Mark Rothko, Orange and Red on Red, 1957 (Phillips Collection, DC)

Formal Analysis

Iconography/ Iconology

Biographical/ Psychobiographical Art History

Cultural/ Political/ Social/ Economical Contexts

Somatic/ Physiological/ Phenomenological

Artistic Intention

“Genius”

Technical Art History

The Parthenon (architecture), 447-432 B.C.
The Parthenon (447-432 B.C.E.)
Athenian
Acropolis
The Parthenon (447-432 B.C.E.)

Built under Pericles, between the Persian invasion and the

Peloponnesian War

Iktinus and Kallikrates: Architects

Phidias: Sculptural program on and inside the Parthenon

Polykleitos: Made free-standing sculptures in the Acropolis

The Parthenon was partly destroyed on Sept. 26, 1687 when a

munitions dump inside the building was ignited
Made from marble quarried at Mount Pentelicus
8 columns (short sides) x 17 columns (long sides)
2x+1 = canonical formula for Greek temples
Post and lintel construction

Western (rear) chamber Cella/naos

View from inside the Propylaea
The Parthenon (architecture), 447-432 B.C.
The Nashville Parthenon
(Full scale replica built in 1897)
Three orders of columns
Column drum
Optical refinements
Curvature: all horizontal
lines are slightly curved;
none are straight
 Optical refinements
Curvature: all horizontal lines are slightly curved; none are straight
Sculptural program
Phidias

Pediments: 438-432 B.C.

Metopes: finished by 440
B.C.
Frieze: 442-438 B.C.
Pediments, 438-432 B.C. West

East
Better Pediment Friezes
Frieze composite
Mimesis or mimetic

Verisimilitude

Naturalism instead of Realism

Kouros
ca. 590-580 B.C.E.
(Met Museum)
 Polykleitos

Diadoumenos Doryphoros
450-440 B.C.E. (Met Museum)
contrapposto
Blank
Better Pediment Friezes
Laocoön
2nd century B.C.-1st
century A.D.
The Parthenon (architecture), 447-432 B.C.
The Parthenon (447-432 B.C.E.)
Athenian
Acropolis

Morningside
Heights
Low Memorial Library, Columbia University
McKim, Mead, and White, 1895
 Athena Parthenos, Bust of Athena, Low
Nashville Parthenon Library rotunda
Butler Library, Columbia University
James Gamble Rogers, 1931-1934
Barrel Arches
The Pantheon, Rome, Italy
Started by Marcus Agrippa, rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian,
Completed in 126 AD
Pantheon model
 Partial view of flying buttresses, north nave, external
support
Partial view of flying buttresses, south nave, external
support