Art Appreciation
Lesson 6: Ancient Arts; Cave Arts and Egyptian Arts
Ancient Art History – refers to the many types of art
produced by the advanced cultures of ancient societies
of some of the oldest civilizations with some form of
writing, such as those of ancient China, India,
Mesopotamia, Persia, Palestine, Egypt, Greece, and
Rome.
Some art were found during 700,000 to 2000 BCE. The
Stone Age Art where humans used natural materials like
stone, ivory and bone for small Venus figurines. And they
made paints from natural pigments like iron oxide to
create scenes of animals on walls deep in caves.
Cave Art - Known also as stone age, ‘parietal art’, Cave
Art is a general term used to describe any kind of man-
made image on the walls, ceiling or floor of a cave or rock
shelter. Most cave art is found in shallow rock shelters,
such as those formed by overhanging rocks, but some
was created in total darkness within deep, uninhabited
caves, and was rarely seen by humans.
Types of Cave Art
1. Hand prints and finger marks
2. Abstract signs and symbols
3. Figurative painting
4. Rock engraving
5. Relief sculpture
Ten of the notable Oldest evidences of cave art to be
scientifically dated are the following:
1. Bhimbetka Petroglyphs (290,000-700,000 BCE)
Cupules at Auditorium Cave & Daraki- Chattan
Rock Shelter, India. The oldest known rock art in
the world
2. Venus of Berekhat Ram (230-700,000 BCE),
Israel. At first, historians believed that the
artifact was a product of natural erosion rather
than a deliberate human act of creativity until
the discovery of a second one, the Venus of Tan-
Tan, in Morocco.
3. An abstract drawing from the 73,000 BCE at
Blombos Cave, South Africa
4. Diepkloof Ostrich Eggshell Abstract Engravings
60,000 BCE South Africa
5. Hall of Bulls Cave Painting, 28,000 and 10,000
BCE, France. The paintings on cave walls
represent the earliest surviving examples of the
artistic expression of early people.
6. Amur River Basin Pottery, 14,300 BCE, Chinese
ceramics from Late Paleolithic Culture
7. Tuc d’Audoubert Bison Sculpture in France
13,500 BCE, sculpted in soft clay. The relief
carries marks left by artist’s fingers and nails.
8. Tassili-n-Ajjer Rock Art , 8,000 BCE. The major
African art contains the Mesolithic art in animal
& human engravings or paintings. It indicates
Archaic Tradition.
9. The Swimming Reindeer, 11,000 BCE. Carving
from the tip of a mammoth tusk of two
swimming reindeer found in the cave of
Montastruc, France
10. The Venus of Willendorf, Austria is an 11.1cm
tall Venus figurine estimated to have been made
30,000 BCE.
Ancient Egyptian Art
Ancient Egyptian Art includes the painting, sculpture,
architecture, and other arts produced by the civilization
in the lower Nile Valley from 5000 BCE to 300 CE. Ancient
Egyptian art reached considerable sophistication in
painting and sculpture, and was both highly stylized and
symbolic.
Much of the Ancient Egyptians artwork created by the
had to do with their religion. They would fill the tombs of
the Pharaohs with paintings and sculptures. Much of this
artwork was there to help the Pharaohs in the afterlife.
The temples often held large statues of their gods as well
as many paintings on the walls.
All Egyptian art is based on perfect balance because it
reflects the ideal world of the gods. The same way these
gods provided all good gifts for humanity, so the artwork
was imagined and created to provide a use. Egyptian art
was always first and foremost functional.
Characteristics and Functions:
→ Daily life activities.
→ Journey of the deceased into the afterworld.
→ Images of the gods and deities.
→ Social and political rank.
→ Honoring pharaohs, noble people and the dead.
→ Writings on the wall to tell stories about the
images.
→ Worship and rituals.
Art Forms:
Wall Painting
Egyptian wall paintings were two dimensional, without
the perspective of the three dimensional physical world.
Subjects were painted with a combination of the profile
view and frontal view.
Notable Wall Paintings:
→ Ramesses the Great and Battle of Dapur,
depicting his achievement in his raid against
Muwatalli’s Hittite resurgent forces.
→ Battle of Nubia: This painting shows Ramses II
battling Nubians and was considered the
strongest and most celebrated pharaoh of the
19th dynasty.
→ Tutankhamun Cartouche, Royal Encryption of a
Pharaohs name.
→ Egyptian Dance Painting: Aside for ritualistic
function, talent in dance is also an indicator that
a person is an efficient worker.
→ Depiction of Nubians Worshipping
Sculpture
Egyptian sculpture were not only images of the pharaoh
and his family, but also of people, animals and slaves that
surrounded him during his life. The ones we see today
look like they are carved from stone or made from clay
and are colorless.
Notable Sculptures:
→ Nefertiti Bust, coated limestone produced by
Thutmose in 1345 BC. Depiction of the Great
Royal Wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten.
This is regarded as one of the most copied works
on ancient Egypt
→ Great Sphinx of Giza, 2575- 2465BCE: A
limestone statue of reclining sphinx. It depicts a
Art Appreciation
mythical creature with the human body and a
lion’s head. 73m long and 20m high.
→ Khufu Statuette: Founded by Sir Willian
Matthew Flinders Petrie in 1903 at the Temple of
Khentyamentiu, Abydos in Upper Egypt. The
statue is a three- dimensional depiction of Khufu.
→ Block statue: A memorial statue discovered in
the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. The statue
was designed that way to serve as a guardian of
temples gateway.
→ Colossi of Memnon: Two massive huge stone
statues representing greatness of Pharaoh
Amenhotep III and it meant to protect the
temple from evil.
→ Pharaoh Ramesses II: Weighed 20 tons statue
was designed to show him as a beneficent ruler,
a mighty warrior and a living god. It was erected
in the Ramesseum,his mortuary temple, where
the believers of Ramesses would continue for
centuries.
→ Seated statues of Rahotep and Nofret: From the
4th dynasty the statues were skillfully sculpted
confirming their high rank stature. With glass
inlaid eyes makes the statue more realistic.
→ Wrapped Osiris Statue: statues like this were
buried in tombs, wrapped in cloth. It was
thought the statues helped the dead be reborn
in the next life, like the real deity Osiris.
Carving, Relief and Jewelry
Egyptian artists, whose skills are best exemplified not
only in statuary but carving, relief and jewlry as well.
Their distinctive talent as craftsmen were from their
discipline and highly developed aesthetic sense
deserving to rank as an outstanding art by any standards.
Notable Carving, Relief and Jewelry:
→ The Narmer Palette: Also known as Great
Hierakonpolis Palette which was created to
symbolize the unity of the “Kingdoms of Two
Lands,” the Upper and Lower Egypt under King
Narmer. The palette measured 64x42 cm.
→ Tutankhamun’s ‘golden death mask’ is an
ancient death mask produced in the 18th
century in ancient Egypt. It was discovered by
Howard Carter in 1925. This is regarded as one
of the most famous Egyptian artworks and
almost admired and well-known works of art
around the world.
→ Ceremonial gilded wooden shield: found in the
tomb of Tutankhamun. Egyptian artists also used
a variety of woods in their work, including the
native acacia, tamarisk, and sycamore fig as well
as fir, cedar, and other conifers imported from
Syria
→ Tutankhamun’s lunar pectoral: metal casted,
carved jewelry work was quite sophisticated
even in the Old Kingdom, as demonstrated by
some highly creative pieces depicted specially in
tomb scenes.
→ A part of the wall in the Temple of Seti I is an
artistic carving painted relief. Archeologists
discovered red grid marking that the artisans
used to ensure the proportion of the human
figures being carved.
→ Sesostris III Pectoral:Gold pectoral with
semiprecious stones, Middle Kingdom, 12th
dynasty (1991–1786 BCE).
Architecture
Egyptian Architecture developed since 3000 BC and
characterized by post and lintel construction, massive
walls covered with hieroglyphic and pictorial carving, flat
roofs, and structures except for the Pyramids. Most
houses were built of clay or baked bricks.
Typical Egyptian Column and Capitals at the Temple of
Horus at Edfu, Constructed Between 237 and 57 B.C.
The Egyptian Column can refer to a column from ancient
Egypt inspired by distinct Egyptian ideas. The earliest
builders carved columns from enormous blocks of
limestone, sandstone, and red granite. Later, columns
and capitals were constructed from stacks of stone disks.
Some Egyptian columns have polygon-shaped shafts
with as many as 16 sides while common columns are
circular.
One of the great ancient Egyptian architect Imhotep,
who lived over 4,000 years ago in 27th century B.C., is
credited with carving stone columns and capitals to
resemble bundled reeds and other plant forms. The
columns were placed close together so they could carry
the weight of the heavy stone roof beams.
Common features of Egyptian columns include:
1. stone shafts carved to resemble tree trunks or
bundled reeds or plant stems, sometimes called
papyrus columns;
2. lily, lotus, palm or papyrus plant motifs on the
capitals (tops);
3. bud-shaped or campaniform ‘bell-shaped
capitals; and
4. brightly painted carved relief decorations
Notable Architecture:
→ Like the Temple at Edfu, the Temple at Kom
Ombo has similar architectural influences and
Egyptian gods. Kom Ombo is a temple not only
to Horus, the falcon, but also to Sobek, the
crocodile. The columns records history in
Hieroglyphs was about Greek Conquerors, great
Pharaohs old and new.
→ Most significant to Western civilization is the
Temple of the Ramesseum, 1250 B.C. The mighty
columns and colonnade are a remarkable feat of
engineering for being created circa 1250 B.C.,
well-before the Greek conquest of Alexander the
Great.
