The Classical Period

The Classical Art Period consisted of ancient Greek and Roman art and fell between the years 900 BC and 31 BC. During the Classical Period, Athens and Sparta were dominant cities in the Greek region. These cities were suspicious of one another, but managed to live peacefully together until the 5th century, BC. Cultural and political differences between the two cities caused a rivalry to form. The rivalry was eventually quelled after a brutal war which ultimately ended in the demise of both cities and the rise of Macedonia as the dominant power in the region. Eventually, the social structure in the Classical Period became somewhat of a democracy and an open society which we have emulated in the United States (“History of Greece: Classical Greece”, 2014).
Many other wars occurred over the course of the Classical Period, and this culture of war contributed to the realism of the art of the time. The brutality of war and the effects it had on Greek society inspired artists to focus on man, rational thinking, and logic (“History of Greece: Classical Greece”, 2014). Greek artists in the 5th century, BC began to realistically imitate humans and animals through art (Boardman, 2012). These Greek artists gained a better understanding of anatomy and the human body’s mechanics, giving them the ability to realistically render the human form in multiple positions without appearing awkward. Logic was valued over emotion in sculptures. This means that facial expressions were typically emotionless, unless the person/deity being portrayed was considered barbaric, in which case, emotional characteristics took over the face of the sculpture (“History of Greece: Classical Greece”, 2014).
The Middle Ages
The time period of the Middle Ages fell between the 5th and 15th centuries. Although medieval life is glamorized by film, life in this time period was not as alluring as filmmakers would have most people think. Most people of the time lived on manors. A manor consisted of a castle, a church, a village, and farmland. Societal classifications within manors included royalty, nobles, barons, bishops, and peasants. The peasants were the lowest class of people. The king would allow peasants to live on the manor and farm the land, but they were kept in poverty through heavy taxation. They were also required to give a large portion of the food produced by farming to the king. Disease spread rampantly during the Middle Ages, and many people died at a young age. Religion played a pivotal role in medieval society. The Catholic Church, which was the only formalized religious institution at the time, held power over the people. Kings adopted bishops into their councils, and these bishops were very influential when the king made decisions (“General Introduction to the Medieval Period”, 2014). The deplorable living conditions for peasants and the influence which religion held during the time contributed to the emotionally charged, pietistic art of the Middle Ages.
The art of the Middle Ages consisted of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic art. Byzantine art was very religious in nature. No sculptures were created during the Byzantine period because this was thought of as idolatry. Byzantine art was not realistic, and facial expressions were solemn and melancholic. Romanesque art was limited to religious paintings, such as mosaics in churches. Neither Byzantine nor Romanesque art was very colorful. Gothic art brought about more colorful paintings. Sculptures were created during the Gothic period, and realism became a component of Gothic art. Facial expressions depicting specific emotions became commonplace during the Gothic Period (“Middle Ages Art”. 2014).
Relationship between the Periods
The relationship between the Classical Period and the Middle Ages can be described as one with many similarities and differences. Depending upon the time period of the Middle Ages (Byzantine, Romanesque, or Gothic), one can either see distinct similarities or differences when comparing to the art of the Classical period. One of the differences between the two periods is the absence of sculptures from the Byzantine era of the Middle Ages. Religious powers at the time did not allow for sculpting as an art form because it was seen as idolatry. In the Classical Period, sculpting was a very common form of art. Another difference between the two periods is the way emotion was portrayed on the faces of portraits or sculptures. In the Classical Period logic was favored over emotion, so most facial expressions in paintings and portraits were emotionless. During the Middle Ages, most portraits featured faces with solemn or melancholic expressions. The Gothic Period of the Middle Ages brought similarities with the Classical period forward. Sculpting was an accepted form of art during the Gothic period, as it was during the Classical Period. The Gothic Period also brought back the element of realism that was prominent during the Classical Period.
Historically, the Classical Period and Middle Ages were significantly different. Society during the Classical period allowed for a lot more independence for the general population than the peasants of the Middle Ages were allowed to enjoy. Peasants during the Middle Ages were dependent upon their king to provide living areas and land to farm. Conversely, the people in the Classical Period eventually had an open and democratic society.
Middle Ages art both deviated and continued with the artistic style of the Classical Period. Middle Ages art deviated from the Classical Period during the Byzantine and Romanesque periods. This is proven through the unrealistic, emotional, and flat-colored art that prevailed during these periods. There were also no sculptures during these periods, unlike the Classical Period. During the Gothic Period, artists began to use realism and create sculptures as the artists did in the Classical Period. However, emotional facial expressions were shown in the art of the Gothic Period, unlike the emotionless faces displayed during the Classical Period.
Comparison of Works
A set of marble sculptures known as “Marble Funerary Statues of a Maiden and a Younger Girl” (artist unknown, ca. 320 BC), exemplifies the realism which was commonplace in Greek art during the Classical Period. Both the maiden and the younger girl are shown in a stance that would be proper for people holding a conversation. Their stance, the position of their arms, and the manner in which the younger girl is facing the maiden exudes realism and displays the artist’s adept ability to realistically render humans in proper positions. Their facial expressions are emotionless, as was common for art depicting humans during the Classical Period.
A sculpture from the Middle Ages known as “Enthroned Virgin and Child” (artist unknown, ca. 1260-1280) is an example of Gothic art. Before the Gothic Period, sculptures were a forbidden art form. This particular piece exemplifies the realism that became commonplace and the influence that religion held over art in the Middle Ages because of its representation of the Catholic savior and his mother. The virgin in the sculpture is smiling at the child, which displays the role which emotional facial expressions played during this time period.
When comparing the two works, one can see both similarities and differences. A similarity between the works is the realism displayed. Both show very realistic situations and proper human positioning. A difference that is immediately apparent between the works is the dissimilarity of the facial expressions. The maiden and younger girl display no emotion, however the virgin displays great joy as she peers into her son’s eyes.
Influence of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages art was both shunned and revered in the time after the age had come to an end. During the Renaissance, medieval art was viewed as barbaric. The people of this time referred to the art as work from the “Dark Ages”. In the late 19th century, however, book illustrators began to use medieval styles (Medieval Art, n.d.). One can also see how Gothic styles of architecture are still applied to buildings in modern times, such as seeing statues of gargoyles or pointed spires on modern buildings. Gothic influences also stem into modern music and clothing. This has created a subculture of people known as “Goths”. The legacy of Middle Ages art lives on, albeit in a manner that may not be understood by the artists of the time.

References
Artist unknown. (ca. 320 BC). Marble Funerary Statues of a Maiden and a Younger Girl. [Marble sculptures]. New York, NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Artist unknown. (ca. 1260-1280). Enthroned Virgin and Child. [Elephant ivory sculpture]. New York, NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Boardman, J. (2012). The Classical Period (5th-4th Century B.C.). http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved from: http://www.beazley.ox.ac.uk/sculpture/styles/classical.htm
General Introduction to the Medieval Period. (2014). http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au. Retrieved from: http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/staffhome/siryan/academy/theory_history/Medieval_Period.htm
History of Greece: Classical Greece. (2014). http://www.ancient-greece.org. Retrieved from: http://www.ancient-greece.org/history/classical.html
Medieval Art. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 25, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_art#Subsequent_reputation
Middle Ages Art. (2014). www.lordsandladies.org. Retrieved from: http://www.lordsandladies.org/middle-ages-art.htm