Greek & Etruscan

By Michelle Corona
  • Period: 900 BCE to 31 BCE

    Greek Period

    Greek Art (900-31 BCE) focused on Gods, heroes, everyday life, architecture, and so much more. Artworks consisted of materials such as marble, bronze, clay, and terracotta. Sculpture showcased realistic human bodies and natural poses. Early Greek consisted of pottery and intricate linework. Advanced architecture showcased Parthenons and detailed capitals. Greek art reflected beliefs in beauty, religion, and celebrated athleticism important events.
  • Period: 900 BCE to 700 BCE

    Geometric Period

    The Greek Geometric Period (900-700 BCE) consisted of decorative shapes and patterns, specifically in sculpture and pottery. Artists carved black silhouettes and geometric designs like lines, circles, and meander swirls. They used pottery as a funerary object and grave markers to honor the dead. Themes included funerary scenes, animals, and abstracted beings rather than realistic. Art shows how society valued tradition and storytelling through abstracted sculpture and carvings.
  • Period: 800 BCE to 300 BCE

    Etruscan Period

    The Etruscan Period (800-300 BCE) was known for tomb paintings, sculpture, and pottery. Materials mostly consisted of terracotta and bronze to make statues and grave objects. Art depicted funerary scenes, banquets, gods, and focused on afterlife and everyday life.Fibulae pins were primary items made with intricate details and patience to showcase status and importance for those who wore them.Art was expressive and decorative emphasizing on storytelling and tradition, reflecting on the afterlife.
  • Period: 800 BCE to 650 BCE

    Orientalizing Period

    The Greek Orientalizing Period (800-650 BCE) was influenced by Near Eastern and Egyptian Art. Artists used pottery with intricate patterns, animals, and mythological beings/creatures such as griffins, sirens, and sphinxes used primarily for trade. Materials included clay for pottery, and bronze and terracotta for sculptures. Themes included mythological stories and life. This period showcases a change from geometric style to decorative and naturalistic through the influence of Eastern cultures.
  • Greek Geometric Period, Mantillos Apollo, 700-680 BCE, Bronze, 8” ht, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
    700 BCE

    Greek Geometric Period, Mantillos Apollo, 700-680 BCE, Bronze, 8” ht, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

    This piece comes from the Geometric Period. It served a religious purpose as a votive offering for the God Apollo. Strength is reflected in the statue's idealized male form, abstracted muscles and features, symmetrical proportions, and even hairstyle influenced by the Persian. The statues inscription shows personal devotion to Apollo. Its material consists of bronze, highlighting the importance of valuable objects. This artwork reflects focus on ideal human forms and religious devotion.
  • Etruscan Orientalizing Period, Bucchero, 700-680 BCE, 18.39 cm high, Fine Clay/terracotta, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
    680 BCE

    Etruscan Orientalizing Period, Bucchero, 700-680 BCE, 18.39 cm high, Fine Clay/terracotta, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

    This piece comes from the Etruscan Orientalizing Period depicting a black ceramic pot, the black color comes from firing the clay removing oxygen, turning clay dark. It was primarily used for storing wine, and mostly for the wealthy or high status beings. The pot showcases intricate carvings of mythological creatures and even geometric designs. This piece showcases the Etruscan technique of ceramic craftsmanship and interest in certain luxurious objects made for social status.
  • Greek Orientalizing Period, Eleusis Amphora, 675-650 BCE, Terracotta, 56” ht, Eleusis Archeological Museum, Greece
    675 BCE

    Greek Orientalizing Period, Eleusis Amphora, 675-650 BCE, Terracotta, 56” ht, Eleusis Archeological Museum, Greece

    This piece comes from the Orientalizing Period. It served storytelling and religious purposes depicting mythological scenes and divine power. The visual features characters like Odysseus, Polyphemus, Perseus and Medusa with outline and silhouette. The mythological story showcases the Greeks interest in divine victory and creatures. This vase highlights the period's form of storytelling and intricate detail to reflect beliefs and artistic ability.
  • Period: 650 BCE to 480 BCE

    Archaic Period

    The Greek Archaic Period (650-480 BCE) included the development of naturalistic sculpture alongside the “Archaic Smile” meant to depict being “blessed by the gods”. Art consisted of life-sized statues with rigid composite poses, often used as tomb markers. Pottery included detailed scenery of mythology with black-figure and red-figure techniques. Architecture included temples with detailed capital columns. Art reflects the importance of human beauty, gods, and storytelling of this period.
  • Etruscan Archaic Period, Tomb of Augurs, 530-520 BCE, 13’ x 14’ x 8’, Stone, Necropolis of Monterozzi in Tarquinia, Italy
    520 BCE

    Etruscan Archaic Period, Tomb of Augurs, 530-520 BCE, 13’ x 14’ x 8’, Stone, Necropolis of Monterozzi in Tarquinia, Italy

    This piece comes from the Etruscan Archaic Period, with multiple wall paintings surrounding a tomb. The paintings consist of scenes of funerary games held in honor of the deceased. There is a scene depicting a combat ritual. Through these paintings, there are two figures with arms raised around a door that leads to the passage to the afterlife. These scenes showcase the Etruscan funerary practices, honoring the dead with athletic competitions, religious practices and everyday life.
  • Greek Archaic Period, Dying Warrior, 495-490 BCE, Marble, 6’1”, Temple of Aphaia at Aegina, Greece
    495 BCE

    Greek Archaic Period, Dying Warrior, 495-490 BCE, Marble, 6’1”, Temple of Aphaia at Aegina, Greece

