UNIT V.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ART

Overview
In this chapter, we will discuss the historical development of Art from Pre – Colonial Period
up to Modern Ages. In this chapter we will see and understand how art evolves from different
generations and times.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the chapter, I am able to
1. Classify various movements by citing their important characteristics such as historical
background, factors, influential person, socio – political issues and prevalent artists, art forms
and art media.
2. Identify the underlying history, philosophy of the era or movements.
3. cite important characteristics in an artwork based on the era movement ( document and
annotate works)
4. Develop students’ ability in manipulating the elements of art.

Setting Up
Motive Activity
Name:_____________________________________ Score:______________
Course/Year/Section:____________________ Date:_______________

Interpret the image below. Write your own understanding of the image and state what
elements of art used in the artwork.
Lesson Proper
Visual Arts

Pre – Historic Period (40000 BC to 4,000 BC)

The start of art history started during the Prehistoric Era,
right before records were kept by people. The first art came
from the Paleolithic Era, or during the Old Stone Age. The
known form of arts during that era are rock carvings,
pictorial imagery, engravings, stone arrangements and
sculptures.
The medium that they used in this period are pigments that
come from nature and stone carvings to came mostly
representations of animals, objects and rituals that is seen
during the civilization’s existence. One of the most famous
Paleolithic cave paintings were found in the caves of
Lascaux, France. Most of the cave paintings seen in the
caves of Lascaux depicted large animals and vegetation.

Ancient Period

Ancient art was produced by the

civilized men who are considered more
advanced than the people during the pre-
historic period. During this period, people
already established their written language. The
known civilizations during these times are
Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Grecian and some of
those Americans.
The medium that they used for their artwork
varied from one civilization to another. But
most likely, the art that they create served
purposes. Some tell their stories, some are
decorated utilitarian objects like weapons and
bowls, and some are symbolic imagery that
sometimes shows their social status. During this
period, many of their works depict the stories of
their rulers, gods and goddesses.
Mesopotamian civilization was the one Hammurabi’s Law Code. J.B Wiener. Ancient.edu
known to be the most famous creator during the
Ancient Period. The artwork Code of Hammurabi, which was created around 1792 B.C, contains the
piece bears of the Babylonian set of laws. It was carved in stone, and adorned by the image of King
Hammurabi. King Hammurabi is the sixth king of Babylonia.

Medieval Period
 Middle Ages, or also referred to as the “Dark Ages”, is the start of the cultural and economic
deterioration. This follows the fall of the Roman Empire. The artworks created during this time
mostly reflect darkness, and most distinguished by grotesque imagery and harsh scenery. The focus
of the artworks are centered on the Church. More sophisticated and decorated churches emerged
during the first millennium. Windows and
Silhouettes were adorned because they show
scenes from mythology and biblical subjects.
Illuminated manuscripts and Gothic Architecture
also emerged during this period. The influential art
from the medieval period is the catacombs in Rome
and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The best known
illuminated manuscript during this period is the
Lindisfarne Gospels while the most prominent
gothic architecture during the time the Notre Dame
Cathedral in Paris.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul F.Wizorek.

Renaissance Period

Renaissance art was represented by the focus

on individualism and nature that can be seen through
their style in painting, decorative arts and sculpture.
The idea of individualism or the thought of man as
independent and self - reliant started during the late
medieval period but they flourished during the 15th
and 16th centuries, parallel to the economic and social
changes because of secularization.
The height of the Renaissance period reached
Florence, Italy when the Medici family, a well - known
wealthy merchant supported arts and humanism.
Humanism is a belief and philosophy that is focus on
the emphasis of the human realm. The key person
during this time is the Italian designer Filippo
Brunelleschi and Donatello who is a sculptor. High
Renaissance produced influential artists such as Lamentation, fresco by Giotto, c. 1305–06; in the
Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Each of Arena Chapel, Padua, Italy.
them brought the idea of emotional expression
through artworks. Most of the artworks during the Renaissance period were characterized by
realism; it is focused on details and the study of human anatomy. The linear perspective and they
created depth by the use of intense lighting and shading.
Mannerism

