Bust of Alexander the Great
Elements of Art
Since the artwork is a sculpture, the lines are considered as three-dimensional. Moreover, contour lines are used to define space, which can be seen as its edges provided depth. Its form can be defined with height, width, and depth, but the shape is non-geometric as the artwork resembled a face. It has a light value, because the material used is marble which is white in color with high intensity. By looking at the artwork, smoothness can be felt as if one touches a real face.
Principles of Art
A high sense of balance can be depicted in the artwork. It is highly symmetrical since a face is being resembled. Emphasis has been given in space in order to determine the descriptive highlights in Alexander’s face, which also showed the gradation between spaces. In relation to this, there is harmony between these gradations and this added to providing accent to the facial structure of Alexander. Finally, the use of color is essentially proportional as to not override the other details of the sculpture.
Historical Art
This artwork of Alexander the Great belonged to the so-called Hellenistic art. It is highly influenced by Alexander’s era and portrayed high sense of expressionism (Hemingway & Hemingway, 2007). Even in this kind of artwork, expressions still overflowed especially when looking to the sculpture for a long time. It also depicts transparency in terms of classicism and emotion (Hemingway & Hemingway, 2007). In this example, one can see that the look on Alexander’s face represent calmness but with strong sense of sturdiness. The steady look in his eyes and the firm weak smile on the lips represented classical definitions of manliness.
Michelangelo’s David
Elements of Art
The lines are three-dimensional and can be classified as contours to provide space and depth especially when depicting the different body parts, as well as the muscular built of the body. The form resembles a whole human figure, and it is defined in a way that the sculpture strikes a certain unique pose. White is the only color used and because of this, the sculpture has a relatively high value and intensity. Finally, the muscular built of the sculpture will establish the feeling of roughness and strength.
Principles of Art
Historical Art
This sculpture of Michelangelo is depicted as one of the greatest Renaissance sculpture ever made. The iconic structure depicted different aspects of both the culture and society (Statue of David, n.d). It represented Greek sculpture in a very high sense due to its style in marble sculpture. Classical Renaissance art can be also seen, as the artwork depicted biblical icon of David, who slayed the giant Goliath. This masterpiece is being renowned all over the world not only for its beauty and style, but also the sense of bravery and courage, as to how David was depicted in the biblical story (Statue of David, n.d).
Relationship between the Two Sculptures
Both sculptures are iconic in nature. They represented the historical and biblical aspects of art. This only means that art is not confined in its element and principles, but also art is highly influenced by history and the ancient relics of the past. The fact that the artworks’ ideas are both historical in nature proves these claims. They are the same in the way that they both represented classicism and depicted the ancient depictions of courage, bravery and manliness.
References
Hemingway, C., & Hemingway, S. (2007). Art of the Hellenistic Age and the Hellenistic Tradition. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved February 07, 2016, from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/haht/hd_haht.htm
Statue of David (1501-4) by Michelangelo. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2016, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/sculpture/david-by-michelangelo.htm
