Functions of Art  Height: Each standing stone was around 4.

1 metres (13 ft) high

 Materials: Sarsen, Bluestone
The Saltcellar
Art Functions can be classified into:
 Decorations are related to the function of the vessel 1. Functional (Motivated)
 Woman symbolizes land & man the sea (Neptune God of the sea) e.g. Architecture, weaving and furniture
symbolizes salt. making
Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1572) Saliera or Saltcellar, Kunsthistorisches 2. Non-Functional (Non- Motivated)
Museum, Vienna e.g., painting, sculpture, literature, music and
the theater arts.
The Cellini Salt Cellar is a part-enameled gold table sculpture by Benvenuto
Cellini. It was completed in 1543 for Francis I, King of France, from Functional and Non-Functional Art
models that had been prepared many years earlier for Cardinal Ippolito  Function plays a larger part in some arts than in others.
d'Este. o Metalwork such as gates, lamps, grills, Chinese ritual bronzes,
•Artist: Benvenuto Cellini, Italian sculpture and goldsmith Christian religious objects, armor, weapons, tools, and coins;
ceramics; glassware; stained glass; mosaic and tilework; textiles;
•Created: 1543 enamelwork; furniture; and books are among the many types of
applied arts.
•Period: Mannerism
•Genre: Kinetic art
•Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
o Saint Mary’s University
•Dimensions: 26 cm × 33.5 cm (10 in × 13.2 in)  Architecture is directly and almost entirely functional: buildings
always built for some special function.
Stonehenge  It is “a school” rather than saying “a building”
 is a prehistoric monument
 Was with astronomical calculations and was used 1500BC. o Stained glass
 The place had some ceremonial or other religious purpose. o Intended for religious instruction
o Armor (Henry II of France weapon (XM-25)
Stonehenge walkway o Use as wall décor or divider
Stonehenge is in Wiltshire, England, 2 miles west of Amesbury and 8 miles o Mosaic Art
north of Salisbury o Ceramics
o animal ceramics
 Address: Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE, UK
 Construction started: 3100 BC Applied arts (e.g., architecture)
  the function is so important than the name of art
 It is used to identify individual works.
 Applied arts are known for their direct function; like in painting,
a poem, or a statue. We do not speak of a building or a piece of
ceramics or metalwork; instead we say: “a school”, “a Church”
“a plate”, “a saucer”, “a suit of armor”.
o Painting is least functional
o Amorsolo: Fruit Pickers under the Mango Tree
o Juan Luna: Spoliarium
Picasso’s Guernica
 Many paintings are with definite purpose.
 Paintings protest abuses of their time.
Daumier’s Rue Transnonain
 Paintings protest abuses of their time
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
 purposely written to fight slavery and did arouse slavery sentiment
before the Civil War.
• Oliver Wendell Holmes’ short poem ”Old Ironsides” was written to
protest a naval order that the frigate Constitution be destroyed.
• The ship was famous for its exploits during the War in 1812.
“Aye, tear her tattered ensign down!”
• Expository and argumentative writing is indirectly functional insofar
as it is designed to accomplish some definite end.
• Newspaper stories and pictures are also indirectly functional; they
want to make the news clear.
• All advertisements, whether in words or line and color are functional
and are designed to influence people.
Function in Music
 Music is functional: dance and religion
 Early people invoked their gods by beating a drum and singing
 Music has been of paramount importance in worship
 Dance is also very ancient
o Kalinga dance & costume
o Ceremonial dance
Function in Sculpture
 Sculpture is much more functional than in painting or literature
o Michelangelo's sculpture of David.
o “Gates of Paradise” (Lorenzo Ghiberti)
o Religion has for ages made great functional use of Sculpture
o The bronze doors are examples of magnificent and faultless
as claimed by Michaelangelo
o Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455) goldsmith, sculpture and
painter East Door “the Gate of Paradise” 1425-1452
o (Bronze, height of door 16½ ft. Florence Baptistery,
photograph by Alnari/Scala)
Functions of art …
 Eero Saarinen (1910-1961) American architect, “Gateway Arch”
1965, St Louis, Missouri (stainless steel plate “skin” over structural
steel skeleton. Height 630ft at ground level
 For commemoration
o The Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
Factors Influencing Function in Architecture:
• 1. Climate
• 2. Social factors – those elements in architecture determined by the
people in contrast to the forces of nature.
Form Follows Function
 Function influences and often determines the form e.g.
spoon, door keys, coin
Function and Beauty
  The value of any work of art depends on the work itself and being
functional and nonfunctional.  Death and morbidity is self explanatory.
 Architecture is always functional but may not be superior or inferior  This painting also reminds us the inevitability or is going to happen.
to painting or poetry, which are usually nonfunctional.  Love, sex and relationships are not always the nude paintings in art,
 In the evaluation of the two works of art, the presence or absence of but can also be the mother’s love for her son.
function, just like the presence and absence of a subject, is a matter
of no consequence. 2. The Social Functions of Art
• Art has a social function when it addresses aspects of (collective)
o e.g., plays have subject but no function; Cathedrals have life, as opposed to one person's point of view or experience.
function but no subject; symphonies have neither
subject nor function. • Social function - are those that go beyond personal intrinsic value to
o Physiological expression of art is a state of consciousness art's social benefits.
o The café terrace place du Forum
o Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings are good sources of • Individuals and their society are dynamically related. Art
psychological l expression communicates.
o The Church at Auvers
o Red Poppies and Daisies • Most often it is constructed with the intention of sharing responses
o Vase with 15 Sunflowers to and opinions about life with others.

