🎨Art History I – Prehistory to Middle Ages Unit 20 – Art History: Review and Synthesis

Key Concepts and Themes

• Art as a means of communication, expression, and documentation of human experiences and beliefs
• Relationship between art and religion, politics, and social structures in various cultures and time periods
• Influence of geography, climate, and available materials on artistic production
• Development of artistic techniques, styles, and conventions over time
• Role of patronage and commissioning in shaping artistic output
• Emergence of individual artists and their impact on the evolution of art
• Iconography and symbolism as essential elements in conveying meaning and narrative in artworks
  • Use of religious symbols (cross, halo) to identify sacred figures
  • Incorporation of mythological creatures (sphinx, griffins) to represent power and protection

Timeline and Historical Context

• Prehistoric Art (30,000 BCE - 2,500 BCE): Cave paintings, Venus figurines, and megalithic structures
• Ancient Near Eastern Art (3,500 BCE - 612 BCE): Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian art
• Egyptian Art (3,100 BCE - 30 BCE): Pyramids, temples, and funerary art
  • Old Kingdom (2686 BCE - 2181 BCE): Great Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx
  • New Kingdom (1550 BCE - 1069 BCE): Luxor Temple and Valley of the Kings
• Aegean Art (3,000 BCE - 1,100 BCE): Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean art
• Greek Art (1,100 BCE - 31 BCE): Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods
  • Classical Period (480 BCE - 323 BCE): Parthenon and sculptures by Phidias
• Roman Art (753 BCE - 476 CE): Republic and Empire periods, influenced by Greek and Etruscan art
• Early Christian and Byzantine Art (330 CE - 1453 CE): Mosaics, icons, and illuminated manuscripts

Major Artworks and Artists

• Paleolithic Cave Paintings: Lascaux and Chauvet Caves in France
• Neolithic Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland
• Sumerian Ziggurat of Ur and Standard of Ur
• Egyptian Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, and Bust of Nefertiti
• Minoan Palace of Knossos and Bull-Leaping Fresco
• Greek Parthenon, Myron's Discobolus, and Praxiteles' Aphrodite of Knidos
• Roman Colosseum, Pantheon, and Augustus of Prima Porta
• Byzantine Hagia Sophia and Justinian Mosaic in Ravenna

Artistic Techniques and Styles

• Prehistoric: Simple geometric shapes, outline drawings, and use of natural pigments
• Ancient Near Eastern: Stylized figures, hieratic scale, and low relief sculpture
• Egyptian: Frontal pose, hierarchical scale, and use of grid system for proportions
  • Painting techniques: Flat color, no shading or perspective
  • Sculpture: Cubic and block-like forms, idealized features
• Greek: Idealized human form, contrapposto stance, and naturalistic rendering
  • Archaic Period: Kouros and Kore figures with Archaic smile
  • Classical Period: Perfection of proportions and balance, introduction of contrapposto
• Roman: Adaptation of Greek styles, emphasis on realism and individualism in portraiture
• Early Christian and Byzantine: Flat, stylized figures, hieratic scale, and use of gold leaf in mosaics and icons

Cultural and Social Influences

• Prehistoric: Shamanism, fertility cults, and early religious beliefs
• Ancient Near Eastern: City-states, divine kingship, and polytheistic religion
• Egyptian: Centralized government, belief in afterlife, and role of pharaohs as divine intermediaries
  • Influence of Nile River on agriculture, trade, and artistic motifs (lotus, papyrus)
  • Funerary practices and mummification reflected in tomb art and architecture
• Greek: City-states, democracy, and philosophical inquiry
  • Mythology and religious festivals as sources of artistic inspiration (Panathenaic Procession)
  • Symposia and athletic competitions as social contexts for art display
• Roman: Imperial power, engineering prowess, and assimilation of conquered cultures
• Early Christian and Byzantine: Spread of Christianity, theological debates, and political rivalries between Rome and Constantinople

Symbolism and Interpretation

• Prehistoric: Fertility symbols (Venus figurines), shamanic rituals, and possible astronomical alignments in megalithic structures
• Ancient Near Eastern: Royal power and divine authority conveyed through symbolic animals (lions, bulls) and mythological creatures
• Egyptian: Ankh as symbol of life, scarab as symbol of rebirth, and weighing of the heart in Book of the Dead
  • Horus and Set representing balance of order and chaos
  • Pharaoh as embodiment of divine power and guarantor of cosmic order
• Greek: Gods and heroes as embodiments of human ideals and virtues
  • Athena as symbol of wisdom, war, and crafts
  • Hercules as symbol of strength and perseverance
• Roman: Imperial portraits as propaganda, Romulus and Remus myth as symbol of Rome's origins and destiny
• Early Christian and Byzantine: Cross as symbol of Christ's sacrifice, lamb as symbol of Christ's innocence and purity

Evolution and Transitions

• Prehistoric to Ancient Near Eastern: Development of agriculture, rise of cities and complex societies
• Ancient Near Eastern to Egyptian: Unification of Egypt, development of writing (hieroglyphs) and monumental architecture
• Egyptian to Aegean: Trade contacts and cultural exchanges, influence of Egyptian art on Minoan and Mycenaean cultures
• Aegean to Greek: Mythological traditions, development of Archaic and Classical styles
  • Transition from Archaic to Classical: Abandonment of Archaic smile, increasing naturalism and idealization
  • Hellenistic Period: Increased individualism, emotional intensity, and dramatic compositions
• Greek to Roman: Conquest of Greek world by Rome, adaptation and transformation of Greek artistic traditions
• Roman to Early Christian and Byzantine: Adoption of Christianity as state religion, shift from naturalistic to symbolic and transcendental art

Impact and Legacy

• Prehistoric: Foundation for later artistic developments, insight into early human cognition and symbolism
• Ancient Near Eastern: Influence on Egyptian, Aegean, and Persian art, cuneiform writing system
• Egyptian: Enduring fascination with ancient Egypt, influence on Greek, Roman, and modern art
  • Neoclassical and Art Deco movements inspired by Egyptian motifs and styles
  • Decipherment of hieroglyphs by Champollion and its impact on Egyptology
• Greek: Foundation for Western art, architecture, and aesthetics
  • Rediscovery of Greek art in the Renaissance and Neoclassical periods
  • Influence on modern art movements (Cubism, Futurism) and contemporary popular culture
• Roman: Preservation and transmission of Greek art, influence on Renaissance and Baroque art
• Early Christian and Byzantine: Development of Christian iconography, influence on Medieval and Orthodox art