    This piece comes from the Archaic Period, showcasing a soldier's death in battle. The soldier is seen holding up his shield to depict confidence and strength. His features consist of a smile despite his position, showcasing pride in fighting and duty as a warrior. The sculpture reflects the Archaics style of rigid positions and lack of intense emotion, emphasizing on idealized beauty even in death. This work reflects the Archaic focus on symmetry and symbolic meaning in Greek Warrior ideals.
  • Period: 480 BCE to 450 BCE

    Early Classical Period

    The Greek Early Classical (480-450 BCE) marked the start of more realistic, ideal and severe sculptures. Artists developed the contrapposto stance making figures and gods more natural. Pottery scenes became more dynamic still showcasing everyday life and mythological scenes. Parthenon showcased more balanced proportions of mythological scenes. Art reflected harmony, realism and ideal beliefs to showcase Greeces victory after winning wars during this period.
  • Greek Early Classical Period, Polykleitos, Doryphoros, 450-440 BCE, Marble, 6’11” ht, Naples National Archaeological Museum, Italy
    450 BCE

    Greek Early Classical Period, Polykleitos, Doryphoros, 450-440 BCE, Marble, 6’11” ht, Naples National Archaeological Museum, Italy

    This piece comes from the Early Classical Period, showcasing a contrapposto pose statue, emphasizing on idealized human proportions. The sculpture reflects the Greeks interest in creating perfection through balanced body parts. The contrapposto showcases a naturalistic stance that shows movement rather than rigid. This sculpture symbolizes the Greeks' pursuit of presenting the ideal human form through naturalism, marking the periods of more realistic and dynamic sculptures.
  • Period: 450 BCE to 400 BCE

    High Classical Period

    The Greek High Classical (450-400 BCE) was known for the development of harmonized sculptures and architecture. Artists created Parthenon sculptures showcasing idealized, naturalistic human proportions. Architecture became refined with Doric, Corinthian, and Ionic column orders. Overall, Art focused on portraying divine and heroic figures with balance and grace, reflecting Athens culture and confidence during this golden age.
  • Greek High Classical Period, Conquest Between Athena and Poseidon, 447-432 BCE, 42 x 55 in, Acropolis Museum, Athens Greece
    432 BCE

    Greek High Classical Period, Conquest Between Athena and Poseidon, 447-432 BCE, 42 x 55 in, Acropolis Museum, Athens Greece

    This piece comes from the High Classical Period, depicting Athena and Poseidon fighting for the ruling of Athens, symbolizing the city’s divine favor. The sculpture is dynamic with naturalistic figures, detailed anatomy and emotion. Athena and Poseidon are shown in a dramatic position highlighting their power and seeking authority. The piece showcases intricate drapery emphasizing Greeks skill in capturing motion. This piece reflects Greeks focus on divine conquering and advanced naturalism.
  • Period: 400 BCE to 323 BCE

    Late Classical Period

    The Greek Late Classical (400-323 BCE) consisted of the official development of ideal human proportion, and greater emotional expression. Artists created more relaxed and expressive figures with softer and natural poses. The sculptures became more humanized and individualized showing feelings and movement. This period reflects Greeces changing political status and focus on more realistic, emotional and diverse representations of humans and gods, moving away from more idealized perfection.
  • Etruscan Classical Period, Winged-Horses Tarquinia, 350 BCE, 114 cm x 124 cm, Terracotta Panel, National Archaeological Museum Tarquinia, Italy
    350 BCE

    Etruscan Classical Period, Winged-Horses Tarquinia, 350 BCE, 114 cm x 124 cm, Terracotta Panel, National Archaeological Museum Tarquinia, Italy

    This piece comes from the Etruscan Classical Period depicting majestic Pegasus with intricate detailed wings, and motion capturing a sense of power and divinity. These are similar to the Egyptians Lamassu, perhaps they were used as a sense of protection. These were made of terracotta likely as a decorative object for temples. This piece showcases the Etruscan skill in capturing intricate detail of mythological creatures and symbolic importance of horses in their religious and cultural practices.
  • Greek Late Classical Period, Praxiteles, Aphrodite of Knidos, 360-330 BCE, Marble, 6’8”, Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois
    330 BCE

    Greek Late Classical Period, Praxiteles, Aphrodite of Knidos, 360-330 BCE, Marble, 6’8”, Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois

    This piece comes from the Late Classical Period and is considered the first monumental female nude in Greek Sculpture as they were normally depicted in drapery clothing. The nude symbolizes beauty, fertile, and divine birth. The statue is showcased in the Pudica pose emphasizing modesty and reflecting Aphrodite’s divine nature. This piece highlights the Greeks value of Beauty and Divine feminity, depicting the naturalistic style of this period.
  • Period: 323 BCE to 31 BCE

    Hellenistic Period

    The Greek Hellenistic Period (323-31 BCE) consisted of extreme emotional expression and complex dramatic human positions. Humanism becomes more idealized through warriors and gods, narrativizing intense storytelling. Temples developed the Corinthian order column consisting of more intricate design. This period reflected Greeces interest in capturing human emotion and realism. Art was more expressive and theatrical, emphasizing on experiences and effects of chaos and war.
  • Greek Hellenism Period, Dying Gaul, 230-220 BCE, Marble, 3’1”, Capitoline Museum, Rome
    220 BCE

    Greek Hellenism Period, Dying Gaul, 230-220 BCE, Marble, 3’1”, Capitoline Museum, Rome

    This piece comes from the Hellenistic Period depicting a wounded warrior in his final moments similar to the Dying Warrior of the Archaic period. However, this statue captures a more intense, raw emotion rather than rigid and idealized. The warrior's face showcases pain and even disappointment as his shield lies underneath him.The sculpture highlights themes of heroism and resilience even in defeat. This piece showcases the period's more dynamic emotion and symbolic perception of war.