March 25 th and April 1st, 2009 Wednesdays 6:30 - 9:15 p.m. Bryce Walker

March 25th and April 1st, 2009Wednesdays 6:30 - 9:15 p.m.

Bryce Walker

Things to discuss todayMuseum Paper DueHand back Exam #2Art News?Quiz #5Video

ART1010- Intro to Art, Bryce Walker 2

Pre-Christian Art Items to be covered:

1. Ancient Mediterranean Worlds1. The Oldest Art2. Mesopotamia3. Egypt4. The Aegean

2. The Classical World1. Greece2. Rome


Goals and Objectives1. Learn how to create an art history

timeline2. Learn how to recognize pre-christian art3. Learn the demographic (culture, climate,

etc...) of the people who created this art4. Learn where this art was created5. Learn difference between different

artistic styles (ie. Egyptian or Greco-Roman?)


Ancient Mediterranean Worlds“An important factor in understanding and appreciating any work of art is some knowledge of its place in time.” (p. 349) When and where was it made? What traditions was the artist building on or rebelling against?What did society at that time expect of its artists? What sort of tasks did it give them?


The Oldest Art(23,000 - 3000 BCE)Region around the Mediterranean Sea (Africa, the Near East, and Europe)Art was believed to be made as a form of magic to ensure success in the hunt no longer. Certain animals are symbolic, representing mythical spirits or spirit “contacts” in the other world.Art that was preserved from this time period is rare. Therefore art that has been preserved is precious, without importance of how good is was.


“Venus of Willendorf”

23,000 BCE (Limestone)

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Mesopotamian Empire




Mesopotamia


(3000 - 800 BCE)Modern-day Iraq. Fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.Cuneiform was an ancient writing system.Ziggurat- a temple or shrineHistory marked by warfare, therefore many artworks are influenced by war

“Lion Hunt”

850 BCE (Alabaster)



Ancient Egyptian Empire






Ancient Egypt


(2530-1300 BCE)Nile River ValleyThe “Sphinx” is a symbol of stability, order, and endurance. At 65 feet tall, it faces into the rising sun. Body of a lion and the head of a man (pharaoh Kafre)Pyramid- the most famous and sacred of Egyptian architecture. A royal funerary complex, which included a temple of worship of the deceased ruler.Egyptian art style stayed consistent for many years.

“The Great Sphinx”

2500 BCE (Limestone)



Ancient Egypt


A common sculpture type during Menkaure era is “Seated Scribe”. This man appeared to hold a high position as a “professional writer.”This sculpture seems somewhat more relaxed, yet is still symmetrical and reserved. The body is shown as rather flabby, may depict age and sedentary occupation. The Egyptian “Desk Job.”

“Seated Scribe”

2450 BCE (Limestone, Alabaster, and Rock Crystal)



Ancient Egypt


Egyptian art had many layers of meaning. People are depicted as young and in the prime of life, the form hoped for in the eternities.A truly revolutionary ruler was Amenhotep IV (1353 BCE) attempted to establish monotheism (belief in one god) among a people who traditionally worshipped many gods. He also created a new style of art that went away from the rigid pose to a more relaxed, naturalistic, and even intimate portrayal.

“Hathor and Sety”

1300 BCE (Painted Plaster on Limestone)



The Aegean


(3000- 800 BCE)Between the Greek peninsula and the continent of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey)is the Aegean. “Sea within a sea”The type of art made by the Aegean people is called cycladic. Historians do not know much about this people.Minoans- taken from the legendary king called Minos, who ruled Knossos and gave birth to Monotaur (half-bull, half human)Mycenean- these people built palaces and temple. Burials had elaborate amounts of gold.

“Rhyton in the shape of a lion’s head”

1550 BCE (Gold)



Ancient Greek Empire




Ancient Greece


(800 BCE - 200 BCE)Greeks political ideas serve as a model contemporary democracy.Greek architecture and sculpture had an enormous influence on the later civilizations of Rome and even Europe. This entire style is called “Classical”Krater- a standard Greek pottery for wine. It belongs to the Late Geometric period.Greek sculptors seem to have followed closely the sculpture style of the Egyptians.

“Kouros”

580 BCE (Marble)



Ancient Greece


When Egyptian sculptors left their works partially embedded into the stone, Greek sculptors released completely from the stone, with space between the legs and arms. Greek statues are typically in the nude. The Archaic period (6th century BCE) of Greek Art showed sculptures to signify gods in the human form. (Pagan tradition)The idealized, male body shows power. The example of the warrior is done an informal pose with contrapposto at the feet.

“Warrior A”

450 BCE (Bronze)



Ancient Greece


The Classical period (480-323 BCE) of Greek Art was known as the finest Greece was composed of city states which often went to war against each other. Athens was one of the major power city states.Athens had been built around a high hill, or acropolis.The Parthenon was at the top most part of the hill.

“Parthenon”

447-432 BCE (Stone)





Ancient Greece


The Hellenistic period (323 BCE) of Greek Art is dated to the death of Alexander the Great. Greek culture spread from Asia Minor, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.Hellenistic sculptures developed a style emphasizing balance and restraint.Venus de Milo was the Roman equivalent of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.

“Venus de Milo”

150 BCE (Marble)



The Roman Empire




Roman Empire


(510 BCE- 100 CE)The Roman Republic was founded in 510 BCE followed by a long period of expansion and consolidation of territories. A highly influential invention of Roman sculptors was the equestrian portrait- the portrayal of an Marcus Aurelius on horseback Early Romans were equally masterful painters. From a tragedy of 79 CE, when Mt Vesuvius, an active volcano, erupted and buried the town of Pompeii. When uncovered in 1748, they found well preserved frescos of great worth.

“Marcus Aurelius”

164-166 BCE (Bronze)



Roman Empire


The Romans are best known for architecture and engineering. The most familiar symbol of Rome is the Colosseum. Planned under direction of Emperor Vespasian in 80 CE. Even in its ruined state, this sculpture displays the genius of Roman architects. Three tiers of archs. All three types of columns are used. Doric on the lowest tier, Ionic on the second, and Corinthian on the third.

“Colosseum”

72-80 CE (Stone)



Roman Empire


The Roman empire grew so big, by the year 100 CE it ringed the entire Mediterranean Sea, extended eastward through Asia Minor and into Mesopotamia, westward through Spain, northward through England, and south across Northern Africa and Egypt. The empire comprised of a variety of cultures, languages, and religions, which all were able to mingle freely under Roman rules and on Roman roads.Romans were fascinated by Egyptian culture.

Conclusion


At the conclusion of the Roman empire, during some perplexing times, a new religion would emerge. “Based on the teachings of an obscure Jewish preacher named Jesus, it was called Christianity.” (p.376)



Documents

March 25 th and April 1st, 2009 Wednesdays 6:30 - 9:15 p.m. Bryce Walker