Colegio De San Gabriel Arcangel

Founded in 1993
Level 1 Accredited - PACUCOA
Area E, Sapang Palay CSJDM Bulacan
Recognized by DepEd, TESDA, and CHED

GECO 6
LAS No. 11

NAME: _________________________________ Course and Section: __________________________

ACTIVITY TITLE: ART THROUGH THE AGES

LEARNING TARGET: 1. Identify the major periods in Western art history.
2. Compare and contrast the artworks produced during the different time periods and art
movements.
3. Create an art in any medium and form depicting nationalism.
REFERENCE: Art Appreciation
AUTHOR: Ernesto Solmerano;/ Bernardo Caslib; Dorothea Garing; Jezreel Anne Casaul

From the time of ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans all the way to modern times, art has been used to
communicate ideologies and belief systems prevalent within their context. Greek and Roman Civilizations were also known
as the Classical World because both cultures aimed to embody the highest possible standard of quality in all aspects of their
societies. When it comes to both art and architecture, both civilizations intended to promote the possibility of having
objective and widely accepted standards for beauty. The influence and impact of both classical words are far-reaching. Most
art movements have taken inspiration from certain artistic elements from the two civilizations. Different art movements
emerged within the different periods in Europe. Each movement has a distinctive characteristic to them highlighting the
different trends and changes as they transition from one period to the next.

PRE-ACTIVITY: Draw two different images of something that you consider beautiful. In what ways they are similar;
different?
DRAWING A DRAWING B

ANCIENT GREECE
The Greeks were known to excel in various fields and aspects of society. For instance, their political ideals eventually
became the framework of the democratic form of government in modern times. They also valued poetry, drama, and
philosophy, which remain interesting fields of study for contemporary times.
The Greeks were known to place prime importance in the use of reason. For this civilization, man was at the center
of society and how they trained their minds could be the very foundation of how they lived their lives. The humanist ideals of
freedom were also reflected in their democratic form of government. The Greeks were notably passionate about natural
phenomena and believed that nature should be in perfect order. These principles, belief systems, and ideologies are the core
of Greek art and architecture.
The development of Greek art can be divided into four periods:
1. The geometric period was a time when Greece was starting to get back from the onslaught of what
seemed to be their Dark Ages. It was a period when geometric shapes and patterns have taken the
spotlight in most of the artworks.
2. The Archaic Period placed importance on the human figures. This was primarily a result of Greece’s
trading activities with other civilizations.
3. The Classical Period during this period was the peak of Greek sculpture and architecture. It was during
this time that the Greeks found themselves rebuilding their temples and focusing on creating artworks.
4. HELLENISTIC PERIOD was the time of Alexander the Great. Art was primarily focused on showcasing
emotions and depicting reality. Hellenistic sculptures started to emphasize balance while showcasing
dynamic poses and several emotions evoked by the subjects.

One of the famous Hellenistic sculptures is the “Lacoon and His Sons”. It depicts Lacoon, a Trojan priest, and his sons being
strangled by serpents. Their position was a result of Lacoon’s instruction during the Trojan War. He instructed to keep the
gates of Troy locked up because he felt that the wooden horse offered by the Greeks as a gift for Athena was a trick.
Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea was enraged by such action which led him to send serpents to strangle Lacoon and
his sons.
Lacoon and his sons
The origin of theater and drama can be traced back to the Greek civilization. The followers of Dionysus – the god of
fertility – started the Greek theater. People who were devoted to him would dance during ceremonies while giving their
offerings to him. Eventually, the Dionysians devised a more structured form of drama involving dances and choral songs,
which depicted Greek mythologies. Then, Greeks organized theatrical contests where the performances were held in front of
a large number of citizens.

ANCIENT ROME
The Roman Republic was established around 500 BCE. This civilization transformed into one of Western Europe’s
mightiest empires. Since they expanded and covered many territories, they interacted with neighboring civilizations,
particularly with the Greeks.
It can be said that Roman civilization came of age during the Hellenistic Period. It was a period when Greek culture’s
influence reached its peak in the Mediterranean world. The Romans were fond of the Greeks and their achievements in the
arts. The fusion of Greek and Roman cultures can be seen in most Roman artworks. The Romans produce artworks that are
often looked stern, harsh, and strong. They also invoked the principles of realism in most of their works, highlighting the
features of human beings. The Romans were also known to be master builders, which earned their reputation for grand
monuments and architectural infrastructures. One of their architectural achievements would have to be the Colosseum. This
amphitheater was planned and constructed during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. One of its main uses was for
entertainment purposes like public events and gladiator games. This structure was a concrete manifestation of Roman
builders’ craftsmanship which focused on logical organization of the entire edifice.

