Concept Art Influenced By Greek and Roman Art

Material 2 Art Influence

The art that really influenced me was Greek and Roman architecture. Their designs with temples and sanctuaries were really enlightening.  I want to become a 3D Modeler for digital applications, and the things I learned from studying the Greeks and Romans was not only informative, but inspiring. The way that they would bulge the columns at the bottom to create a greater sense of illusion, the way they used perfect equations to make structures more pleasing to the eye, and the way that they directed the viewers eye to specific points was incredible to say the least. I have used these techniques in my digital models to get more pleasing results. For example, I will set up views in my scene that showcases the entire structure. I will also follow guidelines to Doric and Ionic order when I am creating temples. It is almost funny how much Greek and Roman architecture influences us today, just look at Washington D.C. The Capital building is built up with giant columns with detailed capitals and strong bases. The dome on the top resembles similar architecture in Rome like the Pantheon. The Supreme Court building has tall columns holding up pediments that contain detailed relief sculptures. All these building look very similar to these earlier Greek and Roman building styles. It is easy to see how these historical buildings can inspire other nations. I think it is important that we all take from the styles and movements of the past.  

Material 2 Favorite Art

The piece that I felt was most appealing was “Commodus As Hercules”. There were several reasons why I thought that this piece was very interesting. First was the technical approach the artist took. This sculpture looks so real. There is a wide range of textures being showcased in this piece creating a high level of interest that moves my eyes around the sculpture. Going from the softness of his flesh to the contours out of the pelt, it is hard to believe that this is all the same material. Another thing that interested me was emotions conveyed in this piece.  The relaxed, yet confident gesture of Commodus really told me a lot about what kind of person he was. I just find it interesting that in most portraiture in the classical periods did not reflect the subject’s personality. But when you moved into the High Imperial period, I really start to see a sense of individuality. There is also this kind of comedic value to this piece. I really got a sense that Commodus was full of himself. I could tell just by his expression on his face and the way he was being portrayed has the great Hercules. It is almost kind of funny, because there is a great deal of people in life whom I could relate him to.  Overall, I find that not only the technical aspect of this piece is amazing, but also the emotion and personality that this piece expresses.

Material 2 Summary

After the dominance of the Aegen civilization came to an end, the Greeks started to rise in power. They started forming self-governing city-states. Out of these city-states Athens rose to commercial and cultural power. The government became very democratic, and many rights were given to the people. This type of society gave rise to much great advancement in art and technology.

The Geometric period.

-During the geometric period, art had flourished. This could be seen in ceramics and figures.

-Many new styles were developed, such as cross-hatching, spirals and diamonds used to create    complex linier narratives.

The Archaic Period

-During the Archiac period, artist and architects began to create outstanding pieces of work, including sanctuaries and temples in honor of the gods.

-Great relief sculptures were displayed throughout these structures.

-This period really gave a start to great work in the later classical periods.

Early Classical

-The Greeks defeated Persia, and rose in power.

-Artist followed the ways of humanism, rationalism, and idealism

-They started to describe an ideal form of beauty

-They started to embrace humanism, and saw humans as the ideal species.

-Moved away from more stylistic approach, more towards how to express humans in a realistic way

High Classical   

-Sparta and Athens began to conflict.

-It was the start of the “Golden Age”, and art became more refined.

-Athens grew in commercial power

-Mathematics played a big part of architecture

-Artist began to envision the ideal form and this could be seen in a lot of sculptures and paintings.

Late Classical Period

-Spartans Defeated Athens

-Athens recovered its independence

-Alexander the Great ruled.

-Artist had mastered ideal proportions and started moving away and challenging those standards.

-Sculptures and castings began to showcase more gestural poses and a variety of different surface textures.

-Painting began to become more complex as well. They began to show a variety of techniques along with more complexity and depth.

Hellenistic Period 

-Alexander died unexpectedly

-Generals took over and split Greece into three parts.

-Art moved away from idealization of concepts and moved towards a more dramatic, emotional and individual style.

-Structures, columns and sculptures became complex with a highly dramatic feel. They were carved with elaborate detail and a variety of materials.

Etruscan Art 

-About 1000 BCE, Villanovans occupied the northern and western regions of the peninsula. Etruscans, who were probably related to the Villanovans, gained control of the north.

-Cities were laid out in a grid like pattern with two main streets going north and south.

-The Etruscan temples were simple in form, but contained elaborate paintings and terra-cotta sculptures. Their temple designs closely resembled Doric style.

-Relief sculptures were much more individualized. Styles were much more whimsical and often showcased more personal scenes.

Roman Republic

-Overthrew the Etruscans in 509 BCE and formed a republic centered in Rome.

-The Republic was divided into lower and higher classes

-They admired Greek art, and started to reflect their style. Their structures seemed to reflect Etruscan and Greek architecture.

-Their sculptures were focused on human emotions and capturing the likeness to the subject.

The Early Empire

-Octavian united the various provinces of Rome

-This new unification led to various building programs in Rome. New materials and building plans were used to ensure beauty and efficiency.

-Art become a combination of old, favored traditions and new contemporary techniques. The focus was not only on political points, but also on individual ideologies.

-Romans began to focus more heavily on interior then exterior.

The Flavians

-The Julio-Claudian dynasty ended and the Flavian dynasty began.

-This gave way to great architectural structures like the Arch of Tidus and the Amphitheater.

Sculptors still heavily focused on portraits and incorporating a likeness to the subject.

High Imperial Art

-After the Flavian rule ended great rulers like Trajan and Hadrian were born.

-Romans believed that their rule extended to the ends of the earth.

-Dense building plans began, and a great city arose.

-Villas began to be built by the rich to escape the overbearing density of the city.

-New technologies in architecture were being created; this could be seen in buildings like the pantheon.

The Late Empire

-The comfortable life was coming to an end.

-The rule of Commodus marked this end.

-Art styles began to go from realistic and complex to highly stylized and dramatized.

-We started to see more religious and Christian art come into play.

Early Christian and Byzantine Art

-Art became very religious based

-Religion created certain architectural needs in the community

-A greater range of materials were being used to create paintings

-Paintings became more flat and graphic.