Facial _expression_ ran to contorted
features,holiness became moroseness, and sadness sulkiness. Bound bythe
conventionalities of his time he could still create a work ofnobility and power. He
gathered up andunited in himself all the art teachings of his time. The second kind
of ware dates from about the middle of the seventh century.
To the figure hegave more motion, dramatic gesture,
life.
Almost all the museums of the world have
collections of Greek vases.
It is not likely that the backgrounds were
otherthan conventional settings for the figure. In art the fine athletic figure, or,
for that matter,any figure, was an abomination. EXTANT REMAINS: There are few wall
or panel pictures of Greek times in existence. It decried the human, the flesh, and
the worldly.
Symbolism came in, but it wasinsufficient. In the
larger pieces thecomposition was rather rambling and disjointed, and the color
harsh. EXTANT REMAINS: There are few wall or panel pictures of Greek times in
existence.
The decoration is profuse and the rude human figure
subordinate to it.
ROMAN PAINTING: Roman art is an appendix to the art
history of Greece.
Their fancy ran tosweetness of face rather than to
bodily vigor. And at this time the decorations began to have a
doublemeaning.
Finally therewas a mingling of Etruscan with Greek
elements, and an imitation ofGreek methods. But classicform was ever being
encroached upon by oriental richness of materialand color. Toward the beginning of
the fifteenth century the school ratherdeclined. Their fancy ran tosweetness of face
rather than to bodily vigor.
Some wished them forinstruction in the Word; others
decried them as leading to idolatry.
This was a distinct advance toward nature. In fact,
none of the Giottesquecan be said to have improved upon the master, taking him as a
whole. There were four kinds of these wall paintings. It was not a revolt or a
starting out anew on a whollyoriginal path. The terra-cottas, figurines in bronze,
and sculptures can be studied to more advantage.
Thus painting assumed a more decorativenature. Its
hopes werecentred upon the life hereafter.