Famous Greek Artists

Ancient Greek art is known for its beauty, realism, and innovation. Greek artist have shown their creativity with different works of art among them painting, sculpture, pottery, and architecture. Greek artists were influenced by the ideas and values of Greek mythology, philosophy, and religion.

Apelles

Ancient Greek artist Apelles lived in the 4th century BC. He was considered one of the greatest painters of his time. The artist was best known for his realistic and detailed depictions of human figures and for adding a touch of realism to his paintings. He was famous for his portraits and his techniques inspired generations of artists.

(shown above)

Alexander Mosaic (depicting the Battle of Issus or the Battle of Gaugamela) is also known by the title the Battle of Issus Mosaic. It was originally a Roman floor mosaic from the House of the Faun in Pompeii. Italy. The mosaic is dated between c. 120 and BC 100. The artwork depicts a battle between the armies of Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. It is an artwork created with a mix of artistic traditions like Italic, Hellenistic, and Roman. The original is preserved in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, Italy.

El Greco

Greek artist, sculptor, and architect El Greco lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. His real name was Domenikos Theorokopoulos. The artist is known for his unique style combining Byzantine and Renaissance art with his own creative vision. He was best known for his religious paintings. Among his best-known artwork is the painting View of Toledo.

Gnosis

Ancient Greek artist Gnosis (300 BC) was known for his famous Stag Hunt Mosaic from the House of Helen’s Abduction in Pella, the capital of the Macedonian Kingdom. He created mosaics that used such materials as semiprecious stones and glass tesserae for the first time.

Phidias

Ancient Greek sculptor and architect Phidias lived during the 5th century BC. During his time he was one of the most famous and influential sculptors. The sculptor is also known for his work on several famous buildings and sculptures among them the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, and the statue of Zeus at Olympia. He was particularly well-known for his ability to create large-scale sculptures. To give his artwork intricate and lifelike details he used ivory and gold. The artwork of Phidias has a profound influence on the development of Western art and sculpture.

His Statue of Zeus at Olympia was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Polygnotus

Ancient Greek artist Polygnotus lived in the 5th century BC, He was known for his large-scale wall paintings and his ability to capture emotions and expression in his subjects. He created artwork that depicted scenes from mythology and history. Among his most famous artworks were paintings created for the Stoa Poikile in Athens and the Temple of Theseus. Among his best-known works of art was the Helen of Troy painting.

Praxiteles

Ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles lived during the 4th century BC. He was known for his depictions of human figures, particularly the female figure. Among his best-known sculptures is Aphrodite of Knidos which was one of the first full-scale nude female sculptures. His artwork was highly realistic and life-like was great detail,

Scopas

Ancient Greek sculptor and architect Scopas lived during the 4th century BC. He was born in Paros but worked in Athens. The sculptor was best known for his highly emotional and expressive statues often depicting mythological and heroic figures. Among his most famous artworks is the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Zeuxis

Greek artist Zeuxis lived during the 5th century BC. He was an artist who was known for his realistic and lifelike paintings and depicted mythological scenes and figures. Known for his attention to detail his paintings appeared to be three-dimensional. Among his notable paintings was The Infant Hercules Strangling the Serpents.