: Discobolus (Discus Thrower)

Iconography and Themes in Classical Pottery

Mythological and Daily Life Scenes

• Mythological scenes featuring gods, heroes, and epic narratives remained dominant in pottery decoration
  • Examples: Scenes from the Trojan War, Labors of Heracles
• Daily life scenes gained prominence including symposia, athletic competitions, and domestic activities
  • Examples: Women at fountain house, athletes training in palaestra
• Political and historical events began to appear as subjects in vase painting
  • Scenes depicting Persian Wars (Battle of Marathon)
• Iconography related to specific cults and religious practices became more prevalent
  • Eleusinian Mysteries, Dionysian rituals

Artistic Techniques and Funerary Themes

• Shifted from black-figure to red-figure technique allowing for more detailed and expressive depictions
• Evolved perspective and foreshortening techniques enabling more complex and realistic compositions
• Attic white-ground lekythoi used in funerary contexts often depicted scenes related to death, burial, and afterlife
  • Examples: Mourning scenes, Charon and the ferry to the underworld
• Introduced specialized shapes for specific uses
  • Kraters for mixing wine, hydriai for carrying water

Technical Advances in Classical Art

Sculpture Innovations

• Refined lost-wax casting technique for bronze sculpture allowing for more complex and detailed large-scale works
  • Example: Riace Bronzes
• Developed marble carving techniques such as the use of the running drill enabling greater detail and texture
  • Example: Drapery on the Nike of Samothrace
• Introduced specialized tools for sculpting including rasps and claw chisels allowing for more precise and varied surface treatments
  • Examples: Hair textures in portrait sculptures, intricate folds in clothing

Ceramic Production Advancements

• Invented potter's wheel revolutionizing ceramic production allowing for more symmetrical and refined vessel shapes
• Advanced kiln technology leading to better control of firing temperatures resulting in more consistent and higher quality products
• Introduced slip-painting techniques such as dilute glaze to create shading effects enhancing realism of figured scenes
• Innovated pigment production and application expanding the color palette
  • Particularly evident in white-ground and polychrome ceramics
  • Examples: Achilles Painter's white-ground lekythoi

Social Significance of Classical Art

Public and Religious Roles

• Public sculptures in sanctuaries and agoras expressed civic identity and religious devotion
  • Example: Athena Promachos on the Acropolis
• Votive offerings of sculpture and pottery in sanctuaries reflected personal piety and individual-deity relationships
  • Examples: Small bronze figurines, painted pinakes (wooden tablets)
• Sculptural programs on temple pediments and friezes served as visual narratives reinforcing cultural values and beliefs
  • Parthenon frieze depicting Panathenaic procession
• Panathenaic amphorae awarded as prizes in the Panathenaic Games exemplify pottery's integration into major cultural events

Funerary and Social Practices

• Funerary sculpture including stelai and lekythoi provided insights into Greek attitudes towards death and commemoration
  • Examples: Grave stele of Hegeso, white-ground lekythoi with mourning scenes
• Sculpture and pottery played important roles in symposia highlighting their significance in social rituals and elite practices
  • Kraters for mixing wine, kylikes (drinking cups) with symposium scenes
• Exported Attic pottery throughout the Mediterranean demonstrating cultural influence and economic importance of Greek ceramic production
  • Found in Etruscan tombs, Black Sea colonies, and Egyptian markets