EARLY CHRISTIAN

 Following the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, Roman Empire were made to divide into Western
and Eastern half. Early Christian comprise the west half.
 Early Christian art are also called Paleo-Christian art or primitive Christian art. The art of this period has
its root in the classical Roman style, but it developed into a more abstract, simplified artistic expression.
It’s ideal was not physical beauty but spiritual feeling. The human figures thus became types rather than
individuals and often had large, staring eyes, “the windows of the soul.” Symbols were frequently used,
and compositions were flat and hieratic, in order to concentrate on and clearly visualize the main idea.
 Characteristics of this period
‫ ﻩ‬themes are from the bible
‫ ﻩ‬few nudes
‫ ﻩ‬move away from realism toward symbolic form (more concerned in expressing religious thought or
idea)
‫ ﻩ‬found on frescoed walls of catacombs outside Rome
‫ ﻩ‬acceptance of the Christian religion created a need for new architecture – starting in the 4th century

Early Christian Painting

 Early Christian used the same artistic media as the surrounding pagan culture. These media included
mosaics and fresco wall painting.
 Some of the subject matter of these works was borrowed from pagan religions, such as the Virgin and
Child motif or the lion, lamb and bull scenes.
 First traces of Christian art can be seen in
the catacombs (ancient underground
cemetery). Catacombs are closed with
flagstones or ceramic tiles made with
inscriptions or symbols painted with a layer
of paint.
 Early Christians decorated their catacombs
with frescoes or paintings on fresh plaster.
These frescoes are very simple and
allegorical; not refined at all.
 In their paintings of people, early Christian
art showed little interest in the beauty,
Early Christian Mural Painting
grace and strength of the human body,
of the “Good Shepherd” from the
which were so important to Greek and The Catacomb
Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome
Roman artist. Spiritual expression took
precedence over physical beauty.

Mosaics
 Early Christians developed their own iconography (the holy images).
 To spread Christianity, building of churches throughout the empire
occurs and though these churches were very plain on the outside,
their interiors were bursting with colorful design in the form of
mosaics. Provided with these vast spaces, early Christian took the art
form of mosaic from the floor and spread in onto the ceilings and the
walls.
 Early Christians created mosaics of biblical narratives and symbolic The 5th-century “Good Shepherd” mosaic
awareness. Instead of natural stones, they used colored glass, at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia,
allowing them to create vibrant colors. Ravenna
Early Christian Sculpture
 Early Christians continued the ancient Roman traditions in portrait busts and sarcophagus reliefs, as well
as in smaller objects such as the consular diptych.
 Their sculptures were stylistically no longer correspond to the classical ideal of beauty but centers on
representation of the character in the Bible. Sculpture focused on the spiritual message of the piece or
the clarity of the narrative being told and not on the classical proportions of the figures or individual
expressions.
 Their sculpture is mostly carving and relief in marble, bronze, ivory and ceramic.
 Their sarcophagi (stone caskets) are the first
examples of Early Christian sculpture. A wide
variety of subjects are shown on sarcophagi, with
the most elaborate containing small cycles of
narrative scenes from the gospel.
 Early Christian sculpture avoided the life-sized
scale of their pagan predecessors and almost
completely avoided full statues or sculpture in
round. Instead, they used shallow relief sculpture
and depicted biblical scenes and Christian
allegory.
 Though the early Christians did not make use of
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus (marble) described
sculpture on occasion, they took special care to
as probably the single most famous piece of early
make sure that the sculpture was clearly part of
the decoration rather than an object of adoration. Christian relief sculpture.