→ Columns of the Temple of Isis at Philae show a
distinct influence of Greek and Roman
occupation of Egypt. The temple was built for the
Egyptian goddess Isis during the reign of the
Ptolemaic Kings in the centuries before the birth
of Christianity.
→ The Luxor Temple – is a temple complex located
in the city of Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt
during the time of the New Kingdom. Thebes is
located in Upper Egypt, on the east bank of the
Nile River. Construction of the temple was begun
by the pharaoh Amenhotep III and was
completed by Tutankhamen.
→ The first royal tombs before the pyramids were
called mastabas. Inside were rooms containing
jars, small objects, and offerings of food and
drink. The tombs were surrounded by a large
number of graves of women and men believed
to be servants of the kings who were sacrificed
to serve pharaohs in their afterlife.
Art Appreciation
→ The Temple of Edfu is dedicated to the worship
of the Egyptian god Horus, who was frequently
merged with the Greek god Apollo. In fact, the
city of Edfu was renamed Apollonopolis Magna
during Greco-Roman rule in Egypt.
→ The Great Pyramids of Giza: located on the Giza
plateau near the modern city of Cairo, the
pyramids was built during the reign of the king
Khufu of the 4th Dynasty in the span of over a
20-years. Khufu's vizier, Hemiunu the pharaos
physician was also the architect of his Pyramid.
→ The oldest pyramid in the middle is for King
Khufu, ‘Cheops’ in Greek, the second king of the
4th dynasty.
→ The second tallest was built for King Khafre,
‘Chephren’ in Greek was the fourth king in the
same dynasty
→ The last pyramid to be built was that of
Menkaure, ‘Mykerinus’ in Greek was the fifth
king of the same dynasty.
Writings
An original form of Egyptian writing, Hieroglyphs are
written in rows or columns and can be read from left to
right or from right to left. You can distinguish the
direction in which the text is to be read because the
human or animal figures always face towards the
beginning of the line. Also the upper symbols are read
before the lower.
Hieroglyphics writing: Hieroglyphic writing signs and
symbols represented by pictures of living beings or
inanimate objects. Hieroglyphic texts are found primarily
on the walls of temples and tombs, but they also appear
on memorials and gravestones, on statues, on coffins,
and on all sorts of vessels and implements.
Hieroglyphic writing was used as much for secular texts,
historical inscriptions, songs, legal documents, scientific
documents, as for religious subject matter, the likes of
cult rituals, myths, hymns, grave inscriptions of all kinds,
and prayers.
Hieroglyphics writing evolved into two:
• Hieratic – a simplified form of hieroglyphics used
for administrative and business purposes, as well
as for literary, scientific and religious texts.
Coptic Writing – Coptic on the other hand is a
Greek writing adopted by Egyptians 450 CE.
• Demotic – a Greek word meaning ‘popular
script’, was in general use for the daily
requirements of the society.
Rosetta Stone: A granodiorite stele discovered in 1799.
The Rosetta Stone is inscribed with the three versions of
texts. The top is in the hieroglyphic script, middle in the
demotic script while the bottom in the ancient Coptic
Greek. The discovery of the stone holds the key to
understanding Egyptian hieroglyphs
The ‘Prayer to Thoth for Skill in Writing’ is a literary piece
dated to c. 1150 BCE from the latter period of the New
Kingdom of Egypt (1570-1069 BCE) in which a young
scribe prays for inspiration to Thoth, god of wisdom and
writing. The prayer was found among the works of
‘Papyrus Anastasi V’, a papyrus scroll discovered at
Thebes. The prayer is an interesting glimpse into how the
profession of the scribe was viewed by the ancient
Egyptians a noble occupation.
Hieroglyphs are written in rows or columns and can be
read from left to right or from right to left. You can
distinguish the direction in which the text is to be read
because the human or animal figures always face
towards the beginning of the line. Also the upper
symbols are read before the lower.
Funerary Art
Egyptian funerary art was not simply memorial, but
played an active role in the afterlife of the departed.
Most of the tomb art studied from ancient Egypt comes
from the commissions of kings and high- ranking court
officials. Egyptian philosophy of art refers to balanced
realism and stylization to present images of harmony,
balance and order, victory over chaos.
Notable Funerary Art:
→ Funeral Wall Painting: Aside from honoring the
dead, the painting should contain the ritual of
the dead’s human heart in the weighing scale.
→ Egyptian concept of afterlife, wall painting: A
belief that death is just an interruption of life
→ Book of the Dead Wall Painting: Containing spells
to help the dead back to life after the journey to
the underworld.
→ Tomb Wall Painting: Primarily should contain
images of the king’s chosen deity and success
stories of his life as a pharaoh
→ Egyptian Deities, Wall Painting: Images of their
gods in one ensemble is one important feature
in king’s tomb’s
→ Egyptian Mummification Wall Painting:
Mummifying the dead is also a sacred ritual in
preparation to the afterlife.
→ The anthropoid coffin itself is typical of the
ancient Egyptian burial practices. The coffin
echoes the shape of the mummified body.
Decorated with an idealized representation of
the owner's face and with images of gods,
goddesses, animals and objects, as well as
hieroglyphic writings, that would identify him
and help him attain a successful afterlife
→ Unlike anthropoid, sarcophagus were
rectangular boxes with flat lids. They were
painted and inscribed in hieroglyphs with four
important features: the deceased's name and
titles; a list of food offerings; a false door through
which the ‘ka’ could pass; and eyes through
which the deceased could see outside the coffin.
The Egyptian concept of the soul:
• Ka - is the life force or spiritual double of the
person. The royal Ka symbolized a pharaoh's
right to rule, a universal force that passed from
one pharaoh to the next
• Ba - is represented as a human- headed bird that
leaves the body when a person dies. The face of
Ba was the exact likeness of that of the deceased
person.
• Akh - is the spirit of Ra, which encapsulates the
concept of light - the transfigured spirit of a
person that becomes one with light after death.
The opposite of Akh is Mut (dead), the state of a
person who has died but has not been
transfigured into ligh
Gods and Deities
1. Amun-Ra: The Hidden One As Zeus was to the
Greeks, the Egyptian god Amun-Ra, Re or Amon
was considered the king of the gods and
goddesses. He became Amun-Ra after being
Art Appreciation
amalgamated with the sun god Ra. He was
thought to be the father of the pharaohs, and his
female counterpart, Amunet, was called the
Female Hidden One.
2. Mut: The Mother Goddess of Egyptian. Mut is a
primal deity who wears two crowns on her head,
each representing Upper and Lower Egypt. Also
titled “She who gives birth, but was herself not
born of any,” Mut is represented as a vulture in
hieroglyphs. She is variously integrated with
other deities and is often portrayed as a cat,
cobra, cow and even a lioness.
3. Osiris: The King of the Living. Considered the
oldest child of the earth god Zeb and the sky
goddess Nut, Osiris was worshiped as the god of
the afterlife as the ancient Egyptians believed
there was life after death. Often portrayed with
green skin, Osiris was the god of vegetation
which indicated renewal and growth and was
thought to be responsible for the fertile flooding
and vegetation around the banks of the Nile.
4. Anubis: The Divine Embalmer. He was known for
mummifying the dead and guiding their souls
towards the afterlife. His skin was black,
symbolizing the dark Nile deposits which made
the land so fertile. With the head of a jackal and
the body of a man, Anubis also stood for
renaissance and the staining of dead bodies after
the embalming process.
5. Ra: God of the Sun and Radiance The midday
sun, Ra or Re, is of great importance in Egyptian
history. The god of the sun, Ra, has a sun disk
around his head and is believed to have created
this world. Every sunrise and sunset were seen
as a process of renewal. Portrayed as a falcon-
headed god, he and Horus shared an association
which led him to be known as the Horus of the
Horizon.
6. Horus: : God of Vengeance. Horus had a special
position in ancient Egypt. The child of Osiris and
Isis, he avenged his father’s death and ruled
Egypt. His falcon-headed god with a crown of red
and white was worshiped as the god of sky, war,
protection, and light. The Eye of Horus or the
Wedjat Eye was personified as the goddess
Wadjet and was popularly known as the Eye of
the Ra. It symbolized that everything was being
watched from above.
7. Hathor: Goddess of Motherhood. Sometimes
called the Mistress of the West, Hathor
welcomed the dead into the next life. Born of Ra,
she exemplified motherhood and feminine love.
She is the goddess of music and dance. She is
believed to provide a blessing as the helper of
women during pregnancy and childbirth.
Affectionate, humble and kind to both the dead
and living, she was also known as the Lady of
Heaven, Earth and the Underworld.
8. Sekhmet: Goddess of War and Healing. Leading
and protecting the pharaohs during war, the
daughter of Ra, is depicted as a lioness and is
known for her fierce character. She is also known
as the Powerful One and is capable of destroying
the enemies of her allies. She is depicted with a
solar disk and uraeus, an Egyptian cobra, which
was associated with royalty and the divine. She
assisted the goddess Ma’at in the Judgement
Hall of Osiris which also gained her the
reputation of arbitrator.
9. Geb: God of Earth. Also described as the Father
of Snakes, Geb represented crops and healing.
With a goose on his head, this bearded god was
believed to have caused earthquakes whenever
he laughed. He was the son of Shu ‘the god of air’
and Tefnut ‘the goddess of moisture’, and had an
important role in the Book of the Dead as the
one who weighs the heart of the dead in the
Judgment Hall of Osiris. The ancient Egyptians
believed that he retained the souls of the
wicked.
