Free Blog 6 And 7 Essay Sample

The Ancient Greeks had perfected the techniques associated with art. The Romans applied the knowledge developed by the Greeks to their art. The Romans also idealized Greeks art and in many ways continued many of their traditions and subjects but reflecting Roman ideals. The Etruscans, and earlier civilization in Italy also had ties with the Ancient Greeks and the Greek influence can be seen in their art as well.
The Ancient Greeks were the founders of geometry. This study in mathematics greatly influenced their art. The earliest forms of art, vase painting feature stylized, geometric patterns. From these simple patterns, the Greeks began decorating their pottery with highly stylized and geometric abstractions of people and animals (Hemingway “Greek and Roman”).
As the Greeks moved into sculpture they borrowed from the Egyptians. They gave their humans longer hair to elongate and balance the neck and gave their human subjects a wide stance to stand upon of stability. During the Greeks Golden Age, grand works were constructed like the Parthenon. Athens built the Parthenon to honor the goddess Athena, their patron goddess. Sculpture of the time was highly idealized, representing perfection. Again, mathematics was an important aspect of their art. In sculpture, the Greeks recognized that the human body was approximately 6 and ½ heads high. In order to create a more perfect representation, they used a scale of eight heads high. Until this time, most males were depicted in the nude and females were clothed. As the Greeks evolved into their Hellenistic period, they began to portray women in the nude as well. In addition they incorporated movement and motion into their art. Their interest in the ideal illustration or representation of the human formed was deeply linked to their attitude towards moving towards the ideal as a society (Hemingway “Greek and Roman”).
The art of Rome grew from that of the Etruscans, who in fact were influenced by Greece hundreds of years prior. The Etruscans pottery evoked the style of the Greeks. Their sculpture however, was cruder and did not idealize the human form as did the Greeks. In their own right, they were masters of metal work. Bronze and other metal sculpture was of a fine quality and they are famous for their finely worked jewelry (Hemingway “Etruscan”).
The art of the Romans grew out of the work of the Etruscans and was influenced by the Greeks because they valued the accomplishments of that civilization. Their art, architecture even gods and goddesses were all built upon or borrowed from the Greeks. However, Roman art was not intended to represent the ideals of society as did the Greek expressed with their art. Instead, the Romans used their art for show and decoration. Their art spoke of a powerful civilization and the people who made it so powerful. There were the sculptures of the Roman gods and goddesses but over time, the subject matter became the emperors, the powerful citizens of Rome and the military. Columns that were a part of major architecture showed epic scenes of battle and the victories of the Romans in these campaigns. Their military leaders were celebrated in these works. (Guisepi).
The art of the Ancient Greeks represented their society and their ideals: mathematics; philosophy, and the search for perfection. The Etruscans were influenced by the Greeks, but their skills are better represented in their metal work and practical pieces such as jewelry. The Romans took much of the style from the Greeks but over time began to represent the human form more realistically. Their art was not to portray the ideal but rather man and his accomplishments.

Works Cited

Guisepi, R.A. (ed.). “Greeks and Roman Art.” World History n.d. Web 17 Apr. 2015
http://history-world.org/arthist.html
Hemingway, Colette. “Etruscan Art.” Metropolitan of Art 2007. Web 17 Apr. 2015
<http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/etru/hd_etru.htm>
Hemingway, Colette. “Retrospective Styles in Greek and Roman Sculpture.” Metropolitan
Museum of Art 2007. Web 17 Apr. 2015
<http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grsc/hd_grsc.htm>