Greco-Roman or Medieval?
S. P., 6/b, compared Greco-Roman and Medieval Art.
- Comparison: Greco-Roman & Medieval art
The first thing I always notice on a medieval art composition is the unnatural way of depiction. Though in a Greco-Roman Art composition all things are natural, colours, movements, facial expressions, things are realistic. I prefer the Greco-Roman style because it is realistic, while the Medieval is too serious for me.
(Picture from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Scena_di_commedia%2C_musici_ambulanti%2C_da_villa_di_cecerone_a_pompei%2C_9985%2C_03.JPG)
(Picture from https://www.wikiart.org/en/byzantine-mosaics/mosaic-of-theodora-547)
The Parthenon is a great temple in Athens, where the sculpture of Athena was kept (made of gold and ivory).
Greco-Roman and Medieval art
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Greco-Roman |
Medieval |
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lasted… |
from about the 2nd century BC to the fall of the Roman Empire in 476
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more than 1000 years (until 1500 AC)
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features of depiction
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realistic |
unnatural |
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art and architecture |
temple, Colosseum, agora (doric, ionic, corinthian), sculptures made of marble and stone
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illuminated manuscripts, use of jewellery, altars, Byzantine icons, mosaics, sculptures made of wood
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also famous for… |
Alexander the Great, gods and its temples |
codices, strict rules for people
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what they learn |
philosophy, rhetoric, mathematics music (septem artes liberales – 7 free arts)
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an average/poor person got hardly any education
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they believe in… |
several gods |
one God |
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colours |
natural |
shining |
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would you live in that age |
if I were a rich male, yes |
if I were a famous artist |
- How to make a mosaic?
They made it from broken tiles, little pieces made of stone. First, they broke the materials, drew a pattern, collected little pieces and glued them to make the picture. A 6th-century mosaic in San Apollinaire Nuovo, Ravenna portrays Jesus long-haired and bearded, dressed as a Byzantine emperor.
- Personal experiences
When I was in Italy 3 years ago we visited Ravenna. I can remember all the buildings and the mosaic patterns I saw there (famous pieces), they were spectacular. I enjoyed it very much.