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Greek art began in theCycladic andMinoan civilization, and gave birth toWestern classical art in the subsequentGeometric,Archaic andClassical periods (with further developments during theHellenistic Period). It absorbed influences of Eastern civilizations, of Roman art and its patrons, and the new religion ofOrthodox Christianity in theByzantine era and absorbedItalian andEuropean ideas during the period ofRomanticism (with the invigoration of theGreek Revolution), until theModernist andPostmodernist.Greek art is mainly five forms:architecture,sculpture,painting,pottery andjewelry making.
Artistic production in Greece began in theprehistoric pre-GreekCycladic and theMinoan civilizations, both of which were influenced by local traditions and theart of ancient Egypt.
There are three scholarly divisions of the stages of later ancient Greek art that correspond roughly with historical periods of the same names. These are the Archaic, the Classical and the Hellenistic. TheArchaic period is usually dated from 1000 BC. The Persian Wars of 480 BC to 448 BC are usually taken as the dividing line between the Archaic and the Classical periods, and the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC is regarded as the event separating the Classical from the Hellenistic period. Of course, different forms of art developed at different speeds in different parts of the Greek world, and varied to a degree from artist to artist.[1] There was a sharp transition from one period to another.
The art of ancient Greece has exercised an enormous influence on the culture of many countries from ancient times until the present, particularly in the areas ofsculpture andarchitecture. In the West, the art of theRoman Empire was largely derived from Greek models. In the East,Alexander the Great's conquests initiated several centuries of exchange between Greek, Central Asian andIndian cultures, resulting inGreco-Buddhist art, with ramifications as far asJapan. Following theRenaissance inEurope, thehumanist aesthetic and the high technical standards of Greek art inspired generations of European artists. Pottery was either blue with black designs or black with blue designs.
Byzantine art is the term created for theEastern Roman Empire from about the 5th century until the fall ofConstantinople in 1453. (The Roman Empire during this period is conventionally known as theByzantine Empire.)The term can also be used for the art of states which were contemporary with the Byzantine Empire and shared a common culture with it, without actually being part of it, such asBulgaria, orRussia, and alsoVenice, which had close ties to the Byzantine Empire despite being in other respects part of western European culture. It can also be used for the art of people of the former Byzantine Empire under the rule ofOttoman Empire after 1453. In some respects, the Byzantine artistic tradition has continued inRussia and otherEastern Orthodox countries to the present day.[2]
Byzantine art grew from the art of ancient Greece and, at least before 1453, never lost sight of its classical heritage, but was distinguished from it in a number of ways. The most profound of these was that the humanist ethic of ancient Greek art was replaced by the Christian ethic. If the purpose of classical art was the glorification of man, the purpose of Byzantine art was the glorification of God.
In place of the nude, the figures of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints and martyrs of Christian tradition were elevated and became the dominant - indeed almost exclusive - focus of Byzantine art. One of the most important forms of Byzantine art was, and still is, the Cretan school as the leading school of Greek post-Byzantine painting after Crete fell to theOttomans in 1669. Like the Cretan school, it combined Byzantine traditions with an increasingWestern European artistic influence, and also saw the first signiand theNational Gallery of Art inWashington, D.C.[3]
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Cretan School describes the school oficon painting, also known asPost-Byzantine art, which flourished whileCrete was underVenetian rule during the lateMiddle Ages, reaching its climax after theFall of Constantinople, becoming the central force in Greek painting during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. The Cretan artists developed a particular style of painting under the influence of both Eastern and Western artistic traditions and movements; the most famous product of the school,El Greco, was the most successful of the many artists who tried to build a career in Western Europe, and also the one who left the Byzantine style farthest behind him in his later career.
TheHeptanese School of painting (Greek:Επτανησιακή Σχολή,lit. 'The School of the seven islands', also known as theIonian Islands' School) succeeded theCretan School as the leading school of Greek post-Byzantine painting afterCrete fell to theOttomans in 1669. Like the Cretan school it combined Byzantine traditions with an increasing Western European artistic influence, and also saw the first significant depiction of secular subjects. The school was based in theIonian Islands, which were not part of Ottoman Greece, from the middle of the 17th century until the middle of the 19th century.[4]
Modern Greek art, after the establishment of theGreek Kingdom, began to be developed around the time ofRomanticism. Greek artists absorbed many elements from their European colleagues, resulting in the culmination of the distinctive style of Greek Romantic art, inspired by revolutionary ideals as well as the country's geography and history. After centuries of Ottoman rule, few opportunities for an education in the arts existed in the newly independent Greece, so studying abroad was imperative for artists.Munich, as an important international center for the arts at that time, was the place where the majority of the Greek artists of the 19th century chose to study. Later on, they would return to Greece and pass on their knowledge. Both academic and personal bonds developed between early Greek painters and Munich artistry giving birth to the Greek "Munich School" (Greek academic art of the 19th century).Nikolaos Gysis was an important teacher and artist at theMunich Academy and he soon became a leading figure among Greek artists. Many of these Munich School artists chose subjects such as everyday Greek life, local customs, and living conditions. Several important painters emerged at this time.Theodoros Vryzakis specialized in historical painting and especially inspired by the 1821Greek War of Independence.Nikiphoros Lytras concentrated on realistic depictions of Greek life.Georgios Jakobides devoted his attention to infants and children and he would laterbecome the first Director of the newNational Gallery of Athens.Georgios Roilos was another leading painter of the period closely associated with the Munich School, especially in his early career.Konstantinos Volanakis was inspired mostly by the Greek sea.[5]
Other notable painters of the era areTheodore Ralli,Ioannis Altamouras and the folk painterTheofilos Hatzimichail. Notable sculptors of the era areLeonidas Drosis (his major work was the extensive neo-classical architectural ornament at theAcademy of Athens,Lazaros Sochos, Georgios Vitalis, Dimitrios Filippotis,Ioannis Kossos,Yannoulis Chalepas,Georgios Bonanos and Lazaros Fytalis.
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