Early Christian Architecture

 When the early Christians were able to find their churches
in public, they chose the high-style architectural classicism
of the Roman Empire. Their churches, modeled on Roman
basilicas, uses old columns which by various devices were
brought to a uniform height.
 Early Christians architecture are seen in Basilicas, which
had a central nave with one aisle at each side and an apse
at one end. The transept was added to give the building a
cruciform shape.
 Early Christian architecture consisted of two building types:
the Christian Basilica, a rectangular building with an apse
for the altar at one end, and as far as the form is concerned,
based on the straight line, interpreted as path; and the
martyrium, a circular building, interpreted as center.
Santa Sabina Church

MEDIEVAL ART
 Following the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, Western Europe became largely decentralized,
except for the centralizing power of the Catholic church. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe
saw a period of artistic backwardness, as the highly refined methods of art from the classical period were
forgotten.
  Characteristics:
‫ﻩ‬ focus on religious (Christian) themes
‫ﻩ‬ two dimensional, flat and stiff with no movement
‫ﻩ‬ disproportionate and little perspective; important figures are large
‫ﻩ‬ fully clothed, draped in deeply carved, stiff looking clothes
 Another dominant characteristic of the period was that church was the central figure and authority of the
period, hence the most important products of this period would have to be copied of the Christian
scriptures done by hand.
 During this time, great cathedrals were also built.
 Purpose: to teach religion to those that could not read and write
 Sub-divided into 3 periods: Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic

BYZANTINE ART
 Roman Empire were made to divide into Western and Eastern half. Along with the transfer of imperial
authority to Byzantium, went thousands of Roman and Greek painters and craftsmen, who proceeded to
create a new set of Eastern Christian images and icons known as Byzantine art.
 Exclusively concerned with Christian art, though derived from techniques and forms of Greek and
Egyptian art, this style spread to all corners of the Byzantine empire, where Orthodox Christian flourished.
 One of the clearest distinctions between Early Christian and Byzantine art is the insidious insertion of
imperial propaganda into religious images. Where the church in Rome (Early Christian) was a purely
religious body, the church in Constantinople (Byzantium) was bound tightly to the political structure of the
empire.
 The combination of religious and political authority gave the emperor unprecedented power over the art
and architecture of the Byzantine empire.
 Characteristics: retain Greek harmony, themes from bible, mosaics not very realistic
 Arts was commissioned solely by emperors and nobles.

Byzantine Painting
 Byzantine artist specialized in two-dimensional (2D)
painting, becoming masters of panel painting, including
miniatures – notably icons (holy images) which were
developed in the monasteries of the eastern church using
encaustic wax paint on portable wooden panels; and
manuscript illumination.
 Entirely concerned with religious expression; specifically,
with the translation of church theology into artistic terms.
Byzantine painting and mosaic works developed a particular
style of meaningful imagery (iconography) designed to
present complex theology in a very simple way. For example,
colors were used to express different ideas: gold for heaven;
Mosaic: The Court of Empress Theodora
blue for the color of human life.
 Byzantine art borders on abstraction as evidenced by its flatness and highly stylized depictions of figures
and landscapes.
 Began with mosaics decorating the walls and domes of churches as well as fresco paintings
‫ ﻩ‬Mosaic decoration was perfected as was the use of clerestory to bring light in from high windows.
Byzantine Sculpture

 Byzantine did not allow 3D artworks like statues or high reliefs, believing
they glorified the human aspect of the flesh rather than the divine nature
or spirit.
 Sculptures produced in this era are more on carved and relief.
 Dominant theme: religious, everyday life scenes and motifs from nature
 Animals were used as symbols while some had acrostic signs that
contained a great theological significance

The Barberini Diptych, an early

example of Byzantine Ivory work

Byzantine Architecture
 Has a lot in common with early Christian architecture.
 Byzantine architects created a totally spiritualized space. The
dome of heaven served as a point of departure. The
spiritualized space of the dome of heaven is reached only
after passing through some preparatory low and difficult
spaces, symbolizing the necessary persistent effort a
Christian must exert to reach his final destination.
 Byzantine architecture is exemplified by the 6 th century Hagia
Sophia, built in Constantinople and designed to conform to
the Greek cross with four equilateral arms, as opposed to the
Latin cross with only three equilateral arms. Haga Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey

ROMANESQUE ART
 Romanesque art refers to the art of Europe from the late 10th century to the rise of the Gothic style in the
13th century or later, depending on the region,
 The name Romanesque refers to the fusion of Roman, Carolingian, Ottonian, Byzantine and local
Germanic traditions that make up the mature style.
 The term “Romanesque’ was invented by the 19th century art historians to refer specifically to architecture
of the time period, which retained many basic features of Roman architectural style – most notably semi-
circular arches – but had distinctive regional characteristics.