Ancient Egyptian art has survived for over 5000 years and
continues to fascinate people from all over the world. An
ancient premise has become a modern reality: Its art
became a path to world eternal emulation and
remembrance.
“Life imitates art for more than art imitates life” – Oscar
Wilde
Lesson 7: Greek Arts and Roman Arts
Greek Art
Ancient Greek art emphasized the importance and
accomplishments of human beings. Even though much of
Greek art was meant to honor the gods, those very gods
were created in the image of humans. Ancient Greek art
stands out among that of other ancient cultures for its
development of naturalistic but idealized depictions of
the beauty of the human body.
History of Greek Art
Significance: The ideals of Greek art are considered by
historians to be the foundation of Western civilization
and to have touched literally all aspects of modern
western culture.
The art of ancient Greece is divided stylistically into four
periods:
Geometric – abstract and outline art
Geometric Period, 900-650 BC: Artistic development in
Greece. Outline, the main characteristics of the
Geometric period in art. The Geometric period was the
first specifically Greek style of vase painting. It was
characterized by linear motifs such as spirals, diamonds,
and cross-hatching. Abstract forms were used to
represent human figures, flora and fauna.
Came from Minoan art influence Athenian potters
introduced the full Geometric style by abandoning
circular for rectilinear ornament. Prime industry in this
period was utilitarian pottery art.
Greek used ceramic vessels in every aspect of their daily
lives: for storage, carrying, mixing, serving, and drinking,
and as cosmetic and perfume containers. Elaborately
formed and decorated, vases were considered worthy
gifts for dedication to the gods and funerary vessel.
Common material was clay.
Minoans and Mycenaeans influence: The Minoans
occupied the Greek islands mainly living on Crete. The
Mycenaeans lived on mainland Greece and the
Peloponnesia. The Minoans were mainly farmers and
traders while the Mycenaeans were a warlike society.
The Golden Mask of Agamemnon,1550-1500 BCE: The
King of Mycenae is an artifact discovered in Mycenae in
1876 by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann.
Art Appreciation
This mask is made of gold and is a funeral mask found
over the face of a dead body in a burial place at Mycenae.
Minoan influence: Aside from Mycenaean ancient Egypt
and Near East, Minoan art greatly affect Greek’s culture
to a more functional and decorative but also political
purpose, especially the wall paintings of palaces where
rulers were depicted in their religious function, which
reinforced their role as the head of the community
Octopus, Floral, Bee Pendant Pattern
Notable Pottery Art
→ The Minoan Octopus Vase, 1200-1100BCE:
Pinnacle Of Bronze Age Pottery Design
→ The Geometric Vase, 10th Century BCE: A Symbol
Of Athenian Artistic Supremacy
→ The Lion Aryballos, 700BCE: A Celebration Of The
Rise Of Corinth
→ The Dinos Of Sophilos, 6th Century BCE: First
Known Creator Of Greek Vase Paintings
→ The Panathenaic Prize Amphora, 4th Century
BCE: A Celebration Of Athletic Prowess
→ The Erotic Vase 500-323BCE: A Snapshot Of
Sexuality In Ancient Greece
Archaic – stiff and primitive
Archaic Period, 650-480 BC: Artistic development in
Greece. In this period, the artisans took a turn away from
the geometric designs of the past and began to focus
more fully on figures and elements of the natural world.
Artists were into more mystical and fantastical subjects
such as combined beasts like the Sphinx or Satyr-like
creatures. These new artistic ideas were assimilated into
producing images from their own religion and culture.
The Archaic phase is best known for the beginnings of
realistic depictions of humans and monumental stone
sculptures. It was during the Archaic period that the
limestone kouros (male) and kore (female) statues were
created depicting young, nude, smiling persons.
The ‘Kouros’ and ‘Kore’, Archaic Greek statues depicting
youths or referred to as young man and young woman
and Koral is a plural form. The statue is usually made of
marble or limestone, and tend to be life size. The Koral
was used as a grave monument and offering for deities.
The Calf Bearer: Moschophoros is a Greek word which
means the ‘calf- bearer’. An ancient Greek statue from
560 BC. Depicting strength and power, he stands with his
left foot a little forward and has a thick beard, a symbol
of adulthood.
Amphora is decorated on both sides but in different
painting techniques. One side has a scene depicted in the
red figure style was painted by ‘andokides’. The other
side shows the same scene in the black figure style
painted by ‘lysippides’. This type of decoration puts the
vase into the so-called Bilingual group. The two figures
depicted usually in the scene was Achilles and Ajax
playing board game.
→ Bilingual Amphora Red on one side and black on
the other side.
→ Geometric-style krater with funeral scenes from
Attica, Greece, with funeral scenes, 8th century
BCE.
→ Achilles slaying Penthesilea, the queen of the
Amazons, Attic black-figure amphora signed by
Exekias, c. 530–525 BCE
Classical – sophisticated and realistic
Classical Period, 480-323 BC: Artistic development in
Greece. In this period, Greek artists achieved a more
realistic likeness in depicting human figure. The statues
for example show the influence of Egyptian art in its
stiffness, gracefulness, idealization, and achieving
naturalism by portraying them in a lifelike forms. Most
statues were commissioned for public display by the rich,
noble and influential people.
The essential characteristic of classical Greek art is a
heroic realism. Painters and sculptors attempt to reveal
the human body, in movement or repose, exactly as it
appears to the eye. The emphasis will be on people of
unusual beauty, or moments of high and noble drama.
This 460 BCE Artemision Bronze represents either Zeus,
the ancient Greek king of the gods of Mount Olympus, or
possibly Poseidon, the god of the Sea. It is assumed to
represent the mightiest of the Olympian gods, Zeus.
Created 360 BCE in honor of the Greek god Hermes of
Praxiteles. Hermes was also carrying another popular
character in Greek mythology, the infant Dionysus.
Aphrodite of Knidos carved by the sculptor Praxiteles in
the 4th century B.C. from fine marble, it enjoyed great
renown as the first devotional statue of a female goddess
in the nude.
The Riace bronzes (460- 420BC) These tremendous
statues found in the sea off southern Italy in 1972 one of
the few original Greek bronze statues survive.
The Motya charioteer, (350BC). One of the most startling
Greek statues to survive, and highly revealing about the
erotic charge of the Greek nude. This youth is not
technically nude, but wears a tight- fitting garment that
instead of hiding his body, heightens every contour.
Hellenistic – flowery and highly decorative
The word Hellenistic comes from the word ‘Hellazein’,
which means ‘to speak Greek’ or ‘identify with the
Greeks’. The overlapping of Classical and Hellenistic
period paved the way for realism in as much as sculpture
is concerned.
The Farnese Hercules, Classical, 216 CE Boxer at Rest,
Bronze with inlaid copper Hellenistic, 330-50 BCE
The difference between Hellenistic and Classical Art is in
the style and transition of sculpting. The Hellenistic
period saw emotions, movement of figures whereas in
the Classical period there is more focus on the perfect
realistic figures, the sculptures are static
In Hellenistic period, sculptors pursued and perfected
naturalism, an interest that Greek artists had been
developing over hundreds of years. In addition to natural
poses, Hellenistic artists sought to gradually depart from
depicting gods and mythological subjects and started
replicating the bodies of real humans
The Winged Victory of Samothrace 200 BCE is a marble
sculpture depicting the Greek goddess Nike. Considered
today as the greatest masterpiece in classical and a
prelude to Hellenistic from classical sculpture
The statue Lacoon and his Sons 200 BCE also known as
‘Lacoon Group’ was originally created by three great
Greek sculptors from Rhodes, Agesander, Polydorus and
Athenodoros. This life-size
Art Appreciation
statue is made of marble and depicts a Trojan priest
named Lacoon, together with his sons Thymbraeus and
Antiphantes, being throttled by sea serpents.
Three Goddesses from the east pediment of the
Parthenon 432 BCE. Sitting and reclining in graceful
unison, these goddesses carved in marble for the
Parthenon in Athens are among the most beautiful and
mysterious images of the human form ever created.
Incredibly, the artist makes the draperies that cover their
bodies as real and richly textured
The three goddesses carved in marble for the Parthenon
in Athens. From left, Hestia, goddess of the hearth and
home, Dione, and her daughter Aphrodite
Pergamon Altar Athena Battling with Alcyoneus, 175-150
BCE from the East Frieze, Altar of Zeus, Pergamon
Pergamon Altar Gaul and his wife, group of Gaul frieze
220 BCE
Pergamon Altar Dying Gaul (Trumpeter), Gaul frieze
group, 220 BCE
Pergamon Altar Altar of Zeus, Marble, reconstructed and
restored (Staatliche Museun, Berlin)
Ancient Greek Architecture
Greek architecture is known for tall columns, intricate
detail, symmetry, harmony, and balance. The Greeks
built all sorts of buildings. The main examples of Greek
architecture that survive today are the large temples that
they built to their gods.
Using a combination of creativity and intellect, the
Greeks produced many public buildings of great
architectural treasure. The Hellenistic period provided
some of the best and most distinctive structures in the
form of temples, theaters, and stadia which once were
the main features of ancient towns and cities.
The simplicity, harmony, and perspective in Greek
architecture was the foundation of Roman architecture
as well. Ancient Greek architects strove for excellence
and precision which indeed are the hallmarks of Greek
art.
Three Orders of Greek Architecture: Ancient Greek
architecture developed three distinct orders, the Doric,
Ionic, and Corinthian. The latter were modified and
adopted by the Romans in the 1st century BCE and have
been used ever since in Western architecture.
