Prehistoric art

Prehistoric cave art-Lascaux, France

Superimposed images may mean the “act” of creating was more important than the final

image.

Prehistoric stone sculpture

Venus of Willendorf-fertility figure

Stone Henge, Englandmonolithic architecture

Egyptian Art

The great pyramids at Giza were both tombs and monuments.

2500 BC

Egyptian Canopic jars hold the internal organs removed during

mummification.

Egypt- Temple at Karnak shows stone architecture (post and lintel)

Karnak – obelisk, temple and guardian sphinx sculptures.

Egyptian sculptureMycerinus and His

QueenStone – rigid,

stylized, block -like

Mycerinus and his Queen - detail

Sculpture of an Egyptian Pharaoh

Note the symmetry, frontal pose and simplified details.

Sarcophagus and painted box from an Egyptian tomb were

painted with hieroglyphs and

scenes from the life of the deceased.

Animal mummy case

Wall paintings in Egyptian tomb shows Anubis (Jackal-headed god) with the

mummified Pharaoh.

Size shows status. Rigid rules for figures, wildlife is more natural.

Men darker than women.

Tomb in Aswan shows hieroglyph captions with image.

Daughters of AkenatenWall painting Briefly, during

Akenaten’s reign artists were allowed to paint in a more natural way showing, foreshortening, perspective and natural poses. When he died the rigid rules of art making were again imposed.

Lion’s Gate

shows Post

and Lintelstructure

Early (Archaic) Greek sculpture – rigid,

stylized, nude youth (Kouros)

was probably a funeral marker.

Classical Greek Sculpture

the Spear Bearer, shows contraposto, a

natural “s” curve pose, detailed anatomy but a calm, god-like face.

Nike of Samothrace

Greek Sculpture

Note the fluid drapery and

beauty of the anatomy

Laocoon GroupHellenistic (late)

sculpture showed movement, emotion & violence,

great detail and facial expression.

The Acropolis (high city)in Athens, Greece.

Architectural Orders in GreeceDoric Ionic Corinthian

Temple from the Acropolis is of the Ionic

Order, decorated with a high relief frieze

base.

The Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Temple to Athena, goddess of war and wisdom.

Parthenon pediment sculpture and low- relief frieze.

Parthenon – Doric order

Parthenon colonnade

The Dionysus Bowl – glazed pottery shows the legend of how the god of wine (Dionysus) caused the boat mast to sprout into a grapevine, frightening the pirates. As they jumped into the sea they turnedinto dolphins.

Pottery design (red figure vase) shows a mythical creature popular in ancient cultures.

Red Figure Greek Vase (amphora)

showing a legend about the gods and

their winged horses. (Pegasus)

Roman Art

The Arch of Constantine – Rome, Italy

Aqueducts allowed Romans to bring fresh water to their cities.

Roman sculpture show personality

and unique, realistic, features “Busts” were of

head and shoulders only.

Portrait bust of Julius Caesar

Coliseum, Rome, Italy built as a stadium for entertainment

It featured 3 tiers of arches,

bleachers and box

seats as well as a canvas awning for

shade

Rooms under the stadium

floor held animals, slaves and gladiators.

It was even flooded so mock naval

battles could be staged.

The Pantheon in Rome is a dome on a drum, with a Greek style front porch.

The ceiling of the Pantheon is

“coffered” to lighten the

weight of the stone. The

dome’s “oculus” provides light

(and rain!)

The interior of the Pantheon includes

Greek style columns and

pediment “window” niches.

Ruins in ancient Rome show how they “borrowed” ideas from the Greeks.

Courtyard of a Roman villa

Wall paintings from Pompeii were preserved when the city was

encased in volcanic ash

The Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii shows great skill in painting