Romanesque Architecture
 The economic boon of such travels(pilgrim) to cities led to rapid architectural developments, in which
cities vied for grander and grander churches.
 Combining features of Roman and Byzantine buildings and other local traditions, Romanesque
architecture is distinguished by massive quality, thick walls, round-headed arches, sturdy piers, groin
vaults, large towers, decorative arcades and symmetrical plans.
 Lofty stone vaulting replaced wooden roof; main church entrances became more monumental.
 Architects developed the ribbed vault, which allowed vaults to be lighter and higher, thus allowing for more
windows on the upper level of the structure.
  Architects developed the use of the tympanum, the arched area above the doors of the church to show
scenes that will set the mood upon entering the church.

Romanesque Church Interior of Romanesque Church Groin vaults

Romanesque Painting
 Much of the monumental painting of the Romanesque period covered
the interior walls of churches.
 Both painting and sculpture incorporated a broad range of subject
matter, reflecting the general revival of learning: contemporary
theological works, biblical events and the lives of saints were common
subjects.
 In illuminated manuscripts, the most lavishly decorated manuscripts of
the period were mostly bibles or psalters. More originality is seen, as
new scenes needed to be depicted. They used intensely saturated
primary colors.
 The art of the period was
characterized by a vigorous style
in both painting and sculpture. In Wall Painting Mosaic: Christ in
churches, painting continued to Majesty
follow Byzantine iconographic
models. Use of visual iconography for didactic purposes are
prevalent as most people outside of the monastic orders were
illiterate, complex religious scenes were used to guide and teach
the faithful of Christian doctrine.
 Pictorial compositions usually had little depths as they were limited
to the narrow spaces of historiated initials, column capitals and
church tympanums.
Illuminated Manuscript: The  Figures often varied in size in relation to their importance and
Morgan Leaf Scenes from the Life landscape background were absent.
of David  Human forms were often elongated and contorted to fit the shape
provided and at times appeared to be floating in space.

Romanesque Sculpture
 Most Romanesque sculpture is pictorial and biblical in subject. A great variety of themes are found on
building capitals, columns and around the massive doors of churches.
  The tympanums of important church portals were carved with monumental schemes often depicting
iconography from Byzantine painting but treated with more freedom than in painted versions.
‫ ﻩ‬tympanum – a triangular space between the
sides of a pediment; the space within an arch
and above a lintel or a subordinate arch,
spanning the opening below the arch

 Decorative architectural
sculpture flourished on the Tympanum
facades of the churches. These portal sculptures were
meant to both intimidate and educate the viewer.
 Sophisticated precious objects in metalwork, ivories and enamels held high status in the Romanesque
period.
 Some of the famous sculptural pieces are reliquaries, altar frontals, crucifixes and devotional images.
Small individual works of art were generally for royal and aristocratic patrons. These lightweight devotional
images were usually carried in the processions both inside and outside the churches.

GOTHIC ART
 Gothic art started in France in the 12th century when Abbot Suger completed the first Gothic church at the
Abbey of St. Dennis. From Northern France, it spread throughout Europe where different regional styles
were adopted.
 For the first time, we actually have names for most of the artist of this age – like Cimabue, Duccio, Giotto,
the Lorenzetti brothers and Gentile Da Fabriano.
 Two trends developing in Italian Gothic art:
‫ ﻩ‬increasingly realistic figures
‫ ﻩ‬the use of perspective in painting
 Generally, art during this period move toward realism in both figures and decorations
 The most expressive medium for the Gothic style is architecture, specifically Cathedrals.