Also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the
Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus was
dedicated to Zeus. It’s. A former colossal temple at the
center of the Greek capital Athens. The building of the
Temple began in the 6th Century by Peisistratos and
completed under the reign of the Roman Emperor
Hadrian in 131 AD.
Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens
One of the most influential buildings in Greek history
ever built was the Parthenon, stands on top of the citadel
of the Acropolis. It was dedicated to the goddess of
wisdom Athena. The construction began in 447 BC when
the Athenian Empire was at its height. The Parthenon is
said to be the pinnacle of the Doric order.
Parthenon, Acropolis
Since ancient times, the theater Odeon of Herodes
Atticus has been a significant part of Greek culture. The
stone theater structure is located at the southwest slope
of the Acropolis in Athens. The Athenian magnate
Herodes Atticus built the structure in memory of his wife,
Aspasia Annia Regilla.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis. Today, the theater
played host to huge music concerts and had a capacity of
5,000. One of the oldest temples in Greece, this ancient
Archaic temple was dedicated to Hera the queen of the
Greek goddesses. The Temple of Hera, was built in 590
BCE following the aesthetics of Doric architecture having
its 16 columns. The symbolic altar of the Temple was lit
by a torch during the first Olympic games.
Temple of Hera, Olympia. Doric style.
Built in 580 BC, the Temple of Artemis measured 49m by
23.46m and was the biggest temple of its time dedicated
to goddess Artemis. From the ruins itself, the metope of
the temple was decorated with carvings of Achilles and
Memnon. Its magnificence and authenticity have made it
a landmark in ancient Greek architecture.
Temple of Artemis. The temple is considered one of the
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
In terms of acoustics and aesthetics, The Great Theater
of Epidaurus believed to be the perfect theater of all
time, containing an auditorium, a stage building, and an
orchestral area. The theater was large enough to provide
seating for 13,000 to 14,000 people. The theater was
dedicated to the worship of the god of medicine,
Asclepius.
Theater of Epidaurus. Constructed at the end of the 4th
century BCE by the architect Polykleitos. It was the first
ancient medical center ever built in the world.
This Erechtheion Temple in Acropolis was built between
421 and 406 BC by the great architect Mnesikles. The
temple got its name from a shrine dedicated to the Greek
hero Erichthonius, who was mentioned in Homer’s Iliad
as a great king and ruler of Athens.
Erechtheion Temple. The marble made temple has
ornamented with carved doorways and beautifully
decorated columns.
Roman Art Forms
Histiory of Roman Arts
The Romans originated in central Italy, influenced by
other local Italian cultures, notably those of Etruria, but
from the 5th century they came into contact with the
Greeks and from then onwards, the Roman republic
absorbed many aspects of first Classical and then
Hellenistic art.
Many types of Imperial art practiced by the Romans had
already been fully mastered by Ancient Greek artists. It’s
normal to assume that Roman art were inspired by the
Greek culture more so on architecture.
→ Sculpture – bronze/marble statuary and
sarcophagi.
→ Fine art painting –murals, portraiture, vase-
painting.
→ Decorative art – carving metalwork, mosaics,
jewelry, ivory carving)
Later Imperial art moved away from earlier Classical
influences, and Severan art signals the shift to art of Late
Antiquity. The characteristics of Late Antique art include
frontality, stiffness of pose and drapery, deeply drilled
lines, less naturalism and squat proportions.
Art Appreciation
Roman mosaics were a common feature of private
homes and public buildings across the empire from Africa
to Antioch. Mosaics, known as opus tessellatum, were
made with small black, white, and colored squares of
marble, tile, glass, pottery, stone, or shells. Typically,
individual piece measured between 0.5 and 1.5 cm but
fine details. Rendering fine images are using even smaller
pieces as little as 1mm in size.
Origin and Influence:
Flooring set with small pebbles was used in the Bronze
Age in both the Minoan civilization based on Crete and
the Mycenaean civilization on mainland Greece. The
same idea but reproducing patterns was used in the Near
East in the 8th century BCE.
In Greece the first pebble flooring which attempted
designs dates to the 5th century BCE with examples at
Corinth and Olynthus. These were usually in two shades
with light geometric designs and simple figures on a dark
background.
Mosaic Art
Gypsy Girl,’ fragment of an ancient mosaic, Roman, 20BC
Roman monochrome floor mosaic, 3rd century CE; in the
Portico delle Corporazioni, Ostia, Italy.
Mosaic floor fragment, stone tesserae from Syria, 6th
century CE
A 3rd century CE Roman floor mosaic depicting Bacchus,
god of wine. Flaminia, Rome
‘Battle of Alexander and Darius at Issus,’ detail of the
Roman mosaic done in the opus vermiculatum technique
(laying dark or light outline), Pompeii, late 2nd century
BC
Glass Art
Introduced by Egypt and Mesopotamia, the Romans
maximized Glass Art decorative qualities not only as
vessels but also its application on mosaics as decorative
panels in both walls and furniture DURING 509 – 27 BCE.
The material was also used for windows, to create
jewelry, mirrors, game pieces, magnifying glasses,
sculpture and, in the form of powder, even as a medicine
and toothpaste.
Techniques:
→ Primarily, Roman glass wares were just imitation
of their usual metal wares.
→ Colors could also be achieved by adding small
amounts of metals to the mix; adding copper
produced blue, green, and red, manganese
produced pink and red, cobalt a deep blue,
calcium white, and lead brought a yellow tint
→ Glass was naturally opaque due to the presence
of tiny air bubbles within the glass as a result of
the firing process and usually resulting to pale
green or yellow hue due to the presence of
impurities.
→ The color or tint of the glass could naturally be
manipulated by increasing or decreasing the
level of oxygen in the furnace.
With the invention of glassblowing in the 1st century BCE,
a better quality of glass was produced, and the
production process became faster and cheaper with the
consequence that vessels more common to every
households everyday objects
→ Vitriairii – Roman glass maker and designer.
→ Diatretarii – Roman glass cutter
Also, the glass-blowing revolutionized the art of glass-
making which allowed the production of small medicine,
incense, and perfume containers in new forms. Glass
unguentarium, or perfume small bottles production
were prevalent throughout the ancient Roman Empire,
and from Egypt to Cologne, Germany. Roman Glass Art
Roman Glass - The most famous example of Roman glass
ware is the ‘Thetis Portland Vase' which was made
sometime during the reign of Augustus, 27 BCE - 14 CE
and which depicts the marriage of Peleus and Thetis from
Greek mythology
Highly carved ‘diatreta’ or cage- cups and perhaps the
most famous Roman glass vessel of all was the Lycurgus
Cup, 4th century CE
Roman Sculpture
Most of the surviving examples of Roman sculpture are
in marble. The Sleeping Hermaphrodite, an ancient
marble sculpture depicting life size Hermaphroditus. In
1620, Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini sculpted the
mattress upon which the statue now lies.
Head of a Roman Patrician. 1st century BCE. The wrinkled
and aged face of this unknown upper-class Roman citizen
changed the ideals of the Romans to present himself as
a prized and experienced public servant instead of
merely copying Greek marble statues of their great and
mighty leaders and gods
Augustus from Prima Porta, 1st century CE. It highlights
Augustus’s military might and refers to the Republic’s
past golden age
Fonseca Bust, 2nd century CE. The Fonseca Bust, was a
portrait of elite Roman woman from the Flavian dynasty,
69-96 CE. Portraits of women from this era heavily
favored more realistic portrayals.
Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, 176 CE. Equestrian
statues were common in ancient Rome to honor military
and civic achievements. The statue was a bronze likeness
of Marcus Aurelius astride his horse
Roman Architecture
Roman architecture took over right where the builders
from ancient Greece left off after the decline of Greek
civilization. But unlike their predecessors, the Romans
placed far more emphasis on the practicality of their
architectural designs. This was a major departure from
contemporary practices which had always placed the
focus on a structure’s exterior design, function and
aesthetic appeal.
While they may have borrowed some of their earliest
ideas from the Ancient Greeks, Etruscans, Egyptians and
Persians, ancient Roman Architecture changed the
landscape and giving mankind buildings that it had never
seen before, alongside public structures, roads and
infrastructure that could be used.
Roman architecture is famous for its domes, arches,
amphitheaters, temples, thermaes or bath houses,
atriums, aqueducts, apartments, houses, and for many
other factors that made it unique. Art was often carved
into the walls of stone buildings depicting battles, and
famous Romans.
Art Appreciation
The Aqua Augusta, or Serino Aqueduct, 19-14 BCE,
Pompeii was one of the largest, most complex and
costliest aqueduct systems in the Roman world. It
supplied water to at least eight ancient cities in the Bay
of Naples including Pompeii and Herculaneum
The famous amphitheater, the Colosseum, was built an
area of 189 by 159 meters, making it the largest of its
time. The said monument, began during the reign of
Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD. By the time it was finished
by his son Titus in 80 AD
The Pantheon is the most well-preserved architectural
marvel from the ancient Roman era. Roman Temples
were usually dedicated to particular Roman deities and
the Pantheon was a temple for all the Roman gods. The
construction was completed in 125 AD during the rule of
Hadrian
Named after the famous former governor of the city of
Ephesus, the Library of Celsus, 10 BCE was actually a
monumental tomb dedicated to Gaius Julius Celsus
Polemaeanus. This amazing piece of Roman architecture
was constructed on the orders of Celsus’ son Galius Julius
Aquila. According to record, the library housed over
12,000 different scrolls
Maison Carrée is the only temple constructed in the time
of ancient Rome that is completely preserved to this day.
