SCULPTURE

OF THE
CLASSICAL PERIOD
 THE CLASSICAL PERIOD SCULPTURE
(5TH - 4TH CENTURY BC)

 In the early 5th century Greek artists began consciously to

attempt to render human and animal forms realistically.
This entailed careful observation of the model as well as
understanding the mechanics of anatomy - how a body
adjusts to a pose which is not stiffly frontal but with the
weight shifted to one side of the body, and how a body
behaves in violent motion. The successors to the
archaic kouroi, mainly athlete figures, are thus regularly
shown 'at ease', one leg relaxed, with a complementary
shift in the shoulders, and the whole emphasized by
contrasts of rigid and relaxed in limbs.
 HERE ARE SOME
EXAMPLES
OF THE SCULPTURES
 SEER FROM THE EAST PEDIMENT
OF THE TEMPLE OF ZEUS,
MARBLE, C. 470–455 BCE,
OLYMPIA, GREECE:

This sculpture of a seer originally was located on the east pediment of

the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. This sculpture, along with the other
east pediment sculptures, originally was painted. As Olympia was the
site for the ancient Olympic games, it is fitting that the subject matter
of the east pediment be a chariot race, especially since these
pedimental statues would have faced toward the starting point of the
Olympic chariot races.
 RECLINING FIGURE OF DIONYSOS
FROM THE EAST PEDIMENT OF THE
PARTHENON. ABOUT 430 BC

The extraordinary quality and quantity of the

marble sculpture which adorned the 5th century
BCE Parthenon in Athens made it the most richly decorated of
all Greek temples. The sculpture, now mostly separated into the
Parthenon Marbles (Elgin Marbles) and the Acropolis Museum
Collection of Athens, once consisted of 92 metopes, a unique frieze
running around all four sides of the building, and both pediments
filled with 50 monumental figures.
 SEER FROM THE EAST PEDIMENT
OF THE TEMPLE OF ZEUS,
MARBLE, C. 470–455 BCE,
OLYMPIA, GREECE:

The east pediment of the Parthenon showed the birth of goddess

Athena from the head of her father Zeus. The sculptures that
represented the actual scene are lost. Zeus was probably shown
seated, while Athena was striding away from him fully grown and
armed.
 CENTAUROMACHY, C. 460 BCE:
WEST PEDIMENT, TEMPLE OF ZEUS
AT OLYMPIA.

The Centauromachy on the western pediment depicts movement that

radiates out from its center. The centaurs, fighting men, and abducted
women struggle and fight against each other, creating tension in
another example of an early portrayal of emotion. Most figures are
depicted in the Severe style. However, some, including a centaur, have
facial features that reflect their wrath and anger.
 ATHENA AND HERAKLES
DEPICTING THE STYMPHALIAN
BIRDS, C. 460 BCE:

Heracles bringing to Athena the Stymphalian Birds - marble metope of

the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, circa c. BC - at the Louvre Museum
THE END
 PRESENTED BY:
ALTHEA NOBLEZA