“Poseidon and Medusa” Just like the Greeks, the Romans valued their
gods and
this was evident with their sculptures and artworks.

Ancient Greece had a huge impact in the formation of Roman Culture. There are a lot of Greek influences evident in Roman
theater and drama. Writers of comedy like Platus and Terence have patterned their works to those of Greek works. Since the
Roman audience was not as enthusiastic about theatrical works unlike their Greek counterparts, most plays had to be
included in the Roman games.

MIDDLE AGES
The period between the decline of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. A period that is characterized by
ignorance and darkness. Another dominant characteristic of the period was that the Church was the central figure and
authority. Since the church was an important figure, the most important products of the early Middle Ages would have to be
copied of the Christian Scriptures. The printing press came later after this period, so copies of the scriptures were done by
hand. These copies were also done with illustrations and decorations that highlight the religious focus of the period. During
this time, great cathedrals were also built. These cathedrals can be categorized into two periods: Romanesque (1050-120),
inspired by the Roman Empire, and Gothic (1200-1500), which had a more northern flavor from the Goths-vulgar and
barbarian.

RENAISSANCE ART
In this period, artists valued the “individual” as a subject of art. The influence of humanism shifted to focus of some
artworks during this period to empower the “individual”. Most artworks emphasized naturalism, which was also an influence
of humanism since there was a great emphasis on the proportionality of the human body. Most artists also had the
perspective of depth wherein spaces were explored in different artworks. This technique provided a three-dimensional
perspective of most Renaissance paintings. Renaissance artists also gave importance to non-religious themes or subjects.
This was also brought about by the privatization of art during the Renaissance Period, however, most artworks remained
religious in their focus and theme.
Michelangelo “David”. This sculpture is an example of how humanism was a dominant belief system during the
Renaissance. There is an emphasis on the details of the body of the human being.

During the Renaissance Period, there was also a revival of Roman theatrical plays. These plays were performed during special
occasions at the courts of Italian princes. These plays were done in such a way that showcased grand and lavish
entertainment for the audience. Aside from the song and dance numbers, they invested in elaborate stage costumes for the
actors. This would lead to Italy’s opera, which greatly influenced their tradition of popular theater.

MANNERISM
This was a period in art history, which was a product of the Renaissance Period. As the Renaissance ended, artists
started directly copying subjects from existing works of art. Most artworks during this period displayed distorted figures,
two-dimensional spaces, discordant hues and colors, and a lack of defined focal points.
BAROQUE and the ROCOCO
The term “baroque” is derived from the Portuguese term barocco which is translated as “irregularly
shaped pearl”. This is a suitable description that Rome was the birthplace of the Baroque Period, which according to some
historians was a response to Protestantism. This period roughly spanned from 1600 to 1750. A lot of artists have developed
styles and techniques different from their Renaissance predecessors. Most artists used colorful palettes and ornamentation
in their works. This was a time when Italy in particular, strengthened not only their religion but also other aspects like politics
and art. Expansion was the central theme of this period, which became very much evident in the artworks produced during
this time. Motion and space were taken into consideration by artists like the use of dramatic lighting and the concept of time.
Aside from art, music also flourished during the Baroque Period. This is because people believed that music could
serve as a powerful tool to communicate messages that can evoke certain feelings among its listeners. Baroque music was
able to clearly distinguish loud from soft and solo from ensemble.

“The Assumption of the Virgin”, a painting by Titian located in Venice, Italy. The Biblical event in the
painting shows how the Baroque Period reverted to having religious subjects in their works.
NEOCLASSICISM
There seems to be a debate among historians as to the beginnings of modern art. Some accounts would attribute
for the emergence of this kind of art during the French Revolution in 1789. However, other historians claim that it was the
year 1863 when there was an emergence of modern painting exhibitions.
Neoclassicism was a movement in Europe that transpired in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It
was the dominant art movement that time which basically aimed to revive and rekindle the influences of Greek and Roman
into art and architecture. The ancient Greeks and Europeans had placed emphasis on human reason and keeping society in
order. These very principles were also the dominant principles during the Enlightenment Period. Some historians would also
say that this movement was a reaction to the artworks produced during the Baroque Period. There was a call to veer away
from such extravagance in terms of style and form of the Baroque Period.

ROMANTICISM
It is an art movement used the central themes of Neoclassicist artworks as a springboard. Romanticists have
highlighted heroic elements into their work. During the Age of Revolutions, there has been a tremendous focus on patriotic
and nationalistic movements. One of the major revolutions in history would be the French Revolution. Such revolutionary
movements became the focal point of most Romantic works.
The major and central themes of Romanticism movement include the emphasis on the goodness of mankind. Most
works also promoted justice, equality, and social order. Artists also emphasized emotions and feelings of man, which was a
deviation from the humanist principles of rationalism.