This marvel of Roman engineering was built around 16
BC in the city of Nimes. Maison Carrée is an architectural
gem that stands 15 meters tall and a length of 26 meters.
It was built by Roman General Marcus Vipanius Agrippa
in memory of his two sons who died young.
Roman Wall Painting
The history of Roman painting is essentially a history of
wall paintings on plaster. Some other Roman paintings
were applied directly on wood, ivory, and other wall
materials. Fresco on the other hand was used to adorn
the interiors of private homes in Roman cities and in the
countryside
Ancient Roman wall painters or perhaps their clients
preferred natural earth colors such as darker shades of
reds, yellows and browns. Blue and black pigments were
also popular for plainer designs though evidence from a
Pompeii paint shop illustrates that a wide range of color
shades was available
This gorgeous Fresco of Theseus, 18th century was
discovered from within a Basilica located in
Herculaneum, Pompei. The painting looks spectacular
and shows a few children holding Theseus’s hand and
congratulating him for killing the mythological beast-
Minotaur
This painting Fresco of Wader Bird roaming freely in one
of the gardens along Sarno river and looks astonishing
with lush green surroundings, painted in serene colors of
green, white and shades of yellow.
Most houses in ancient Romans featured red painted
walls depicting women, animals or erotic art. This
original painting of two faces, 1st Century CE shows
defined features of lips painted with reddish orange
color making the eyes look expressive
This wall painting shows Eros and Psyche, 1st century CE.
Ancient Roman artists loved to portray eternal love
between people and mythological characters, and one of
the most popular subjects was Eros and Psyche’s love
story.
The Romans, as architectural historian D.S. Robertson
wrote, "were the first builders in Europe, perhaps the
first in the world, fully to appreciate the advantages of
the arch, the vault and the dome.“ Romans pioneered
the segmental arch - essentially a flattened arch, used in
bridges and private residences – the extended arch, and
the triumphal arch, which celebrated the emperors'
great victories were the same structures that had the
most significant impact on Western civilization, and the
rest of the world today with respect to technological
inventions and innovations.
“The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke”
– jerzy kosinski
Lesson 8: Western Art Timeline
History of Western Art
Unlike the ancient Egyptian art which based on paganism
beliefs and rituals, the earliest known forms of art in
Western countries circulated within religious artifacts,
social and historical events in the 12th century up to 18th
century. Arts depended on not only architecture, but also
visual arts. The main aim of the artists was to use images
to convey spiritual messages.
Importance: Western art, tells a story about a people,
time, and culture. As humans, we tend to use metaphors
and symbols to represent important messages, items,
and events. Western art is no different, as there are
many unique and rich stories hidden beneath the art
form's history.
Influence: Art influences society by changing opinions,
instilling values and translating experiences across space
and time. Art in this sense is communication, it allows
people from different cultures and different times to
communicate with each other via images, sounds and
stories. Art is often a vehicle for social change.
Focal Theme: Western painting is in general
distinguished by its concentration on the representation
of the human figure, whether in the heroic context of
antiquity or the religious context of the early Christian
and medieval world. The Renaissance for example
extended this tradition through a close examination of
the natural world and an investigation of balance,
harmony, and perspective in the visible world, linking
painting to the developing sciences of anatomy and
optics.
1. Medieval: 400 CE - 1400 CE
From around 4 CE to 1300, this era is a broad category
that includes many artistic styles and periods, from early
Christian and Byzantine, Anglo-Saxon and Viking,
Carolingian, Ottonian, Romanesque, and Gothic. During
the medieval period, the various secular arts were
unified by the Christian church and the sacred arts
associated with it
Characteristics
→ Iconography, Christian / religious subject matter
→ Elaborate patterns and decoration, bright colors,
the use of precious metals, gems, and other
luxurious materials,
→ Stylized figures,
→ Social status.
Art Appreciation
The Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus’,
Gothic, Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi, 1333
2. Renaissance: 1400 CE - 1600 CE
Painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and literature
produced during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries in
Europe under the combined influences of an increased
awareness of nature, a revival of classical learning, and a
more individualistic view of man. Scholars no longer
believe that the Renaissance marked an abrupt break
with medieval values, as is suggested by the French word
renaissance, literally means “rebirth.”
Characteristics
→ A reverent revival of Classical Greek/Roman art
forms and styles.
→ A faith in the nobility of Man (Humanism).
→ The mastery of illusionistic painting techniques.
→ Maximizing 'depth' in a picture, including: linear
perspective, foreshortening and, later,
quadrature and
→ The naturalistic realism of its faces
‘Venus and Adonis’ is a painting by the Italian Mannerist
artist Paolo Veronese, 1582
3. Baroque: 1600 CE - 1730 CE
Baroque art is a style with exaggerated motion and clear
detail used to produce drama, exuberance, and grandeur
in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature, dance,
and music. Baroque iconography was direct, obvious,
and dramatic, intending to appeal above all to the senses
and the emotions. Baroque started as a response of the
Catholic Church to the many criticisms that arose during
the Protestant Reform in the 16th-century.
Characteristics:
→ Baroque painting is the painting associated with
the Baroque cultural movement, which began in
Italy in the 17th century.
→ Baroque painting is characterized by grandeur,
sensuous richness, great drama, rich, deep color,
and intense light and dark shadows.
‘The Rape of Proserpina’ is a large Baroque marble group
sculpture by Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, executed
between 1621 and 1622. Bernini was only 23 years old at
its completion
4. Rococo: 1720 CE - 1780 CE
The Rococo movement was an artistic period that
emerged in France and spread throughout the world. The
word is a derivative of the French term ‘rocaille’ which
means ‘rock and shell garden ornamentation’. Rococo
was primarily influenced by the Venetian School's use of
color, erotic subjects, and Arcadian landscapes. The
father of Rococo painting was Jean Antoine Watteau
invented a new genre called ‘fêtes galantes’, which were
scenes of courtship parties.
Characteristics:
→ Rococo painting, is characterized by soft colors
and curvy lines, and depicts scenes of love,
nature, amorous encounters, light-hearted
entertainment, and youth
‘Apollo and Daphne’ a painting by Giovanni Battista
Tiepolo. 1744
Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix’ is a semi- nude life-
size reclining neo- Classical portrait sculpture by the
Italian sculptor Antonio Canova. 1808
5. Neoclassicism: 1770s – 1840s
Neoclassicism was a Western cultural movement in the
decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and
architecture that drew inspiration from the art and
culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassicism is a revival of
the many styles inspired directly from the classical
period, which coincided and reflected the developments
in philosophy and other areas of the Age of
Enlightenment, and was initially a reaction against the
excesses of the preceding Rococo style.
Characteristics:
→ Neoclassical art include a concentration on
Greek and Roman mythology and history for
subjects, like heroic male nude, somewhat
dramatic lighting, and a rather clean style, with
hard edges and bright primary colors in painting
and smooth, highly polished marble in sculpture.
6. Romanticism: 1800s – 1850s
The term realism was coined by the French novelist
Champfleury in the 1840s and in art was exemplified in
the work of his friend the painter Gustav Courbet. In
practice realist subject matter meant scenes of peasant
and working class life, the life of the city streets, cafes
and popular entertainments, and an increasing frankness
in the treatment of the body and sexual subjects
The term realism was coined by the French novelist
Champfleury in the 1840s and in art was exemplified in
the work of his friend the painter Gustav Courbet. In
practice realist subject matter meant scenes of peasant
and working class life, the life of the city streets, cafes
and popular entertainments, and an increasing frankness
in the treatment of the body and sexual subjects.
“Mariana” 1851, Sir John Everett Millais, Bt
Romanticism was an artistic, literary, musical, visual and
intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards
the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its
peak in the approximate period from 1800 to 1850.
Romanticism as an "umbrella term" under which many
stylistic themes and values meet and interact for
example the gothic, the sublime, the sentimental, love of
nature, the romance narrative.
Characteristics:
→ Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis
on emotion and individualism as well as
glorification of all the past and nature, preferring
the medieval rather than the classical. It also
promoted the individual imagination as a critical
authority allowed of freedom from classical
notions of form in art.
‘The Barque of Dante’, also Dante and Virgil in Hell by
Eugène Delacroix, 1822. This work embarked the shift in
the character of narrative painting, from Neo-Classicism
towards Romanticism
7. Impressionism: 1860s – 1880s
The Impressionist painters used layers of colors, leaving
gaps in the top layers to reveal the colors underneath.
The technique is achieved through hatching, cross-
hatching, stippling, dry brushing, and ‘sgraffito’ which
means scratching into the paint. Impressionism was a
Art Appreciation
radical art movement the artists rebelled against classical
subject matter and embraced modernity, desiring to
create works that reflected the world in which they lived.
Characteristics:
Impressionists strongly emphasized the effects of light in
their paintings. They used short, thick strokes of paint to
capture the essence of the object rather than the
subject's details. Quickly applied brush strokes give the
painterly illusion of movement and spontaneity.
‘A Bar at the Folies-Bergère’ is a painting by Édouard
Manet, considered to be his last major work, painted in
1882. It depicts a scene in the Folies Bergère nightclub in
Paris.
8. Post-impressionism: 1880s – 1905
Post-Impressionism is characterized by a subjective
approach to painting, as artists opted to evoke emotion
rather than realism in their work. The Post-
impressionists rejected Impressionism's concern with
the spontaneous and naturalistic rendering of light and
color. Instead they favored an emphasis on more
symbolic content, formal order and structure and
artificiality in strokes
Characteristics:
→ Post-Impressionists both extended
Impressionism while rejecting its limitations: the
artists continued using vivid colors, a thick
application of paint and real-life subject matter,
but were more inclined to emphasize geometric
forms, distort forms for an expressive effect and
use unnatural and seemingly random colors.
