As we begin our study of ancient Greek art it is important to understand the varied media and techniques used to create a variety of art forms. Painting on ceramic pottery was an important art form for the ancient Greeks; black-figured and red-figured ceramic vases survive in great numbers, serving to inform us of the developments made by Greek painters. The process of producing such objects, that were both functional and inspiring, was complicated and one that entailed continued refinement. The creation of sculptures, both in marble and in bronze, was as equally important to Greek artists, and much of what we know about this three-dimensional art form survives through archaeological evidence of original Greek marble or bronze sculptures, and from Roman copies of Greek sculptures. An important development for ancient Greek sculpture was the use of bronze to realize the human form and depict it in expressive and dynamic movement. The capabilities of using bronze, a material whose tensile strength, its capability to be drawn out or stretched and supportive of its own weight, liberated the human form and contributed to the Greek aim of representing greater realism. The process of sculpting in bronze, whether solid cast or hollow cast, was one that was invented and masterfully developed in the ancient Near East. The earliest known life-size, monumental work of hollow-cast sculpture is one we are familiar with, The Head of an Akkadian Ruler. The process of making a hollow metal sculpture as opposed to pouring metal into a mold and producing a solid sculpture, was one that came to serve the purpose of financial economy as well as lightening the weight of life-size and greater than life size sculptures produced in bronze. Methods for hollow casting developed early on in the Near East using a technique known as lost-wax or cire perdue casting. The method survived and it was introduced throughout the Mediterranean world making its way to mainland Greece. The methods for producing ceramics and bronze sculpture are fascinating, revealing the sophisticated science of these ancient civilizations. These methods are still used today with very little alteration and I invite you to watch the videos below to learn more. Comment on what impresses you or what you have come to understand about these processes and/or the artists of such works. Post your thoughts by and enjoy the videos! I look forward to hearing from you… LaunchPad: Ancient Greek Vase Production and the Black-Figure Technique Art Institute of Chicago (Video, 4:15) https://youtu.be/FpLPx_Akl7Y Mesmerizing Animation: Capturing an Emperor’s Face in Bronze, National Geographic Short Film Showcase Direct Lost-Wax Casting (Video 4:19) youtu.be/pOM6gUp42EY Casting bronze: Indirect Lost-Wax Method Khan Academy (Video, 6:09) https://youtu.be/4AR_KftDRs4 |
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