• Art enriches, informs, and questions our world.

1. Personal Functions of Art
Nude but not erotic
 Most often it is constructed with the intention of sharing responses
to and opinions about life with others.
o Hubert & Jan Van Eyck (1400 AD)
 Art enriches, informs, and questions our world.
o The crucifixion
o Nude but not erotic
The Social Functions of Art
o The Last Judgment
• Arts are intended or used for public display and celebration.
• Arts are used to affect the collective behavior.
 Aesthetic expression is either abstract sum-based in nature, or non-
objective where you can’t make anything out
3. The Physical Functions of Art
(Utilitarian)
 Spiritual concern is spiritual art.  Paintings and buildings can both be symbols, but buildings also
serve a physical function. Many objects have both physical and
 The religious paintings usually have a historical connection and aesthetic duties.
spirituality always questions history.
o Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper o Memorial
o Women gleaners
The Subject of ART Pomegranate still life by Hamsterfly
THE SUBJECT OF ART IS VARIED. Classic still life photo composition

IT IS USUALLY ANYTHING THAT IS REPRESENTED IN THE 2. SELF-PORTRAIT - A painting, drawing, or culpture or other work of art
ARTWORK LIKE PERSON, OBJECT, SCENE OR EVENT. showing the artist himself.

The Subject of ART Portrait- a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person,

2 TYPES OF REPRESENTING SUBJECT especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders.

• REPRESENTATIONAL OR OBJECTIVE ART.
- painting, sculpture, graphic arts, literature, and theatre arts, although some
painting and sculptures, music, and dance may or may not have subjects.
Ligaw Tingin (Calixto “Toots” Quiatchon)
Frida Kahlo self-portrait with necklace of thorns & humming bird
Frida Kahlo’s self portrait with humming bird
Albrech Durer self portrait
Van Gogh self-portrait 1886
Family portrait Barack Obama’s campaign headshot

• NON-REPRESENTATIONAL OR NON-OBJECTIVE ART. 3. RELIGIOUS THEME - Art which the subject is of religious matter.
- ARTWORKS THAT HAVE NO RESEMBLANCE TO ANY REAL
SUBJECTS, THEY DO NOT REPRESENT ANYTHING AND WHAT 4. NON-OBJECTIVE SUBJECT - Art which the visual signs are entirely
THEY ARE. imaginative and not from anything seen by the artist.

No recognizable subject
• Abstract

First Abstract Watercolor Kandinsky 1910

Jack Vanzet abstract direction
Wassily Kandin sky werke
Abstract Modern Art

5. LANDSCAPE - A picture of natural outdoor scenery, such as mountains,

Types of ART Subject rivers, fields, or forests.