‘Vision after the Sermon’ is an oil painting by French
artist Paul Gauguin, 1888. It depicts a scene from the
Bible in which Jacob wrestles an angel.
9. Expressionism: 1905 - 1920
Expressionism emerged as a reaction to the European
spiritual and social crises of the early 20th century.
Instead of the real world, Expressionists conveyed their
personal emotions in their works. They created
masterpieces composed of distorted figures, shocking
colors, and powerful lines.
Characteristics:
Expressionist art tried to convey emotion and meaning
rather than reality. Each artist had their own unique way
of expressing’ emotions in their art. In order to do that,
the subjects are often distorted or exaggerated.
‘Dance Around the Golden Calf’ by Emil Nolde, 1910
10. Art Nouveau: 1890s - 1910
Art Nouveau: Morris was recognized as the grandfather
of the international Arts and Craft Movements, in an era
of increasing industrialism and urbanization. His art
embraced an idealized vision of the artisanship and
cottage industries of the Middle Ages. Morris art paved
the way to modern interior wall design, tapestry and
textile art.
‘Wood Pecker, Tapestry’, 1885, William Morris, Art
Nouveau
11. Cubism: 1907 – 1914
Cubism: A revolutionary new approach to representing
reality invented in around 1907 by Picasso and Braque
bringing different views of subjects in the same picture.
Georges Braque ‘Bottle and Fishes’, 1910–12
Characteristics:
→ In Cubism, artists began to look at subjects in
new ways in an effort to depict three-dimensions
on a flat canvas. They would break up the subject
into many different shapes and then repaint it
from different angles. Cubism paved the way for
many different modern movements of art in the
20th century
‘Violin and Candlestick’, 1910 by Georges Braque. This
work embodies the dynamic and energetic qualities of
Analytic Cubism, a revolutionary artistic style
12. Futurism: 1909 - 1914
Artistic movement centered in Italy that emphasized the
dynamism, speed, energy, and power of the machine and
the vitality, change, and restlessness of modern life.
Futurism was launched by the Italian poet Filippo
Tommaso Marinetti in 1909. On 20 February he
published his Manifesto of Futurism on the front page of
the Paris newspaper Le Figaro.
Characteristics:
→ Futurist painting used elements and inspirations
from neo-impressionism and cubism to create
compositions that expressed the idea of the
dynamism, the energy and movement, of
modern life. Futurism is the defiance of the art
of the past and celebrating change, originality,
and innovation in culture and society.
‘Primavera Umbria' was created in 1923 by Gerardo
Dottori in Futurism style
13. Art Deco: 1910s – 1940s
Art Deco focused on the motion and thrill of the modern,
mechanized world not only applied to visual arts but also
to mass-produced fashion and individually crafted luxury
items. Art Deco was also influential across fashion,
advertising and architecture.
Characteristics:
→ Playful, luxurious and exotic, Art Deco
overturned traditional elegance in preference
for a highly stylized and geometric style that
symbolized wealth and sophistication
Art Deco: Art deco style, which above all reflected
modern technology, characterized by smooth lines,
geometric shapes, streamlined forms and bright,
sometimes garish colors.
‘Composition. Abstraite Aux Tourbillons’, 1955, TAMARA
de LEMPICKA
Self-portrait, ‘Tamara in a Green Bugatti’ (1929). Painted
by Tamara de Lempicka, Art Deco
14. Dadaism: 1916 - 1924
Dadaism: A style of painting, sculpture, diorama and
assemblage developed and characterized chiefly by an
European artistic and literary movement (1916-1923).
‘Étant Donnés’, 1946-1966 Marcel Duchamp
Art Appreciation
The making of ‘Etant Donnes’, Dada Art by Duchamp
Installed behind a heavy wooden door, “Etant donnes”
consists of a diorama viewed through two eyeholes. The
scene depicts a nude woman, possibly dead, with her
legs splayed, holding an illuminated gas lamp. A
mountainous landscape, based on a photo Duchamp
shot in Switzerland, creates the background setting.
Dada: Created in Zurich as a response to the horrors of
the First World War Raoul Hausmann ‘The Art Critic’
1919–20
15. Abstract Expressionism: 1940s – 1950s
Originating in 1940s America, Abstract Expressionism
took its inspiration from European painters working in
abstraction. It tended to reject all recognizably realistic
forms and used color and texture as the primary tool for
expression.
Characteristics:
Artists used free-flowing, gestural painted brush marks,
producing paintings that were heavily reliant on
spontaneity and intuition.
→ Abstract Expressionism: Pollock’s exposure on
surrealism opened his subconscious to create a
revolutionary style of abstraction. He then mark
the canvas through a highly physical process of
gestural drips, splatters, and strokes, his
paintings traced the movements evoked from his
raw emotional state. ‘Autumn Rhythm: Number
30’, 1950 Jackson Pollock
‘Multiform’, 1948 by Mark Rothko
16 Contemporary Art (1960’s to present)
Contemporary art is really a catch-all term for all art that
has come after the Second World War. As such, it
encompasses many themes and styles, and takes us up
to the present day. Diversity and challenging nature,
contemporary Art offers works with a dynamic
combination of materials, methods, concepts and
subjects that challenge the traditional and defy easy
definition
Characteristics: Contemporary Art is a style of decorating
defined by simplicity, subtle sophistication, deliberate
use of texture, and clean lines. It tend to focus on color,
space, and shape, contemporary interiors as well as
frames are sleek and fresh
Characteristics: The most prominent feature of
contemporary art is the fact that it has no distinct feature
or a single characteristic. It is defined by the artist's
ability to innovate and bring out a modern masterpiece
Function: Contemporary art provides the artists
opportunities to reflect on society and the issues that are
important to society and the world. It is part of a cultural
dialogue that concerns larger contextual frameworks
such as identity, family, community, and nationality.
‘Untitled #153’ is a color photograph made by American
visual artist Cindy Sherman in 1985. In 2010, a print was
auctioned for $2.7 million, making it one of the most
expensive photographs ever sold at that time
1. Installation Art: Standing at a height of 30 meters
in the shape of a spider, ‘Maman’ is an iconic
sculptural artwork by Louise Bourgeois, 1990.
Various versions of the piece exist, created using
a diverse range of materials. Built for an
exhibition at the Tate Modern, it pays homage to
Bourgeois‘ mother, who died suddenly when the
artist was just 21
→ Installation Art: In 1990s museums began to
regularly install monumental scale artworks
indoors for exhibition attracting more art
enthusiasts. “The Weather Project”, 2003. Olafur
Eliasson
2. Performance Art: Abramović sitting silent and
still in a chair across from another chair in which
anyone could sit silently, one at a time for
however long they wanted at the Museum of
Modern Art in New York. She sat for the entire
run of her 2010 retrospective, which added up to
736 hours and 30 minutes. ‘The Artist is Present’,
2010, Performing art, Marina Abramovic
3. Pop Art: Intended as a reaction to preceding
modern art movements, contemporary art is
thought to have begun on the heels of Pop Art.
Pioneered by American artists like Andy Warhol
and Roy Lichtenstein. It is defined by an interest
in portraying mass culture and reimagining
commercial products as accessible art. “Coca-
Cola”, 1960s, Andy Warhol.
4. Earth Art: also known as ‘land art’ or ‘earthwork’
is an artistic movement emerged in America
during the 1960s when a number of sculptors
and painters such as Robert Smithson
determined to heighten public awareness of
Man's relationship with the natural world
byintervening in the landscape in a series of
thought-provoking constructions. ‘Spiral Jetty’,
1970, Robert Smithson
5. Mixed-media Art: Jardim Gramacho, a 321-acre
plot of land on the northern edge of Rio de
Janeiro, was the world’s largest garbage dump
until it closed in 2012. Between 2007 and 2010,
the Jardim became a kind of studio for Brazilian-
born, New York- and Rio-based artist Muniz.
‘Marat (Sebastiã o)’, 2008. Vik Muniz
6. Shadow Art: Kumi is best known for her light and
shadow sculptures constructed from everyday
objects. She first starts with photographing real
models to begin understanding the different
poses she works with. She expresses the
importance of shadow manipulation and outline.
KUMI YAMASHITA, 2000 Shadow Artist
7. Street Art: As one of the most recent
contemporary art movements, street art is a
genre that gained prominence with the rise of
graffiti in the 1980s. Often rooted in social
activism, street art includes murals, installations,
stenciled images, and stickers erected in public
spaces. Key street artists include Jean-Michel
Basquiat and Keith Haring. “The Pisa's Mural’,
1989, Keith Haring
→ This iconic street artist first appeared on
Waterloo Bridge in London. This work has been
repeated many times in support of various
political campaigns, notably the Syrian refugee
crisis in 2014. ‘Girl with Balloon’, 2002, Bansky.
→ This striking art piece were created in order to
pay homage to the child victims of an earthquake
that took place in the Sichuan province in 2008.
The large scale art is composed of 9,000 students
backpacks. The Chinese artist Ai Weiwei created
this striking piece in order to pay homage to the
child victims of an earthquake that took place in
the Sichuan province in 2008. ‘Remembering’,
2009, Ai Weiwei.
Art Appreciation
→ This art piece from Pilipinas Street Plan, or PSP
for short, is the result of the artists banding
together to form a community that has not only
taken their art to the streets to some key cities
(Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Cebu, Tacloban, and
even Dubai) but brought the conversation about
street art to a wider audience. Nemo Aguila, one
of the core members of PSP, shares shared this
exhibition photo, 2017.
