Greek Art Vs Gothic Art

In Art, one can never identify the greatest works. While we can always consider certain artists and periods to be truly great, we can always be assured that certain art periods will be pleasing to us more than others. The Classic Greek, Roman, and Gothic periods of art by far exceed others in my perspective. Through the revolutionary use of sculpture and architecture, to the complex use of religion in art, these periods show subtlety and grandeur. Although one cannot guarantee the opinions will be shared with all, these periods are universally recognized as great times for art. With the mastery of their art-forms, the Greek, Roman, and Gothic periods prove to be timeless, with individuals to this day looking back on them for inspiration and

The statue depicts a man, in the act of throwing a discus. The movement and facial patterns are unique, and signal a time in history where movement is introduced into artwork. This movement added a depth of character, giving the statue living qualities that can be emulated by living people. These living qualities make one consider the craftsmanship that went into the sculpture. The Greek technique of contraposto, or weight shift, is shown here as well. The weight shift adds a higher depth of life to the sculpture. The reason this is one of my personal favourite periods, is due to the clear developments you can see. The stiff statuary of the Egyptians and non-human triangles of the ancient Greeks, had evolved. With this evolution the Greeks set themselves as one of the most artistic peoples in history, of whom the Romans would strive to emulate during their imperial

The term Goth was general defined as a derogatory term for those living outside Roman borders. The gothic culture however, proved to be as stunning as the Romans aesthetically. The pinnacle of glory for Gothic art is the Notre Dame, a stunningly large cathedral built within France. Notre Dame not only features new architectural features such as flying buttresses which redistribute weight, but also inspiring portals and carefully carved sculptures. Notre Dame is my personal favourite in this period due to this sense of almost religious fervency that one feels when looking at it. While one should never feel damned to hell, you can certainly understand why the Catholic Church was able to convince so many to fear this when faced with the demeanor of this Cathedral. At the same time, the mystic stained glass and tall majestic spires show a lighter side. Notre Dame makes one both fear hell, and envy heaven. The Gothic period produced many works similar to Notre Dame, as cathedrals began springing all across Europe. Each of these cathedrals followed the same basic formula, with subtle differences. This period marks, for me, a clear unity between Roman design and Gothic culture. While named the Gothic period, it unified the elements Romans perfected, leaving one with architectural wonders which to this day are upheld for their original