Art History Before 1450
Instructor: Roberta A. Mayer, Ph.D.  

Hellenistic Greek Art
Study Guide 7

Hellenistic Period — 323-31 B.C.

From the Victory Monument of Attalos I, Acropolis of Pergamon (now in Turkey)


Hellenistic, Epigonos (?), Dying Gaul, ca. 230-220 B.C.E.

The Altar of Zeus, Acropolis of Pergamon (relocated to Berlin)

Hellenistic, Altar of Zeus, Pergamon, ca. 175 B.C.E.

Hellenistic, Gigantomachy frieze, Altar of Zeus, ca. 175 B.C.E.

Sculpture

Hellenistic, Nike of Samothrace, ca. 190 B.C.E.

Hellenistic, Alexandros of Antioch-on-the-Meander, Venus de Milo, ca. 150-125 B.C.E.

Hellenistic, Sleeping Satyr or Barberini Faun, ca.230-200 B.C.E.

Hellenistic, Seated Boxer, ca. 100-50 B.C.E.

Hellenistic, Old Market Woman, ca.150-100 B.C.E.

Hellenistic, Lacoon, early 1st century C.E.

Hellenistic, Head of Odysseus from Sperlonga, early 1st century, C.E.

Practice Essay Questions

  • Compare the social and political conditions of the Hellenistic period with those found in fifth-century Athens. In what ways did the art produced during each period reflect these conditions? Who were the primary patrons of art during the different periods?

  • Discuss the development of the female figure in Greek sculpture from the Archaic through the Hellenistic periods, citing specific examples to illustrate your discussion. Pay particular attention to the amount of motion given to the figures, the degree of realism, and the means used by the sculptors to achieve these effects.