Classical Greek Sculpture

A Defining Moment of Ancient Art History

What you’ll learn
Students will learn the key developments, vocabulary terms, and works of art which are associated with Classical Greek sculpture.
Requirements
Students who have completed the preceding course “The Art of Archaic Greece” will be most prepared to appreciate the broad view of how sculpture developed in ancient Greece, but this course also can stand alone and provide a solid grounding in Classical Greek sculpture.
Description
This course covers the developments in Greek sculpture which emerged during the Classical Period, between the fifth and the fourth centuries B.C.E., including the Contrapposto stance, the “wet drapery” effect, and the bringing down-to-earth even the loftiest of the Olympian gods’ images. While covering the essential works of this new and highly-significant style of Greek sculpture, this course also features original research which relates Classical Greek sculpture forms to the little-known monumental bronzes of ancient Arabia. This course features a review of key vocabulary terms as its final lecture.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 From Archaic to Classical

Section 2: Evolutions in Form and Concept

Lecture 2 The Severe Style

Lecture 3 The Contrapposto Revolution

Lecture 4 The Parthenon Sculptures

Lecture 5 The Female Form

Section 3: Late Classical Innovations

Lecture 6 Late Classical Sculpture

Lecture 7 Course Vocabulary Review

High school, university, and graduate students will find both a review of key pieces and developments as well as original research and connections which are exclusive to this course.