APPRECIATING

ART
Done by :
Class :
 Index

Sno Topic Page no

1 Western Art 1-4

2 Eastern Art 5-6

3 Indian Artworks 7-8

Differences between Eastern and
4 9
Western art
5 Western Architecture 10
6 Eastern Architecture 11
7 Taj Mahal 12-15
9 Visiting the Taj Mahal 16-18
10 Bibliography 19
 1
Western art
Introduction :-
Art works from Europe and regions which have a similar
or common cultures compared to Europe are classified
as Western arts . Some famous western art pieces are
Mona Lisa , Creation of Adam , Girl with a Pearl earring.
Some famous artists are Leonardo Da Vinci ,
Michelangelo.

Characteristics :-
Western arts can be easily distinguished from other arts
as they are portrayed in two and three dimensions , while
concentrating on realistic impressionist style.

Western art mainly emphasized on human anatomy and

realism . Leonardo Da Vinci , the worlds most renowned
artist had dissected over thirty human corpses which gave
him the knowledge and ability to paint hyper realistic
human figures such as the Mona Lisa.

Western arts mainly portrays the history , culture , the

people and the landscape confined to Europe and
western parts of North America
2
Western art
Major periods in Western art :-

Ancient art (480/479-323 B.C.E.)

Art from advanced cultures of ancient societies such as those in India ,

Egypt , Greece , Rome , Persia and Mesopotamia come under the Ancient
arts division . .

Medieval art (300 C.E to 1400 C.E)

Medieval art was produced in different media such as sculptures ,
illuminated manuscripts , stained glass and mosaics . These media have a
higher survival rate compared to frescos and works in textiles. Some
examples are The jewelled cover of the Codex Aureus of St. Emmeram , The
small private Wilton Diptych for Richard II of England

Renaissance (1400 C.E to 1600 C.E)

The Renaissance period is the era from 14th to 16th century during which
new styles in painting , sculptures and architecture developed. Religious
view of the world played an important role during this period . Some
significant artworks from this period are Mona Lisa , The Last Supper

Romanticism (1780-1850)
Romanticism was an artistic movement which originated in Europe . It was
characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism. Some major
art works are Wanderer above the Sea , Death of Sardanapalus.

Modern art(1860-1945
Modern art includes art works from 1860s to 1970s and portrays the
philosophies during that era . Some of the artworks are The Starry Night , The
Scream
3
Western art
Examples of western art:-

Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci :-

Mona Lisa is seen to resemble the

depictions of Virgin Mary who was seen
as an ideal symbol for womanhood
during the Renaissance era . The woman
is seen sitting in an upright position with
a reserved posture .

Girl with a Pearl Earring by

Johannes Vermeer :-

The painting is a depicts a European girl

wearing an exotic dress , with a turban
and a large earring which has a pearl.
4
Western art
The Birth of Venus by
Sandro Botticelli:-

The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli

depicts Venus(the goddess of love)
reaching the shore after being born .
She is seen to be fully grown .

Creation of Adam by Michelangelo :-

The Creation of Adam is a fresco painting by

Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel's Ceiling
illustrates the biblical creation narrative from the
book of genesis in which Adam is brought to life by
god.
5
Eastern art
Introduction :-
Sculptures , paintings and textiles from the Middle
East , China , India , Southeast Asia and the Himalayas
are classified under Eastern Arts. Some famous
Eastern artworks are Panorama of Along the River
During the Qingming Festival by Chinese artist Zhang
Zeduan

Characteristics :-

The art style of eastern art focusses more on the

relationship between humans and the divine. Most
artworks are religious in nature and usually honor
religious gods .

Animals are frequently seen in art works from the ancient

near east , they are made in a realistic way and often
represent abstract concepts such as fertility , divinity and
so on.
6
Eastern art
Examples of Eastern art:-

Panorama of Along the River During

the Qingming Festival by Chinese
artist Zhang Zeduan :-
The painting captures the life of
people during the Song period and
portrays the festive spirit during the
Qingming festival.

Set of sliding doors of Plum tree

by Kanō Sanraku :-

The massive trunk of the ancient

tree is seen bending and branching
every feet across the panels . The
blossoms on the tree represent the
cold early spring morning and
symbolizes birth and renewal
7
Indian
artworks
Shakuntala – Raja Ravi Verma :-

The painting by Ravi Varma depicts

Shakuntala an important character
of Mahabaratha , pretending to
remove a thorn from her feet while
trying to look for her husband ,
Dushyantha

Glow of Hope –
S L Haldankar :-

The painting shows a young girl

holding a lamp in her hand , she was
posing for a work of art being made
by her father SL Haldankar. It is said
that the girl had to stand for three
hours while the artwork was being
completed.
8
Indian
artworks

Tamil Girls with Her Parrots – S Elayaraja :-

S Elayaraja paintings are known for being hyper realistic . In the
painting a girl is seen to be sitting with her parrots while having a
subtle smile and looking into the frame . Life can be seen in every
detail from the eyes to the folds and patterns on the dress
9
Art
Difference between Eastern art and
Western art :-

Compared to Eastern Art Western Art mainly focuses

on realism , the artists would like the viewers to borrow
their eyes and see the work exactly how they imagined
it to be.
Eastern artists mainly depict inner space , spiritual and
conceptual views through their works of art.
Eastern Art is seen to be not as realistic as Western art
works and most of the paintings are seen as devotions
to gods or rulers.
Eastern artists mainly focus on the mind and the spirit ,
while Western artists focus on realism.
Most European painters were not only painters but also
scientists , mathematicians , physicists etc .
10
Western Architecture
Introduction :-
The progress of western architecture is marked by
developments in solving structural problems. Greek had
constructed structures with a primitive shed roof and
simple truss to the vertical posts . The Romans built arch ,
vault and dome and made borders by using load bearing
masonry walls

Characteristics :-

Narrow Court with structure fronts

Rectangular windows
Usage of durable building materials such as concrete ,
marbles and bricks.
Most classical western buildings focus on symmetry and
proportions
Presence of double-columned entrance portico
 11
Eastern Architecture
Chinese:-

Chinese architecture is known for various features such as

bilateral symmetry , incorporating ideas of Feng Shui such
as directional hierarchies , horizontal emphasis or other
symbolism .The architectural types are Commoners ,
Imperial , Religious and Gallery .