Souls Sent to Hell, Pulled down
by Demons (1535-41). Detail from
The Last Judgment Fresco mural,
Sistine Chapel. By Michelangelo
The clash between the humanism and Christian faith gave way to
what we call Mannerism.
Artists during this period emerged from the ideas of Raphael and
Michelangelo. Their technique and style outweighed the meaning of a
subject matter. Most of the figures had graceful, small limbs, elongated
limbs, stylized features and exaggerated details. This gives way to more
stylized and complex compositions rather than to depend on the classical
ideals of united composition and linear perspective used by Renaissance
predecessors.
The most famous Mannerist includes Giorgio Vasari, Domenica
Beccafumi, and Francesco Salviati. One of the great Mannerist painter in
Florence during his time is Bronzino.

Baroque Period

The yielded ornate, extreme visual arts and architecture

are known as the Baroque Period. This period is distinguished by
richness and grandeur, punctuated by an interest in widening the
human intellect and discovery. Artists during this period were
known to be stylistically complex.
Paintings during this period portrayed by drama. Most of the
painters used intense contrast between the dark and light and had
extreme compositions paired by rich color palettes. The known
artists during this time were Caravaggio and Rembrandt.
Samson and Delilah (1609-1610) by
Peter Paul Rubens
Rococo period

Paris is the origin of the Rococo Period.

Antoine Watteau, ‘The Embarkation for
Cythera’ (1717)
This period encompasses decorative art,
architecture, painting and sculpture. The aesthetic
brings a softer style of decorative art compared to
Baroque vivacity.
This period is characterized by elegance and
lightness, focuses on the use of asymmetrical
designs, natural forms and subtle colors.
The style is easily translated to porcelain, silver
and French furniture. Armoires and chairs that
show curving forms, floral design and expressive
use of gilt. The artworks of Antoine Watteau and
Francois Boucher used lighthearted treatments,
fresh colors and brushwork.
Neoclassicism

The neoclassical period came from the elements

of the classical age. The artworks that were discovered
from the civilization of Athens and Naples reignited the
passion for the things in the past, and artists strove to
recreate the works of ancient art. Neoclassicism renewed
the interest of artists in classical ideals of harmony,
proportion and simplicity. The focuses of the artists were
on Idealism. They included modern and historically
relevant depictions in their artworks. An example of this
is the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova. His works is based
on the classical elements that are shown in his marble Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss by Antonio
sculptures. Canova; 1787; Louvre

Romanticism

This period embodied a large range of disciplines, form

Pity, colour print finished in pen and
watercolour by William Blake, 1795; in
the Tate Collection, London.
painting, to literature, to music. Romanticism presents the
ideas that reject order, rationality, and harmony, which were
embraced during the classical art and Neoclassicism. Artists
during this period emphasized the imagination and individual.
The appreciation for nature was also a Romantic ideal. Plein Air
painting brought artist from dark interiors on closed spaces to
painting outside. They focused on passion, sensation and
emotion rather than reason and intellect. Henry Fuseli is a
known Romantic painter because he created a strange,
macabre painting that depicts dark recesses of Human
Psychology. Another known Romantic artist is William Blake,
who wrote mysterious poems and images that conveyed his
disappointment and mystical visions in societal constraints.
Contemporary Arts

The beginning of contemporary art stated during the

1970s. This extends through our present day.
Some of the contemporary art depicts artworks that are related
to skepticism, philosophical critiques and irony. Some are
answers to societal issues like feminist art and street art or
known as the graffiti-like art. Art in this period used to express
thoughts and opinions and purposely showed to the public. The
wide use of the World Wide Web is also dominant during
contemporary art, they are known as digital art. Wherein artists Painting ‘Masdibyo Aku Kapok !!
use the infusion of camera, art and technology to create different (Menangkap Koruptor) ‘, series of
artworks. The medium that they use are computers, audio, paintings’ ‘Koruptor Dibuang ke
Laut Diadili Ikan Laut Dalam’.
visual software and pixels.

