HUM 101

SCULPTURES

BY GROUP 2
SCULPTURES
WHAT IS SCULPTURE?
three-dimensional art made by one of four
basic processes: carving, modelling,
casting, constructing.
one of the oldest forms of artistic
expression, dating back to prehistoric
times.
Early sculptures were often religious in
nature and were used to depict deities or
other sacred figures
----------------
ERAS
01 02 03 04
PREHISTORIC ANCIENT: EGYPTIAN, MEDIEVAL RENAISSANCE
GREEK & ROMAN

05 06 07
BAROQUE & MODERN CONTEMPORARY
NEOCLASSICAL
 01
PREHISTORIC
SCULPTURES
Prehistoric sculpture is considered to be one of the
earliest forms of art, and it is a major part of the
ancient world’s culture and history.
The earliest known sculptures were created during
the Paleolithic period, also known as the Old Stone
Age, around 30,000 BCE.
Sculptures were usually small figurines made from
materials such as ivory, bone, and stone, and
depicted humans and animals in a stylized form.
EXAMPLES
VENUS OF
BRASSEMPOUY
The Venus of Brassempouy - la Dame de Brassempouy - is
a fragmentary ivory figurine from the Upper Paleolithic

SYMBOLIZES AS
Religious figures, as erotic art, grandmother
goddesses, or as self-depictions by female
artists.

DISCOVERY
It was discovered by Edouard Piette in a
cave in Brassempouy, France in 1892.
DOLNÍ VESTONICE
LION HEAD
Made from baked clay the snout, ears and
eyes of this lion are carefully modeled.

SYMBOLIZES
Whether it is a lion or lioness cannot be
determined because, as paintings in
Chauvet Cave show, Ice Age lions did not
have manes.
DISCOVERY
Found in Dolní Vestonice, Moravia, Czech
Republic. With a measurement of 4.5 cms
wide, 2.8 cms high; 1.5 cms thick.
 02
ANCIENT: EGYPTIAN,
GREEK AND ROMAN
SCULPTURES
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
SCULPTURE
The ancient Egyptians were known for their
monumental sculptures, particularly in the form
of massive stone statues of pharaohs and
deities.
Often created to commemorate religious
events or to serve as funerary monuments.
EXAMPLES
GREAT SPHINX
OF GIZA

The Great Sphinx at Giza, near Cairo, is probably the most famous
sculpture in the world and is a limestone statue of a reclining
sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human, and the body
of a lion.

THE FACE OF THE SPHINX APPEARS TO

REPRESENT THE PHARAOH KHAFRE.
THE TWIN TEMPLES
OF ABU SIMBEL

The Abu Simbel temple was constructed as a

place for people to worship Pharaoh Ramses
II as a god following his death, as well as to be
a show of power toward the recently
conquered territory of Nubia.

THE MOST NOTABLE FEATURE OF THE ABU

SIMBEL TEMPLE ARE THE FOUR COLOSSAL
STATUES OF RAMSES II ON THE OUTSIDE.
 ANCIENT GREEK
SCULPTURE
Is considered the birthplace of Western
sculpture, and its artists were renowned for
their skill in creating realistic and idealized
human forms.
Made from various materials such as marble,
bronze, and terracotta, and were often used to
adorn public buildings, temples, and tombs.
EXAMPLES
ELGIN
MARBLES

They are 17 sculptures which are 2,500

years old. The marbles were part of a
frieze that decorated the ancient
Parthenon temple at the Acropolis in
Athens, Greece. The sculptures are
seen as symbols of freedom in Greece,
where they are known as the
Parthenon Marbles.
STATUE OF ZEUS
AT OLYMPIA
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a giant seated
figure, about 12.4 m tall, made by the Greek sculptor
Phidias around 435 BC at the sanctuary of Olympia,
Greece, and erected in the Temple of Zeus there.
Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek
religion, who rules as king of the gods of Mount
Olympus.
VENUS DE
MILO

The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek sculpture that was

created during the Hellenistic period, sometime between 150
and 125 BC.

