\paperw19995 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 The principal characteristics of Hellenistic art were derived from the new situation that was emerging in Greek art. For the first ti
me in centuries, art was placed at the service of private grandeur. Thus the work of art acquired a worldly character, an air of elegance and refinement aimed at the exaltation of the senses. This led eventually to the preference for the amusing genre sc
ene, that was idyllic in nature, as well as for the interpretation of minor aspects of mythology and for the representation of scenes from ordinary life. The consequence was an expansion of artisan production to colossal proportions and a cessation of th
e distinction between craftsmanship and the work of the great artist. However refined, Hellenistic art created nothing new, but merely modified the classical model, though without the restraint, equilibrium and proportion that had been its basis. Among t
he Hellenistic kingdoms, Pergamum managed to develop a plastic art of great effect and force that was based on a high level of creativity and technical skill. A typical aspect of Hellenism was its copious output of portraits. Often of great artistic qual
ity, they showed a peculiar talent in combining physiognomic and psychological details.