Japanese :-
Japanese architecture is distinguished through their signature
features such as wooden structures , elevated platforms ,
thatched roofs and sliding doors . The various styles of Japanese
architectures are residence , castle , Buddhist temples and
Shinto shrines. During ancient times Japanese architecture was
mainly influenced by Chinese architecture.

Indian :-
Indian architecture is known for its contrasting Hindu temple
and Indo-Islamic architectures. Both of these styles have
regional subdivisions. Temples are known for their sculptures
and various artworks while Indo-Islamic works are known for
their beautiful symmetry
 12
Taj Mahal
Architecture and Design : -
The Taj Mahal is considered to be the epitome of Mughal
architecture in India .The inspiration of the building came
from Timurid and Mughal buildings such as tomb of
Timur. While Mughal buildings were mainly built from red
sandstone , Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble
decorated with precious stones.

The tomb is the main part of the Taj Mahal . It is a massive

structure built with white marble . The base of the
structure has multiple chambers with chamfered corners
and is approximately 55 meters long on each side.

Taj Mahal minaret Arabic calligraphy at

the tomb entrance

13
Taj Mahal
Exterior Decorations :-
The exterior architecture of the Taj Mahal is considered
to be one of the finest in Mughal architecture . The
decorations can be seen to be finely refined .The
elements used to decorate are paint , stone inlays ,
stucco and carvings .

The calligraphy on the Great Gate translates to "O Soul,

thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him,
and He at peace with you."

Abstract decorative forms can be seen throughout the

area in plinth , gateway , minarets , mosque and on the
surface of the tomb.

The lower walls of the tomb are made of white marble

sculpted with bas relief depictions of vines and
flowers. The white polished marbles portray the
exquisite detailing on the carvings.
14
Taj Mahal
Garden :-
The garden has raised pathway which divide the garden
into four quarters. There is a raised marble tank present
between the tomb and the gateway . The garden has a
raised water tank which acts as a reflecting pool and is
positioned on a north-south axis in order to reflect
image of mausoleum.

The garden is laid with avenues of trees and fountains.

15
Taj Mahal
History :-

The Taj Mahal is located on the right side of the Yamuna

river , in the district of Agra in Uttar Pradesh. It was built
by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal . It
encompasses an area of 17 hectares . The Taj mahal was
built with Mosque , guest house and the main gateway .
The construction began in 1632 AD and completed in
1648 AD .

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World

Heritage site in 1983 as it was considered to be the jewel
of Muslim art in India .

Materials used :-

Red Sandstone
White Marble
brick-in-lime mortar
precious and semi precious stones
16
Visiting the Taj
Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a must visit place in Agra . It is considered
to be the most beautiful and iconic building that
represents the epitome of Indo-Islamic Architecture. The
entry fee is Rs 200 for Indian nationals and Rs 1050 for
foreigners .

It is best to visit early in the morning due to the lack of

crowd and when the sun rises it allows tourists to click
beautiful photos and take selfies.

However it should be noted that petrol and diesel fuels

are not permitted within 500 meters of the Taj Mahal.
Photographs are not allowed to be taken inside the Taj
Mahal .

Not only the Taj Mahal but the surroundings are also very
beautiful . Some hotels close to the Taj Mahal are Hotel Taj
Resorts , The Oberoi Amarvilas .
17
Visiting the Taj
Mahal
Travelogue :-

While entering the Taj Mahal through the Western Gate I

could witness the Taj Mahal in all its glory. There was a
red sand stone edifice outside the gate. Even though the
arrival time was quite early in the morning the premises
was quite crowded .

We were made to wear coverings on our foot ware to

ensure the premises remained clean. It was surprising to
see the Taj Mahal covered with floral designs and
calligraphy on the walls . The symmetry of the structure
was perfect and the surroundings were maintained and
kept clean.

While entering the Taj Mahal we were told taking photos

was not allowed which disappointed many people.

Before leaving everyone clicks multiple photos as it is

once in a life time experience.
18
Visiting the Taj
Mahal
My visit to the Taj Mahal was mindblowing and can never
be forgotten , it truly is one of the most beautiful
monuments in the country and should be in everyone's
travel list.

Rules to be followed while visiting the Taj

Mahal : -

Don't take photos inside the Taj Mahal

Don't bring playing cards or else they will be
confiscated
The Taj is a mausoleum, a funerary of two lovers.
Along with this, it also has mosques inside its
premises where people come to pray. Hence, it is
advisable to dress in a decent attire so as to respect
the significance it holds to many people at prayer,
and to those who are at rest inside this beautified
mausoleum.
No fire products of any kind are allowed to be
carried inside the Taj premises
Any kind of alcohol or tobacco products are strictly
prohibited in the premises
19 Bibliography
www.wikipedia.org

www.thebetterindia.com

www.britannica.com

artsandculture.google.com

www.thespruce.com

whc.unesco.org