Human Figure In Greek Art Essay

The portrayal of the human figure in Greek art makes huge leaps from simple, human-like figures to some of the greatest, most anatomically correct pieces of art. These magnificent feats in the world of art are quickly forgotten when compared to artworks from the Late Roman Empire. When comparing the two artworks of the Spear Bearer and The Four Tetrarchs, it is easy to see how quickly the progress of the Greek artwork was forgotten.

The introduction of the human figure starts in the Greek Geometric period. In this period, around the year 750 BC, most of the artwork that featured the human figure were vases, where there is very little space left to the human figure. There is only one single register left to any kind of depiction of humans. These figures are drawn in a very minoan manner, meaning very simplified. They lack any kind of detail or anatomical correctness. The human figure makes quite a leap in the Orientalizing period where artworks, mostly statuettes, begins to show more interest in human anatomy. There begins to be more symmetry in the body, but the artists continue to rely heavily on geometric shapes to form the torso and the head. As time continues into the Archaic period, the

standard for how gods and goddesses are portrayed is set. This is done by portraying the human figure to resemble Egyptian figures very closely. In this time artists begin to allow most of the space on their art works to be taken up by human characters. There is more realism brought back into pieces of artwork as storytelling becomes more traditional to show in art. These time periods all show very clearly the progress that the Greek people made towards the masterpieces they had during the Classical period.
The pinnacle of Greek art is reached in the Classical period and in the Hellenistic period as well. Art makes a massive leap into accurately portraying the human anatomy. In sculptures such as Polykleitos’ “Spear Bearer” there is great detail in the contouring of the muscles in the body. Artists begin to pay more attention to how the body moves and they begin to accurately show how muscles react. These things can be seen in the stances that were often used, especially in the position called “contrapposto”. In this time period Polykleitos creates the ‘canon of Polykleitos’ for the perfect bodily ratio. When using this measurement, the length of the body should be equal to seven heads. This idealism is continued throughout the Hellenistic period as well, but a movement begins straying away slightly from all the aspects of classical art. In the art a great amount of detail is still used to show the human figure. The details in this sculpture, though, focus more on man’s imperfections rather than showing the human figure as a perfect, unattainable image. The artwork shows the wear and tear of daily life and features more on portraiture, which would never be done in classical art. Hellenistic art focused a lot on getting an emotional response from the audience. The faces were very realistic and they are usually seated in a very natural pose so the viewer can feel more connected to the artwork. Features like perfect defined muscles and proportions weren’t as important in this time period, but the attention for the symmetry of the hair and beard show that some classical aspects were kept.
The Greeks believed that perfection physically helped them achieve perfection spiritually and mentally. Because of these goals of perfection, most of the artworks lacked realism and portraiture; they wanted perfection not anything conventional. The faces and bodies of these artworks were carved, painted, or sculpted in the manner in the perfection they strived to have. Nudity was very customary in the Greek culture. Sports, exercise and public bathing were all performed without clothing on, so nude art was nothing straying from the norm. This was greatly changed as the Roman Empire began its reign.
Roman art kept at the Hellenistic techniques during the time of their Early Empire or the Republican period. There was extreme verism in the artwork, it was extremely life-like. Most of the artwork at this time was used for ancestor worship, which was very different to the Greeks who just made art to make art. Around this time the Roman Empire was flourishing, their feats in architecture were like none-other. So, the art began focusing more on Roman propaganda. There was still great realism in the way they portrayed their leaders in statues all over the city. When the leader, Marcus Aurelius was reigning, he tried to restore the passion and adoration people once had for art. This was quickly diminished as the time of the Late Empire came around.
Things in Rome were not going very well.

The Empire was quickly dying and so was the appreciation of good art. In the sculpture “The Four Tetrarchs” found in St. Mark’s Basilica, the degradation of the realism in art was very obvious. In this piece of art there is no sense of realism. There is no portraits, no definition in the muscles or in the anatomy of the body at all. It stands shorter than four feet tall and it is very cubistic. It is very easily seen that the Empire was focused on things other than beautifying the city with art. This piece of art does have a meaning, though. The Four Tetrarchs were made to try and show the unity of the Empire. This lack of attention in artwork is very different than what was happening in the Greek empire in the Classical time

period.
These two artworks are practically nothing alike in any way. The similarities stop at them being loosely based on the human figure. The Spear Bearer shows extreme detail in the body to the point of that perfection being unattainable. While the Four Tetrarchs are so simplified, there is no resemblance to any human-like characteristics. Polykleitos’ Spear Bearer was to show that goal of perfection and godliness, but the Four Tetrarchs have an entirely different purpose of attempting to unify an entire Empire. This Greek art has an air of professionality, an example of the appreciation of great pieces of art, but it is plainly seen that the Roman Empire did not feel the same way about their art.
Through examining the timeline and progress of Greek art versus Roman art, it is easy to see that one of these cultures had a much greater recognition of the beauty found in art. Looking at the Greek’s accomplishments in art, there is only growth and improvement, bettering themselves and their art. On the other hand, Roman’s had less of a passion for the correctness of the human anatomy and perfection while they focused more on bettering their Empire, not their art. By comparing The Four Tetrarchs and Polykleitos’ Spear Bearer, the difference time can make on art is very evident.