THE NAME VENUS DE MILO COMES FROM

VENUS, THE ROMAN NAME FOR
APHRODITE.
 ANCIENT ROMAN
SCULPTURE
Romans inherited the artistic traditions of the
Greeks and developed their own style of
sculpture.
Roman sculptures were often realistic
portraits of emperors, politicians, and
wealthy citizens, as well as mythological and
allegorical figures.
EXAMPLES
MICHELANGELO’S
PIETA

This famous work of art depicts the

body of Jesus on the lap of his mother
Mary after the Crucifixion.

It is an important work as it balances

the Renaissance ideals of classical
beauty with naturalism.
HEAD OF A ROMAN
PATRICIAN

The name of the individual depicted is now

unknown, but the portrait is a powerful
representation of a male aristocrat with a hooked
nose and strong cheekbones.
The portrait head is characterized by deep wrinkles,
a furrowed brow, and generally an appearance of
sagging, sunken skin—all indicative of the veristic
style of Roman portraiture.
 03
MEDIVAL
SCULPTURES
Medieval sculpture was primarily used for
religious purposes.
Often created to decorate churches, cathedrals,
and other religious buildings and to illustrate
biblical stories and teachings.
Medieval sculpture was created using a wide
range of materials, including stone, wood, ivory,
bronze, and gold.
MEDIEVAL SCULPTURE CAN BE BROADLY DIVIDED INTO TWO MAJOR STYLES:

ROMANESQUE
Romanesque sculpture was popular from
the 9th to the 12th century and was
characterized by its solid, block-like
forms and strong, expressive figures.
GOTHIC
Gothic sculpture, which emerged in the
12th century and continued until the 15th
century, was more fluid and dynamic, with
greater attention to naturalism and detail.
EXAMPLES
VIERGE À
L'ENFANT
The standing Virgin holds the
Christ Child tenderly in her arms.
The deeply carved folds of
drapery follow the line of the
tusk accentuating her graceful
elegance.
THE TENDER
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE FIGURES IS ECHOED
IN THE IVORY FIGURE OF
THE VIRGIN AND CHILD
FROM THE SAINTE
CHAPELLE, NOW IN THE
LOUVRE (INV. NO. A57)
AND RECORDED IN THE
DOCUMENTED
INVENTORY OF THE
TREASURY CARRIED OUT
BETWEEN 1268 AND 1285.
THE TYMPANUM
OF VÉZELAY
ABBEY
ROMANSQUE EXAMPLE
Its tympanum was specifically
designed to function as a
spiritual defense of the Crusades
and to portray a Christian
allegory to the Crusaders'
mission.
SHRINE OF THE
THREE KINGS
GOTHIC EXAMPLE
Built approximately from 1180 to 1225, it is considered the
high point of Mosan art and the largest reliquary in the
Western world.

Traditionally believed to contain the bones

of the Biblical Magi, also known as the
Three Kings or the Three Wise Men.
 04
RENAISSANCE
SCULPTURES
Renaissance sculptors sought to capture the
beauty and naturalism of the human form,
and their works often portrayed idealized
figures from mythology, as well as portraits
of prominent individuals.
Famous Renaissance sculptors include
Michelangelo, Donatello, and Bernini.
EXAMPLES
DAVID
BY MICHELANGELO
The Statue of David embodies the city of
Florence, symbolizing independence and
strength in the perfect image of youthful
beauty.
SAINT JOHN THE
EVANGELIST,
1409-1411
Donatello portrayed St. John
as a noble and introspective
prophet. He decided to show
the wisdom of an aging
prophet.

Bernini depicts the

mythological drama that
occurs between Apollo, god of
music and poetry, and Daphne,
a virginal nymph.