6. GENRE (zhan-ra) Art that has a subject matter those concerns with
Types of Art Subjects
everyday life, domestic scenes, sentimental family Relationships, etc.
1. STILL LIFE - A drawing or painting of an arrangement of non-moving,
nonliving objects, such as fruit, flowers, or bottles.
The Stone breaker
Usually, a still life is set indoors and contains at least one man made object,
such as a bowl or vase.
7. VISIONARY EXPRESSION Art that involves simplification and/or
rearrangement of natural objects to meet the needs of Artistic expression.
Art & humanity
Visionary art: Snail-LogicVisionary art by John Lawton
Cullison Jr.Visionary Art
8. PORTRAIT - A painting, drawing, or sculpture or other medium showing
a person or several people. Portraits usually show just the face and
shoulders, but it can include part or all of the body, as well.
8. PORTRAIT - a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person,
especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders.
synonyms: painting, picture, drawing, sketch,
likeness, image, study, miniature.
Aristotle portrait bust
Artists vs. Artisans
Artists
• dedicated only to the creative side, making visually pleasing work only for
the enjoyment and appreciation of the viewer, but with no functional value,
• work in the fine arts, including painting, illustration and sculpture,
• work with paint, watercolour, pen and ink, or illustrations,
• focus on creating aesthetically pleasing works,
• artists tends to be shown in museums or Galleries,
• All fine artists first learn to sketch, and begin with a pencil and sketchpad
to work with an idea on paper. Artists transfer their visions to canvases or
other medium, and this may mean working in oil, watercolor or pastels,
• Sculptors take their sketches and create 3D products from clay, marble or
other material,
• Illustrators might work for a publishing or animation company, or create
original comic books,
• All artists' work aims to create an overall reaction from a viewer,
• Artists sell products considering intermediaries( middlemen, agents,
matchmaker, brokers, promoters, mediators, facilitators).
• Artists sell products considering intermediaries:
* music producers
* gallery owners
* art consultants
* museums
* theatres
* publishing companies
Artisans
• a manual worker who makes items with his or her hands,
• through skill, experience and talent can create things of great beauty as
well as being functional,
• Before the industrial revolution virtually everything was made by artisans,
from smiths (goldsmiths, blacksmiths, locksmiths, gunsmiths) to weavers,
dyers carpenters, potters, etc.
• craftsmen who work in textiles, pottery, glass and other areas,
• craft work like jewelry, glasswork, pottery or other functional products,
• artisans' work focuses on accessorizing and functionality more than
aesthetics,
• sell their crafts at fairs and shops,
• are craftsmen who make practical artistic products, such as earrings, urns,
stained glass and other accessories,
• gain their knowledge by studying under master craftsmen and then
practicing with continued study,
• Artisans work to create something new, original, and at times,
provocative,
• spend a good portion of their time selling and promoting their items in
various marketplaces,
• artisans mechanisms for selling products are more particular,
• purpose of the artisan is more the passion of their work than money. That
is why is rare to see stores of unique unrepeated pieces from them,
• artisan is more connected with the environment and the territory where is
living. May use utensils or material from the same place of origin.
COMPARING ARTISTS TO ARTISANS
Job responsibilities of an Artist include:
 Developing ideas for a canvas or product
Selecting a medium for a final work, including texture, size, or area
Collecting work for a portfolio
Applying for grants for financial supportJob responsibilities of an Artisans
include:
 Using and mixing mediums like paint, metal, glass, or fabric
Shaping, gluing, sewing, testing and producing products
Displaying work at various sites including auctions, craft shows or online
markets
Estimating costs and material needsHISTORY
 In ancient Greece sculptors and painters were held in low regard,
somewherebetween freemen and slaves, their work regarded as mere
manual labour.
HISTORY
 During the Middle Ages the word artist already existed in some countries
such as Italy, but the meaning was something resembling craftsman, while
the word artisan was still unknown. An artist was someone able to do a
work better than others, so the skilled excellency was underlined, rather
than the activity field. In this period some "artisanal" products (such as
textiles) were much more precious and expensive than paintings or
sculptures.
 The first division into major and minor arts dates back at least to the
works of Leon Battista Alberti (1404–1472): De re aedificatoria, De statua,
De pictura, which focused on the importance of the intellectual skills of the
artist rather than the manual skills.
Major Arts- characterized by actual and potential expressiveness such as
music, poetry, sculpture.
Minor Arts- concerned on practical uses and purposes such as interior
decorations and porcelain art.
 An artist also may be defined unofficially as "a person who expresses him-
or herself through a medium". The word is also used in a qualitative sense
of, a person creative in, innovative in, or adept at, an artistic practice.
Services or functions of contemporary artists:
Create places for some human purpose.
Create extraordinary versions of ordinary objects.
Record and commemorate.
Give tangible form to the unknown.
Give tangible form to feelings.
Refresh our vision and help see the world in new way