Introduction

 to  Classical,  Medieval,  and  Renaissance  Art  

Classical  Period                              Medieval  Period          Renaissance  

                                   500  BC                AD  500             AD  1400                AD  1650  

Classical  Period   Medieval  Period   Renaissance  

     
The  Classical  Period  covered  the  height  of  the   The  Medieval  Period  in  Europe,  which  lasted   The  Renaissance  included  a  rebirth  of  interest  
Greek  culture  and  the  Roman  Empire,  from  its   roughly  from  AD  500  to  AD  1400,  was   in  Classical  culture.    It  began  around  1400  and  
rise  to  its  fall,  about  500  BC  to  AD  500.    The   characterized  by  the  rise  of  feudalism  and  the   lasted  until  1650.    People  rediscovered  the  
people  of  these  ancient  societies  developed   controlling  power  of  the  Catholic  Church  in   writings  and  artworks  of  the  Greeks  and  
many  of  the  ideas  that,  today,  make  up  our   people’s  lives.   Romans,  borrowed  their  ancient  ideas,  and  
mathematics,  science,  literature,  and  art.     combined  them  in  new  ways.  
     
Forms  of  Art:  sculpture,  painted  pottery,   Forms  of  Art:  stained-­‐glass  windows,   Forms  of  Art:  sculptures,  murals,  drawings,  
murals,  mosaics   sculptures,  illuminated  manuscripts,  paintings,   paintings  
  tapestries    
Purposes:  to  show  the  importance  of  people     Purposes:  to  show  the  importance  of  people  
and  leaders,  as  well  as  gods  and  goddesses   Purposes:  to  teach  religion  to  people  who   and  nature,  not  just  religion  
  cannot  read  or  write    
Characteristics  of  Classical  Art       Characteristics  of  Renaissance  Art  
 figures  look  idealized,  perfect   Characteristics  of  Medieval  Art    both  religious  and  nonreligious  scenes  
 bodies  look  active,  move  convincingly    subjects  mostly  religious    figures  look  idealized,  perfect  
 bodies  are  often  nude,  sometimes    figures  look  flat  and  stiff  with  little  real    bodies  may  look  active,  moving  
draped  in  togas   movement    bodies  may  be  nude  or  clothed  
 faces  are  bland  and  clam,  without    important  figures  are  large    real  people  doing  real  tasks  of  daily  life  
emotion      fully  clothes,  draped  in  deeply  carved,    faces  express  what  people  are  thinking  
 scenes  show  heroic  figures  or  real   still-­‐looking  clothes    colors  respond  to  the  light  that  falls  on  
people  doing  real  tasks  of  daily  life    faces  are  solemn  with  little  emotion   them  
 little  background  or  sense  of    paintings  use  vibrant  colors    interest  in  nature,  lots  of  natural  detail  
perspective  (when  distant  objects  look    flat,  two-­‐dimensional  painted  figures    paintings  are  symmetrical  (balanced  on  
smaller  and  far  away)    backgrounds  a  single  color,  often  gold,   both  sides)  
  no  interest  in  creating  a  realistic  space