APOLLO AND
DAPHNE
 05
BAROQUE &
NEOCLASSICAL
The Baroque period saw a shift towards more
dynamic and emotional sculptures, often
characterized by exaggerated poses and
elaborate details.
In the 18th century, the Neoclassical style
emerged, inspired by classical Greek and Roman
art, and focused on rationality and simplicity in
form.
EXAMPLES
THE ECSTASY OF
SAINT THERESA
BAROQUE EXAMPLE

“The Ecstasy of St. Teresa” by Gian

Lorenzo Bernini depicts a scene from
the saint's spiritual autobiography.
Teresa recalls an angel wielding a fire-
tipped spear who repeatedly pierces her
heart, causing her to experience
spiritual bliss.
PRINCESSES
MONUMENT
NEOCLASSICAL EXAMPLE
A sculpture by the German artist Johann Gottfried Schadow
showing the sisters Louise and Frederica, princesses of Prussia.

KING FREDERICK WILLIAM II WAS SO IMPRESSED

BY THE BEAUTY AND YOUTHFUL CHARM OF HIS
NEW DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW, WHO WERE 17 AND
15 YEARS OLD AT THAT TIME, THAT HE ASKED
SCHADOW TO PORTRAY THEM IN SCULPTURES.
 06
MODERN
SCULPTURES
Modern sculpture refers to the art of
creating three-dimensional objects and
installations from various materials such
as metal, wood, stone, and plastic.
Modern sculpture focuses on abstraction
and experimentation with form, texture,
and color.
EXAMPLES
THE THINKER
BY AUGUSTE RODIN
A bronze sculpture which depicts a nude
male figure of heroic size sitting on a rock.
ENDLESS
COLUMN
SYMBOLIZES
Endless Column symbolizes
the concept of infinity and
BY CONSTANTIN BRÂNCUȘI the infinite sacrifice of the
The Endless Column stacks 15 Romanian soldiers.
rhomboidal modules, with a
half-unit at the top and
bottom, making a total of 16.
RECLINING
FIGURE
BY HENRY MOORE WHY DID HE DO RECLINING FIGURES?
Reclining Figure 1969–70 is a Moore was asked to make a carving of a family group
bronze sculpture symbolizing 'Discovery', but he chose instead to make a large
reclining figure in bronze
 07
CONTEMPORARY
SCULPTURES
Contemporary sculpture refers to the art of
creating three-dimensional forms and shapes
using various materials, techniques, and styles
that are relevant to the present day.
One notable characteristic of contemporary
sculpture is the use of non-traditional
materials, such as plastics, textiles, found
objects, and even digital technologies.
EXAMPLES
SUNFLOWER
SEEDS
BY AI WEIWEI
SOUNDSUITS,
HEARD 2012
BY NICK CAVE
 HUM 101

THANKS FOR
LISTENING

BY GROUP 2
REFERENCES:
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/prehistoric/venus-of-brassempouy.htm
https://theurgetowander.com/2012/03/07/abu-simbel-egypt/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-secrets-of-the-sphinx-5053442/
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/parthenon-marbles-british-museum-restitution-1234605904/
https://www.worldhistory.org/Statue_of_Zeus_at_Olympia/
https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/ideal-greek-beauty
http://www.italianrenaissance.org/michelangelos-pieta/
https://smarthistory.org/head-of-a-roman-patrician/#:~:text=The%20figure%20is%20frontal%20without,veristic%20style%20of%20Roman%20portraiture
https://www.invaluable.com/v2/auction-lot/france-paris-vers-1250-vierge-a-l-enfant-en-i-o4c22oufqt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A9zelay_Abbey#:~:text=The%20tympanum%20of%20the%20central,allegory%20to%20the%20Crusaders'%20mission
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_the_Three_Kings
https://www.britannica.com/topic/David-sculpture
https://www.donatello.net/st-john-the-evangelist.jsp
https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-berninis-apollo-daphne-unnerving-depiction-unwanted-desire
https://www.artble.com/artists/gian_lorenzo_bernini/sculpture/the_ecstasy_of_saint_theresa
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/double-statue-of-the-princesses-luise-and-friederike-of-prussia-johann-gottfried-schadow/cAH1AdTsXw-PvQ?hl=en
https://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/musee/collections/oeuvres/thinker
https://www.wmf.org/project/brancusi%E2%80%99s-endless-column-ensemble
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/moore-reclining-figure-t02270
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0fyEtpNaRI