Music

Pre-historic Period
 The prehistoric period was the oldest known song traced back to 4,000 years ago. Man during
this time imitates the sounds around him by using their hands, voices and feet. Through time, they
created new rhythms and sound by using tools or beating sticks against rocks and trees. They also
learned that they can make sound by the use of their mouth through humming, whistles and singing.
When they began to repeat those tones and sound pattern. That is known as pattern songs. When
they created patterns songs, they also began to make special tools to make sounds, and that’s what
we call now instruments. One of the oldest instruments is the flute. Flute during prehistoric periods
were created from the hollow bone of a bear.

Medieval Period

The Medieval period was focused on Christianity, as a result of this, songs during this period
was about God and worship. Music was only made up of one melody line with no background music.
This is called Monophony. Monophonic songs are referred to as Gregorian chants, it is named after
Pope Gregory, the leader of the Christian Church during the medieval period. Polyphony was created
during the later stages of the medieval period. Polyphony is two melodic lines heard at the same time
and it is sung or played in harmony.

Renaissance Period

This is known as the period wherein the great change in music happened. During this period,
musicians are freer to create and show their individual style in creating music and arts. Although,
church music or sacred music was the most popular music at that time. Also during Renaissance
period, new instruments were introduced and became very popular, lute and clavichord. When
printing technology developed during this time, musicians were allowed to write music and be it
available to a large crowd.

Baroque Music

Baroque was use to describe a style that followed the renaissance in European music, it
means “strange” or “excessive”. During this time, music became more complex and difficult. The
music contains more than one melody than can be harmonized or clash with others. The most popular
instrument during the Baroque period was the recorders. Composers during this period uses soft,
loud, slow and fast tone to make the audience understand the story or feel the emotion. Secular music
began to be popular and they invented the orchestra and opera during this time. Orchestra is the
group or ensemble of musical instruments playing music together. Opera is a story with drama
representation that is set to music.
The most prominent musicians during this time were Vivaldi, the composer of four season concertos,
and J.S Bach, the maker of many of the present’s composing techniques.

Classical Period

This period in music lasted for 70 years; and during this time, there are many changes in
music. During the classical period, they applied strict rules in music composition and sounds were
restrained and balanced. Harmony became popular during this period, this is defined as music that
has one melody and background music. The father of the symphony and string quartets is Joseph
Haydn. He is also known as the most influential composer during this period.
 The classical period introduces a lot of new instruments like the flute and clarinet. They also
added instruments to the orchestra and also new types of songs and musical compositions. The most
prominent composer during this period is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He composed more than 600
symphonies, concertos and others.

Romantic Period

This period reflected the social and political changes around the world. Musicians and
composers during this time experimented which their music and they showed their individual
creativity. The dominant feature of music during this period is Melody. They used melodies to express
nationalism, a show of loyalty to a group of people or to a country. During this period, orchestra and
opera were continually making a large influence in the society. They introduced a new sound to the
audience and virtuosos or people who are very skilled in performing became popular. The most
admired virtuosos are pianist, singer and violinist. The most controversial virtuoso during this time
is Franz List, a Hungarian composer who played piano very well. He played piano with so much
emotion, that many people believed that women in the audience would faint while listening to him.
Ludwig Van Beethoven became known during this period and he is considered as one of the
greatest composers of all time. Pianoforte was invented during the Romantic Period

Modern Music

20th-century music is considered to be all about going against the tradition or rebellion. Mid
–20th-century music style was Rock and Roll, Jazz and Country. It became popular around the world.
Recorded music became available in every style. This made the music available to everyone and made
music listening popular than ever. During the 20th century, technology has played a vital part in the
evolution of music. Electric guitar and keyboard were introduced. The use of computers became had
a huge impact and influence on music styles now a day because it allows musicians and composers
to manipulate sounds.

References
Ferrer, M.C, et. Al (2019). Art Appreciation. Malabon City. Mutya Publishing House Inc.
Kleiner, Fred. (2016). Gardner’s Art through the Ages: A Global History, 15 th ed. Cengage Learning
Boston.
Ortiz, M.A., Erestain, T., Guillermo, A., Montano, M., Pilar, S. (1976). Western art.” Art: Perception
and Appreciation, University of the East and JMC Press, Inc. pp. 163 – 229