8. Photo Realism: or ‘hyperrealism’ primary goal of
a photorealist was to capture the essence of the
photo on canvas. To do so, the artist would
develop the photo, transfer it to a canvas for
painting, and bring it back to life using a different
medium. ‘Mark’, 1977, Chuck Close. John Jeff
Camasis. Pandemic Artist
Contemporary art is now the undisputed name for
today’s art in professional contexts and enjoys
widespread resonance in public media and popular
speech. Yet, its valiance for any of the usual art- critical
and historical purposes remains contested and
uncertain. One thing is for sure, Contemporary may be
defined as the ‘Art of Today’ and beyond.
Other Contemporary Art Style: Pop Art, Word Art,
Conceptualism, Performance, Fluxus Movement,
Installation, Video Installations, Minimalism, Photo-
Realist Art (Hyperrealism), Earthworks (Land or
Environmental Art), Contemporary Photography), Arte
Povera., Supports- Surfaces, Contemporary Realism,...
Contemporary Art: 1960s – Present. -- ost-Minimalism,
Feminist Art, New Subjectivity, London School, Graffiti
Art, Neo-Expressionist Art, Transavanguardia (Trans
avant-garde), Britart (Young British Artists),
Deconstructivist Design, Body Art, Chinese Cynical
Realism, Neo-Pop, Stuckism, New Leipzig School,
Projection Art (21st Century) and Computer Art, . --
Advance Artworks; Encaustic Painting, Letras Y figuras,
Miniaturismo, Panel Painting, Tapestry, Drawing and
Animation, Installation Art, Earth Art, Street Art and
Digital Architecture, Digital Design, Performance Art, ...
... and so many more!
Western art encompasses many different cultures,
periods, and significant events. All of which give us a
clear picture of the past. Whether you’re an artist,
someone who loves paintings, or ordinary individual who
just wants to enjoy beauty and functions o arts. There is
a lot to learn from western art, and it’s influences.
Western art spans the middle ages, the renaissance
period, and many periods in which technological
advancements occurred.
“the aim of art is to represent not the outward
appearance of things but their inward significance” -
Aristotle
Lesson 9: Asian and Eastern Visual Arts
Asian Visual Art
The history of Asian art or Eastern art, includes a vast
range of influences from various cultures and religions.
Developments in Asian art historically parallel those in
Western art, in general a few centuries earlier. Chinese
art, Indian art, Korean art, Japanese art, each had
significant influence on Western art, and, vice versa.
Near Eastern art also had a significant influence on
Western art. Excluding prehistoric art, the art of
Mesopotamia represents the oldest forms of Asian art.
Functions: Asian art primarily serves religious function.
Building and decorating temples with the best vessels
made of bronze and gold including their statues of gods
and goddesses. Without arbitrary divisions separating
the arts, East Asia has developed exceptionally complex
artistic forms possessing extraordinary richness and
subtlety in practical and aesthetic applications.
Influence: The history of Eastern painting is as old as the
civilization of China. It is historically comparable to
Western painting. Eastern countries continued to
influence each other's production of arts over the
centuries. The ideologies of Confucianism, Daoism, and
Buddhism played important roles in East Asian art.
Buddhist Art:
Originated in the Indian subcontinent in the centuries
following the life of the historical Gautama Buddha in the
6th to 5th century BCE, before evolving through its
contact with other cultures and its diffusion through the
rest of Asia and the world.
Gautama Buddha - Popularly known as the Buddha, was
a Śramaṇa who lived in ancient India. He is regarded as
the founder of the world religion of Buddhism. A couple
of centuries after his death he came to be known by the
title Buddha, which means ‘Awakened One’ or
‘Enlightened One’.
This is one of the images of the pensive bodhisattva
prevalent in East Asia between the 5th and 8th centuries.
In Korea, the type emerged as an important Buddhist
icon during the 6th and 7th centuries, particularly in the
kingdoms of Baekje and Silla. This seated figure is among
the best-preserved examples.
The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India has been the focal point
of the Buddhist faith in the region since it was built by
Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.
Bhutanese Art:
Bhutanese arts and crafts are known for their bold use of
colors, exquisite attention to detail and symmetry.
Portraying deities, plants and animals and more, art is
used to decorate the homes, temples and everyday
objects of the Bhutanese people. From the Buddhists
monks making intricate sand mandalas to the
woodworker carving a garish mask, art is seen as a
religious experience, leading to enlightenment.
Thangka Painting - The making of a thangka is a long and
painstaking process. It starts with the preparation of the
canvas, which must be well stretched and smoothened.
The outline of the deity and composition are
made,according to set guidelines, first in pencil and then
with a fine brush; colors are later painted in.
‘Thangka of Milarepa’ 1052-1135, Thimphu
Cambodian Art:
The traditional visual arts of Cambodia revealed the
conservatism of the ‘Khmer Empire’. Ancient themes
were preferred, and rarely was there an effort to
improve or adapt. The principal crafts were weaving,
silver, goldsmith and jewelry making. Visual arts includes
wood and stone sculpture, painting and architecture.
Angkor Wat - It was originally built in the first half of the
12th century as a Hindu temple. Spread across more than
Art Appreciation
400 acres, Angkor Wat is said to be the largest religious
monument in the world. Originally dedicated to the
Hindu god Vishnu, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist
temple by the end of the 12th century.
Stone Carving - Khmer people were considered as the
finest stone carvers in the world. Cambodia's best-
known stone carving adorns the temples of Angkor,
which are renowned for the scale, richness and detail of
their sculpture and relief.
Chinese Art:
Varied throughout its ancient history, Chinese art was
divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China and
changing technology. Different forms of art have been
influenced by great philosophers, teachers, religious
figures and even political leaders. Chinese art
encompasses fine arts, folk arts and performance arts.
Painting - The Vinegar Tasters is a traditional subject in
Chinese religious and philosophical painting. The concept
of the painting depicts the three founders of China’s
three major religious and philosophical traditions such as
Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
3 Notable Painters
1. Wu Daozi, 680-759 CE – a famous painter in the
Tang Dynasty (618 - 907AD), was honored as a
painting saint. Wu lost his father at an early age
and lived in poverty.
2. Zhu Da, 1626-1705 CE – was a painter in the late
Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. He was the
descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of
the Ming Dynasty
3. Zhao Menfu 1254-1322 CE – was the descendant
of Zhao Kuangyin, the founder of Song Dynasty
(960 - 1279AD). He was a versatile scholar
specializing in calligraphy and painting.
Indian Art:
Indian art can be classified into specific periods, each
reflecting certain religious, political and cultural
developments. The earliest examples are the
petroglyphs such as those found in Bhimbetka, some of
them dating to before 5500 BCE. The production of such
works continued for several millenniums. Later examples
include the carved pillars of Ellora, Maharashtra state.
Other examples are the frescoes of Ajanta and Ellora
Caves.
Ellora Caves - Ellora Caves in Maharashtra’ was built by
the Rashtrkuta king, Krishna I. Situated in the south of
the precinct, these caves adorned with carves and
statues are estimated to have been built during 600 to
730 CE. Ellora, also known as ‘Elura’ and, in ancient times,
as ‘Elapura’ is a sacred site in Maharastra, central India.
The Ellora Caves are listed by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site and is celebrated for its Hindu, Buddhist,
and Jain temples and monuments which were carved
from the local cliff rock.
Indonesian Art:
Indonesian art are characterized by their delicacy and
serenity of expression. Indonesian art enjoyed another
golden age under the Majapahit Empire 1293–1500,
during which a large number of Hindu– Buddhist brick
temples were built, characterized by tall, slender-roofed
red brick gates and a strong geometrical quality.
Demak Great Mosque - ‘Demak Great Mosque’, 1479 is
one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, located in the
center town of Demak, Central Java, Indonesia. The
mosque is believed to be built by the Wali Songo with the
most prominent figure Sunan Kalijaga, during the first
Demak Sultanate ruler, Raden Patah.
Japanese Art:
Japanese art and architecture is works of art produced in
Japan from the beginnings of human habitation there,
sometime in the 10th millennium BC, to the present.
Japanese art covers a wide range of art styles and media,
including ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze,
ink painting on silk and paper, and a myriad of other
types of works of art; from ancient times until the
contemporary 21st century
Pottery - Prehistoric art of Japan begins with the Jōmon
period 10,000 BCE – 350 BCE. The Jōmon people were
the first settlers of Japan. Nomadic hunter-gatherers
who later practiced organized farming and built cities.
Historians named the pots Jōmon which means “cord-
markings”, where in impressions made by pressing rope
into the clay before it was heated to approximately 600-
900 degrees Celsius.
All Jōmon pots were made by hand, without the aid of a
wheel, the potter building up the vessel from the bottom
with coil upon coil of soft clay. As in all other Neolithic
cultures, women produced these early potteries. Jōmon
is said to be the world’s oldest pottery to be discovered,
3,000-2000 BCE.
Ukiyo-e - Ukiyo-e as often translated ‘pictures of the
floating world’, is a genre of Japanese art flourished from
the 17th - 19th centuries in the early Edo period. It
started as one-piece black-ink only using woodblock
prints. The drawings were circulated in towns as printed
books or in canvas cloth and spread among the common
people for their enjoyment. Color print began in the mid-
Edo period. The Hikone screen may be the oldest
surviving ukiyo-e work, dating to c. 1624–44.
