They Were Magicians
2008-08-04

They Were Magicians

                                            ---A Brief Introduction About Sculpture of the Greek Classical Period

Left: Surviving, rare, Greek bronze, Victorious Athlete.

Middle: Discobolos,Myron,450 BC.

Right: Venus.

"The main goal of art history is the appreciation of art, no matter where it may have come from, or when. Art in itself is very important in that it is a permanent 'event' in history; it is always 'happening,' whether created yesterday or thousands of years ago, and brings that event into focus at the present day. Just by looking at art, one can figure out what was important to those that produced it, and how their society viewed humankind and its place in the world. "

Sculpture of the Greek Classical Period is a vivid reflection of the words above.

The sculpture of the Greeks and Romans represents one of the major arts of antiquity. It was diverse in its function, decorating temples and public buildings, commemorating the dead, the famous, a victory, or as an offering to the gods. Once it was rediscovered by the Renaissance its styles of idealized realism became the standard for most western art down to the 19th century, and it is therefore highly relevant to our understanding and enjoyment of much that we see around us.

Greek art in particular was very influential in the development of Western art. The Greeks believed that "all men by nature desire to know", as stated by Aristotle; this philosophy was held by Greek sculptors. During the Classical period, Greek sculptors focused their energies on naturalizing effects on the human figure. The later rediscovery of Greek art and its drive for perfection of the human form resulted in the resurgence of classical tendencies in other cultures centuries after the fall of the Greek Empire.

The most important feature of this period is that it was the first time in human history that the human body was studied for its aesthetic values, and was treated as an autonomous universe. The object of art became the human itself as the focus of the artist revolved around ordinary subjects like the weight shift during the forward step at the moment before the release of the thunder, the tying of a ribbon around ones head, or just the shift of the pelvis when one leg supports the man's weight.

So someone thinks that the classical Greek sculptor was more of a magician than an artist. He transcended ordinary subjects into extraordinary universal signs. And in the process, he reversed thousands of years of artistic tradition when he shifted the focus from the supernatural and unknown, to more earthly matters. Throughout history the human figure had been used by many civilizations as a mere object which signified metaphysical preoccupation. On the other hand, in classical Greek sculpture the figures often depict deities but clearly the human body becomes the subject of study. The gods were depicted as a mere excuse to study humans.

Most of the sculptures made at this time were created to show appreciation to the gods for showing them good fortune, and also to help bring good fortune in the future, and to also gain favor from the gods. Greek temples were specially made to fit the large cult statues. They believed that placing shrines around the areas that were said to be holy would please the gods. Because Greek gods were mostly myths based on real peoples lives this created mixed feelings about the sculptures therefore more man-like sculptures were created. Most sculptures created can be understood to be a myth or a symbol or purpose in life, and also focused on a man's placement in life.

Of course, all these ideas needed to be showed in a harmonious and natural way. So it was clear to an artist of the Classical period of Greece that the beauty of the whole depends on the harmony of the parts which comprise it, and that each part depends on the others in order to create a harmonious group.

Proportion became the main preoccupation of sculptors and architects in ancient Greece shifting thus the focus away from metaphysical subjects and towards formal problems in creating art and representing the surrounding universe. Greeks sought the relationships in the universal which created harmonious balance thorough opposites. They searched for it in Astronomy, in Philosophy, in Politics, in Science in Architecture and in Art, and they expressed it in mathematical formulas which could be applied in nature.

The ancient Greek Artist invented his own self and became the creator of god and man alike in a universe of perfect formal proportions, idealized aesthetic values and a newly found sense of freedom. This was a freedom from barbarism and tyranny and a transition towards self-determination. The sculptures of Greece more than any other art form are the pure expression of freedom, self-consciousness, and self-determination. These were the values that motivated the inhabitants of Ancient Greece to defeat mighty Persia, and led them to the development of a model of society that ensured the dignity of every man within it. The sculptor in this context became the creator of human values and used his deities as an excuse to create humanity in stone and bronze. He became the universal record of man and his journey towards self-determination.