Ancient Greek art spans a period between about 900 and 30 BCE and is divided into four periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic. Throughout that period, artists worked with a wide variety of materials including bronze and stone for sculpture; terracotta for vases and figurines; various pigments for painting; and gold, silver, and bronze for coinage.
In the Geometric period, not only were geometric patterns dominant but so too were abstract figures, especially horses, military, and funerary scenes. A lack of inscriptions can make the interpretation of this iconography difficult.
Beginning in the 7th century BCE, the Archaic period ushered in an increasingly naturalistic style, especially in depictions of the human form. Influences from Egypt and the Near East can be seen in the appearance of motifs such as the palmette and lotus, along with composite creatures like griffins (bird/lion), sphinxes (human/winged lion), and sirens (bird/woman). Terracotta vases, especially those made in the second half of the sixth century BCE, depict aspects of daily life, funerary rites, warfare, and mythology. Experimentation with new techniques, such as black-figure and red-figure decoration, allowed for a wider range of figures and scenes to be depicted in greater detail.
The Classical period, often defined by the Greek defeat of the Persians in 479 BCE, ushered in what is now known as the Golden Age of Greece. The city of Athens dominated the flourishing artistic scene, and the building of the Parthenon (the temple erected between 447 and 432 BCE on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece) paved the way for unprecedented achievements in architecture and sculpture.
The final transition to the Hellenistic period, which lasted from about 323 through 30 BCE, occurred following the death of Alexander the Great, who famously spread Greek culture into the lands of his far-reaching conquest. Gods and heroes, who were previously depicted in two-dimensional scenes on vases or reliefs, were given new life as full-figured works of sculpture.
Ancient texts and inscriptions provide names of some of the most famous sculptors from Ancient Greece, includingPheidias,Skopas,Praxiteles, andLysippos, and vase painters like Exekias and Euphronios. However, as the names of many ancient Greek artists are unknown to us today, modern scholars sometimes give names to artists whose style they can recognize, like the Chicago Painter. Because most Greek statues of the Classical and Hellenistic periods have not survived, Roman versions produced between the 2nd century BCE and the 4th century CE provide the most compelling visual evidence we have about the appearance of the originals.
FAQs
Among the earliest artworks in the museum's collection, this stark depiction of a nude woman was carved roughly 5,000 years ago from a single piece of white marble sourced from the rocky coastline of the Cyclades islands, just off the coast of mainland Greece.
What is the most famous piece at the Art Institute of Chicago? ›
One of America's most famous paintings, American Gothic, debuted at the Art Institute of Chicago, winning a $300 prize and instant fame for Grant Wood.
Why is the Art Institute of Chicago closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays? ›
“Tuesday and Wednesday had historically been our least visited days by a significant margin, so we opted to close on those days to manage expenses.”
What is special about the Art Institute of Chicago? ›
The renowned Art Institute of Chicago is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. The only museum in the world to be ranked among the world's best by TripAdvisor four years in a row, the Art Institute is a must-see during any trip to Chicago.
What is the oldest art in the United States? ›
Incised Image of a Proboscidean on a Mineralized Extinct Animal Bone. Researchers from the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Florida have announced the discovery of a bone fragment, approximately 13,000 years old, in Florida with an incised image of a mammoth or mastodon.
What is the oldest art school in the United States? ›
America's First Museum and Art School
As the first art museum and school in the United States, PAFA celebrates the transformative power of art and art-making. Through its world-class museum and school, PAFA nurtures and recognizes artists at every turn in their career.
How much does it cost to become a member of the Art Institute of Chicago? ›
E-Member $75*
Contact Membership at (312) 499-4111 or membership@artic.edu. Please note that contributions are not refundable or transferable. Cardholders must be present to receive member benefits.
Is Van Gogh at the Art Institute of Chicago? ›
His 1887 Self Portrait is held at the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the largest permanent collections in the United States.
Can you get married at the Chicago Art Institute? ›
The Art Institute's galleries, gardens, and auditoriums afford a variety of options for gatherings large and small. The museum offers endless options for your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, wedding ceremony, or reception.
Is it hard to get into School of the Art Institute of Chicago? ›
Is SAIC competitive? How many students apply and how many are admitted? Generally, about 6,500 students apply to our undergraduate program, and around 3,600 are admitted annually. Our acceptance rate is approximately 57 percent.
We are ranked among the top ten art and design schools in the world by QS World University Rankings; we were named “the most influential art college in the United States” by Columbia University's National Arts Journalism survey; and are ranked the #2 graduate fine arts program in the nation by U.S. News and World ...
What is the oldest piece of artwork? ›
'” At least 45,500 years ago, a human hand had painted the pigs in ochre, making them the oldest known examples of figurative art by at least several thousand years—and, by some standards, the oldest artwork in the world (1).
How old is the Art Institute of Chicago? ›
Founded in 1879, the Art Institute has grown substantially over the last century plus—in both our physical building and our exceptional collections—while always maintaining our ambition to share our artworks with as broad an audience as possible.
What is the oldest public art collection? ›
Its historic nucleus, the Amerbach Cabinet, an ensemble of precious works of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century art, was acquired by the city in 1661, entrusted to the care of the university, and made accessible to the public; since that time, Basel has boasted the world's oldest public collection of art.
What is the oldest piece of Chinese art? ›
Oldest Chinese Artwork - Archaeology Magazine. A tiny 13,500-year-old sculpture crafted from burned bone discovered at the open-air Lingjing site can now lay claim to being the earliest three-dimensional object of art found in East Asia.