Laotian Art:
Lao art involves the myriad of forms creative, cultural
expression originating from Laos. This includes both
ancient artefacts and recent productions. Laotian Art
often features themes of religiosity in Buddhism and
includes such material forms as textiles, wood-carving
and basket-weaving, sculpture and architecture.
Sculpture - The most famous Buddhist sculpture in Laos,
is perhaps the Phra Bang also written as ‘Phrabang’, and
which literally means “Delicate Buddha" is the mystical
national emblem of Laos culture. The statue is 83 cm high
standing Buddha with palms facing forward, cast in
bronze and covered in gold leaf. According to local lore,
it was cast in Ceylon now Sri Lanka sometime between
the 1st and 9th century.
Nepalese Art:
Nepali art is diverse and complex. Traditional art here
includes intricate floral patterns, mythical beings, and
the complex fusion of Hindu, Buddhist, and indigenous
elements using various materials like wood, stone,
metal, and cloth.
Sculpture - The messianic ‘Bodhisattva Padmapani
Lokeshvara’ characterized as the Buddha of the future,
stands in a graciously exaggerated posture, the body
beautifully counterbalanced. 11th – 12th Century
Art Appreciation
Thai Art:
Thai art and visual art was traditionally and primarily
Buddhist and Royal Art. Sculpture was almost exclusively
of Buddha images, while painting was confined to
illustration of books and decoration of buildings,
primarily palaces and temples. Thai Buddha images from
different periods have a number of distinctive styles.
Contemporary Thai art often combines traditional Thai
elements with modern techniques
Architecture - Also known as Temple of Dawn, ‘Wat Arun
Ratchawararam’ has been named after the Hindu
God, Aruna or the God of Dawn. The recent construction,
for most parts, was restored and rebuilt by King Rama II
and King Rama IV of the Chakri dynasty of Thailand. 1656
Tibetan Art:
Tibetan art is first and foremost a form of sacred art,
reflecting the over-riding influence of Tibetan Buddhism
on these cultures. Tibetan art, uniquely, is an art that
uses figuration and representational images to express
abstraction. Moreover, especially through its use of
‘mandalas’, art is an integral part of a spiritual practice
and process.
Painting - ‘Guge frescos’ mainly refer to the frescos in the
Red and White palaces of the ruins of Guge Kingdom,
900-1630 CE which were a grand ancient city with unique
Tibetan architectures. The Guge frescos covering various
aspects of religious disciples and laymen, such as plough,
sowing, harvest, hunting and milking have remained
vividly colored following the passage of more than 300
years.
The aesthetic effect of ‘Guge Frescos’ characterized with
sublimity mixed with elegance, symmetry with harmony,
femininity with masculinity, melancholy with heroism,
and sublimity with romanticism.
Vietnamese Art:
Vietnamese artists began to use traditional mediums
such as silk, lacquer, and oil to create European-style
artworks. The result was a dazzling fusion of East and
West, with talented artists creating breathtaking silk and
oil paintings usually depicting pagodas, the countryside,
and Vietnamese historical events
Woodblock Prints - Vietnamese woodblock prints or
‘Dong Ho’ painting (Vietnamese: Tranh Đông Hồ) is a folk
art originating in Dong Ho Village, Bac Ninh Province,
Hanoi that has been practiced for three centuries. Dong
Ho painting is considered one of Vietnam's cultural
symbols. Subjects depicted in these paintings are usually
scenes of ordinary life, Vietnamese landscapes, seasons
of the year, and prosperity symbols.
The background paper in making a dong ho is originally
white, made of bark of a tree called ‘Dzo’. The usual
pigments were orange, pink, yellow, purple refined from
the leaves of local trees; red pigment is taken from earth
of hills and mountains; the black is made from burned
bamboo leaves; a shiny white paint is made using ground
sea shells
Mesopotamian Art
The Art of Mesopotamia: has survived in the
archaeological record from early hunter-gatherer
societies, 10th millennium BCE on to the Bronze Age
cultures of the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian and
Assyrian empires. These empires were later replaced in
the Iron Age by the Neo-Assyrian and Neo- Babylonian
empires. Widely considered to be the cradle of
civilization, Mesopotamia brought significant cultural
developments, including the oldest examples of writing.
Pottery - The Warka Vase, also called the ‘Uruk Vase’, a
carved alabaster stone vessel, is one of the earliest
surviving works of narrative relief sculpture. It was found
in the temple complex of the Sumerian goddess Inanna
in the ruins of the ancient city of Uruk in southern Iraq.
The vase was discovered as a collection of fragments by
German Assyriologists in their sixth excavation season at
Uruk in 1933-1934.
The Warka Vase, One of the Earliest Surviving Works of
Narrative Relief Sculpture, Looted in the Iraq War Circa
3200 to 3000 BCE
Islamic Art:
Generally, Islamic Art directly reflects its cultural values
but also shows the unique Muslim view of life and all
spiritual things. For Muslims, God is the center, Allah.
Therefore Islamic art developed a unique character of
geometric, arabesque, floral, and calligraphic patterns
which reflect on their aspects of balance
Wall Art - Islamic art was influenced by Greek, Roman,
early Christian, and Byzantine art styles, as well as the
Sassanian art of pre-Islamic Persia. Central Asian styles
were brought in with various nomadic incursions; and
Chinese influences had a formative effect on Islamic
painting, wall art, pottery, and textiles.
A calligraphic panel by Mustafa Râkim (late 18th–early
19th century): In tradition, Islamic art has focused on the
depiction of patterns and Arabic calligraphy, rather than
on human figures, because it is feared by many Muslims
that the depiction of the human form is idolatry. The
panel reads: “God, there is no god but He, the Lord of His
prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Lord
of all that has been created
Iranian Art:
Persian art, also referred to as Iranian art, is an art form
made up of many mediums that include painting,
pottery, sculpture, reliefs, metalworking, calligraphy,
weaving, and architecture. As Persian art developed, the
art movement received multiple influences from
neighboring countries, dictated the style seen in the
artworks. With the earliest influence dating back to
approximately 550 BCE, Persian art exists as one of the
richest art heritages in the world
Stone Bas-relief - ‘Archers frieze’ from Darius Palace at
Susa, ca. 510 BC
Nabataean Art:
Nabataean is a member of an ancient Arabian people
who from 312 BC formed an independent kingdom with
its capital at Petra in Jordan. The art of the Nabataeans
of North Arabia were known for potted painted ceramics,
and dispersed among Greco-Roman world, as well as
sculpture and architecture. Nabataean Art is most well
known significantly for the archaeological sites in Petra,
specifically monuments such as Al Khazneh and Ad Deir
Architecture - One of the most prominent rock-cut
facades within the Petra Archaeological Park is the
Palace Tomb synthetized with the advanced set of skills
and techniques that the Nabataeans deployed to shape
the unique monuments. Built between the 1st and the
Art Appreciation
2nd century AD is the most monumental of the ‘Royal breakthrough artist of the decade in classical crossover,
Tombs’ Group, as referred to by its name earned him the title ‘speedy pianist’
In a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and Country
technologically advancing world, contemporary artists
give voice to the varied and changing cultural landscape Country music is defined as a style and genre of largely
of identities, values, and beliefs. Experimental and string-accompanied American popular music having
audiences as well play an active role in the process of roots in the folk music of the Southeast and cowboy
constructing meaning about works of art. music of the West, usually vocalized, generally simple in
form and harmony, and typified by romantic or
“the truly modern artist is aware of abstraction in an melancholy ballads accompanied by acoustic or electric
emotion of beauty” – piet modrian guitar, banjo, violin, and harmonica. The phrase ‘country
music’ first appeared in early 1500s and it describes type
of music denoting everyday life in a rural town or region.
Music Genres
According to the popular music streaming service
‘Spotify’, there are over 1,300 music genres in the world.
A music genre is a conventional category thatidentifies
some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition
or set of conventions. It is to be distinguished from
‘musical form’ and ‘musical style’, although in practice
these terms are sometimes used interchangeably.
Blues
A vocal and instrumental form of music based on a
pentatonic scale and a characteristic twelve-bar chord
progression. Blues originated in the deep South of the
United States around 1860s by African-Americans. Blues
incorporated spirituals, shouts, work songs and chants
that found its earliest stylistic roots in West Africa. Blues
has been a major influence on later American and
Western popular music, finding expression in ragtime,
jazz, big band, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, country music,
conventional pop songs and even modern classical
music.
Riley B. King, 1925 – 2015 - Known professionally as ‘BB
King’, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist,
and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style
of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering
vibrato and staccato picking that influenced many later
blues electric guitar players.
Classical
Classical music is generally a classification covering
music composed and performed by professionally
trained artists. Classical music is a written tradition. It is
composed and written using music notation, and as a
rule is performed faithfully to the score. In common
usage, ‘classical music’ often refers to orchestral music in
general, regardless of when it was composed or for what
purpose (film scores and orchestral arrangements on
pop music recordings, for example).
Sergei Rachmaninov, 1873 – 1943 - Rachmaninov was a
Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the
late Romantic period. He belongs to the aristocracy of
composers. No two of his piano pieces are alike, each one
creates its own world. He lays his soul before us in music
like the Second Symphony, yet it is noble as much as
passionate
Maksim Mrvica, 1975 – Present ‘The Piano Player’, his
first album, gave a new spin to great compositions by
‘Handel’ and ‘Chopin’. Since its release in 2003 it has
been successful, in Asia, where it has achieved Gold
status in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and mainland
China, Platinum in Taiwan and Croatia and Double
Platinum in Hong Kong making him the best selling
Art Appreciation
Art Appreciation