Identification for Grave Stele of Hegeso Ap Art History

Fine art Historical Background

Let's commencement off with what is a "grave stele." Like the prehistoric Anthropomorphic Stele, a stele is an an upright stone monument with carvings. Couple that with the word "grave" and yous know it's function: a vertical grave marker (aka today we'd telephone call it a headstone). This particular stele is from the ancient Greek period fine art historians call the High Classical, correct after the height of the Classical Era of the Acropolis only before the expansion of Alexander the Slap-up and somewhen decline into a Roman province.

This grave stele tin be continued to two other ancient Greek grave markers: #27. Anavysos Kouros & #28. Peplos Kore. But dissimilar those ii, this was not meant to glorify the state, instead this was made as part of a private committee. This stele was plant in the cemetery of the Kerameikos which is merely due west of ancient Athens, unlike the other above that were associated with the state-sponsored Acropolis.

The reason information technology is chosen the "Grave stele of Hegeso"is because, thanks and so an inscription at the acme, we know the women who it was created for: "Hegeso, daughter of Proxenos." Hegeso is the seated lady. She is being presented with jewelry (some say a necklace) past her standing female retainer.

*Note: that like the other 2 grave markers, this would have been highly pained in its fourth dimension but due to the erosion of paint, the jewelry in her manus and probably in the box can no longer been seen.

Women in Ancient Athens were not considered citizens and therefore were not allowed to participate much in public functions. Hegeso is seen here firmly rooted in domestic sphere: the columns to the correct and left confine her and the pediment at the acme suggests a home-like setting. You tin also encounter an indication of her lack of social status from the pediment, she is identified as an individual only via he relationship to her begetter.

Read more:  Student Series! Girls, Gays, & Greco-Romans

Although this stele demonstrates depression-social status for women, it is also an indication of the family unit's high economic status. Hegeso'southward dress and hair demonstrate her wealth in ancient Athens. She too sits on an intricate chair with a footstool, her person never touching the ground. And although, while seated, she is shorter than her maid, if Hegeso were to stand up she would be unrealistically taller. This is indicative of the Ancient Mediterranean artistic practice of hierarchy of scale: tallest/biggest person = more important. Historians besides point to a slight increment in women'due south social/legal status during this time period by the passing of the Periclean constabulary in 451 BCE.  This police force stated that to be an Athenian citizen, both parents had to be Athenian born. Therefore, keeping track of women's ancestry because more important to prove citizenship for their children (especially sons, as women could not go citizens).

As mentioned earlier, this is not the only piece like this. It forms a pretty consistent blazon of grave steles from the High Classical Period for wealthy Athenian families. High Classical sculptures typically have a quiet attitude to them, which is quite different from the emotion of the Hellenistic Age. This somerness fits nicely with the theme of grave steles: celebration of death.

Resources

• Gardner's Art through the Ages, 15th edition, pg. 139
• Greek Art and Archæology, pg. 280-281
• Khan Academy: Grave Stele of Hegeso
• AP Art History: 36. Grave Stele of Hegeso
• Academy of Cambridge, Museum of Classical Archeology Database: Grave Stele of Hegeso
• Brock University: Object Assay: The Stele of Hegeso
• Brown University: Archaeologies of the Greek Past, Grave stele
• Castor Minor: Analysis of Kallimachos' Grave Stele of Hegeso
• Oregon Undergraduate Inquiry Periodical: Silent Slaves: Reconstructing Slave Perspectives on the Grave Stele of Hegeso
• Tufts Academy: Athens, NM 3624 (Sculpture)
• Harrison Humanities: Grave stele of Hegeso

Next time: #37. Winged Victory of Samothrace. Hellenistic Greek. c. 190 BCE. Marble

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