REALISM
It’s a style of work focuses on the accuracy of details that depicts and somehow mirrors reality. There is little room
for imagination in this movement since emphasis is placed in observable traits that can concretize through artworks. Realism
was heavily influenced by Hellenistic Greek culture since most artworks during that period emphasized the human body.

Realism as a modern movement in art veered away from traditional forms of art. In a way, it revolutionized themes and
techniques in paintings. In addition, this movement also expanded and widened existing notions of what can be considered
art. Since artists worked within the context of revolutions and social change, artistic works began to depict real-life events.
Idealistic concepts and images were replaced by real manifestations of society. There is a move to combine both art and life
in artistic works since the modern world was suitable for subjects of art. This movement also reexamined existing belief
systems and traditions.
IMPRESSIONISM
This movement started in France, which led to a break from the tradition in European painting. Impressionism is a
style of painting that emerged in the mid-to late 1800s. Impressionist artists incorporated scientific principles to achieve a
more distinct representation of color. The distinctive characteristic of this style is that it allows the artist to emphasize the
immediate impression he has of a particular event or scene. The said impression is communicated by the artist through his
work and can be seen through the brushstrokes, the distinction of colors, and the lights and shadows used by the artist.

Berthe Morisot, “The Harbor of Lorient” (1869). Impressionists started moving art outdoors which aimed to include the
shifting light they wanted to capture in their works. This work by Morisot is one of the first few “open-air” paintings under
the Impressionism movement.
POST-IMPRESSIONISM
It is an art movement that emerged in France, which is a result of both the influence and rejection of
Impressionism. Most artists that belong to this movement started as impressionists but later saw the inherent limitations
and flaws of impressionism. This eventually led to the development of an individual style that emphasized defining from with
the use of broken colors and short brush strokes.

NEO-IMPRESSIONISM
It is considered a response to the empirical realism of impressionism. Most painters who subscribe to such
movement rely on systematic and scientific techniques that have predetermined visual effects not only on the artwork itself
but also on how the audience perceives the art. The leading figure in neo-impressionism was Georges Seurat who recorded
optical sensations more scientifically. His color theories paved the way for the technique called pointillism. This art technique
utilizes discrete dots and dashes of pure color. These elements are believed to blend with the viewer’s perspective.

ART NOUVEAU
Between 1890 and 1910, countries from Europe and the United States witnessed the emergence and flourishing of a
new art style.

This ornamental style of art was a break from the conservative

historicism, which was the prevailing and dominant theme of most
Wester artworks. This ornamental style uses long and organic lines
that is concretely manifested in architecture, jewelry, and glass design.
In most works, the defining characteristic of Art Nouveau is the
asymmetrical line that usually is in the form of insect wings or flower
stalks. The line is done in such a graceful and elegant manner that
somehow evokes a certain power to it.

FAUVISM
This emerged in France around the turn of the twentieth century. What makes fauvists revolutionary is that they
used pure and vibrant colors by applying straight from the paint tubes directly to the canvas. This is done to produce a sense
of the explosion of colors on the canvas. The Fauves,
just like the impressionists, painted directly from nature.
The difference lies with how the Fauves have this
strong and expressive reaction to how they portray
their subjects. Most fauvists work to reject the
conser- vative and traditional renderings of three-dimensional
space. What artists did was they introduced and
promoted a picture space that is defined by the
movement of color.

CUBISM
Between 1907 and 1914, French artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque introduced a new visual art style called
cubism. This style would later on have a huge influence on artists, during the twentieth century. Cubists highlighted the
two-dimensional surface of the picture plane.
Focusing on a flat surface was a rejection of the
dominant techniques like the use of perspective,
foreshortening, and modeling. In addition, one of
the things that cubism rejected was that existing and
prevailing notion that art should imitate nature.
Cubists emphasized that they are not I any way
obliged to copy texture, form, color, and space. They
presented a new depiction of reality that may appear fragmented objects for viewers.

FUTURISM
It is an early twentieth century art movement that
 started in Italy, which highlighted the speed, energy,
dynamism, and power of machines. In addition, common
themes for works in this movement are restlessness and the
fast-pace of modern life. Later on, the movement’s influence
branched out not only in Europe but also in Russia. The
greatest impact of futurism is evident in poetry and visual arts.

ACTIVITY 1: Answer the questions in essay form.

1. Compare and contrast Greek and Roman artworks.
2. Give your insights on how Mannerism art became an offshoot of works from the Renaissance.
3. Why did Neoclassicism serve as a response or reaction to the Baroque Period?

ACTIVITY 2: Pretend that you are a commissioned artist and you are asked to create an artwork in any form and medium
depicting nationalism. Using the periods and art movements in Western Europe describe in words how you will execute
and create the artwork based on the period you chose.