Why do you think there was a rapid evolution in Greek sculpture toward naturalistic and idealized nude fig.?

Question

Why do you think there was a rapid evolution in Greek sculpture toward naturalistic and idealized nude figures? Do you think there is a connection between a move toward democracy and a move toward naturalism?

Answer 1

they didn't have a rapid evolution. It took hundreds of years to occur.

The Egyptians were the major inspiration for Greek art. The Egyptians had highly developed art, including very natural paintings. However most Egyptian art that has been preserved was religious. The Egyptians were very conservative in their religion and used stylized paintings and sculpture. Because it is stylized it does not look natural and makes it seem as if the Egyptians had poor artistic skills. But that would be like reading legal documents and assuming that modern people wrote very boring stories.

The Greeks were exposed to Egyptian art thousands of years after it was developed. They saw both the stylized art and the more natural art. Not having the Egyptians religious restrictions the Greeks copied the natural Egyptian styles.

Egyptian sculpture may have been entirely for religious purposes (in Egypt government was part of religion) so sculpture as not as developed as painting. The greeks developed sculpture to the natural look to match the paintings.

They had the nude figure because people in the mediterranean than were basically nude. It was hot and later religious repressive ideas of morality did not force people to conceal their flesh. The Egyptians, Minoans and others typically had paintings and sculptures of nearly nudes.

Answer 2

Evolution Of Greek Sculpture

Answer 3

The Ancient greeks were the forerunners of the Christian Religion - That Man is made in God's image, which is why Greek Gods take Human form unlike the previous Egyptian, Babylonian, etc that combined Animal and Human. Democracy (Rule by the Majority) is an outgrowth of this concept as opposed to "The Gods will it and so it shall be"

Answer 4

that is their love of natural beauty!

Answer 5

it depends upon what you call fast.