Gothic Architecture
 Ratios became essential to French Gothic cathedrals because
they expressed the perfection of the universe created by God.
 Gothic architecture exploited a number of technical advances in
pointed arches to cross-ribbed vaults to flying buttresses and
soaring ceilings, thin towering walls and stained-glass windows,
all of these techniques allowed Gothic architecture to awe, inspire
and educate the masses.
 Gothic cathedrals were characterized by lighter construction and
large windows. The pointed arch was the defining architectural
feature of Gothic construction.
 Gothic cathedral was seen by architects as representing the
universe in miniature. Almost every feature was designed to
convey a theological message: the awesome glory of God and
the ordered nature of his universe.
 Notre Dame Cathedral Cross-ribbed vault

Gothic Painting
 Murals, frescoes and mosaics fell out of fashion. Exception on this is
Italy where the huge windows of the gothic style never really achieved
the central decorative role assigned to them. Instead, murals, frescoes
and other forms of painting remained an important form of church
decoration in Italy.
 In the Gothic age, stained glass windows became the main form of
inferior church decoration. Gothic glaziers wrote the stories of the Bible,
not in words but in lights.
 These stained-glass windows were the multimedia stories of their day.
Stained glass windows offered illiterate Christians a glorious glimpse
into the tales of the Bible.
 Gothic stained-glass windows are identified by their massive size as
well as their shape (the tall window with the pointed arch and the round North rose stained-glass window
rose window) at Notre Dame Cathedral
 Abbot Suger adopted the idea that light equates to God. He wrote that he placed pictures in the glass to
replace wall paintings and talked about them as educational devices. The windows were instructional in
theology during the gothic era, and the light itself was a metaphor for the presence of God.

illuminated manuscripts also provide excellent examples of Gothic painting.

Manuscript is a prayer book known as the book of the hours became
increasingly popular during the Gothic age and was treated as a luxury item.

French Manuscript Illumination:

The Shepherd David

Gothic Sculpture
 Most sculptures were made in conjunction with church architecture. Sculptors began coating Gothic
cathedrals with decorative sculpture. It has greater freedom of style and no longer lay closely against wall
but begun to project outward. We begin to see the first step toward full sculpture in the round that stand
on their own two feet.
 Figures were given their own particular attitude instead of being set into particular patterns. Sculpture
during this time are livelier and more realistic.
  Gothic statues of human figure were given a natural and life-look, both in bodies and facial expressions.
They wore garments to give the impression of real bodies.
 Trends developing in Gothic sculpture:
‫ ﻩ‬the wild movement of Romanesque sculpture is replaced with geometric harmony and symmetry
‫ ﻩ‬accompanied by an increased sense of realism (move away from massive frontal poses to more
typical or everyday poses that tender human emotion

Annunciation and Visitation (left) Resurrection of the Virgin

found on the west portal of Reims
Cathedral

RENAISSANCE ART
 The term “Renaissance” refers to the rebirth of Greek and Roman culture and arts. It is an art movement
originated in Italy in the 15th century.
‫ ﻩ‬Florence was a cultural leader in the Renaissance period.
 Artist during this period gained prestige and became celebrities.
‫ ﻩ‬Patrons financed and protected artist. Patrons commissioned artwork and decided the themes.
‫ ﻩ‬Kings and Popes and Medici Family in Florence were the most famous and wealthy patrons of the
Renaissance.
‫ ﻩ‬Leonardo da Vinci – the ultimate Renaissance man
 Artist were allowed greater flexibility in what they were to produce, and they took advantage of it by
exploring new themes and techniques.
 Characteristics
‫ ﻩ‬Classicism – artist, architects and sculptors studied the art of
Ancient Greece and Rome and incorporated elements of these
civilizations.
‫ ﻩ‬Humanism– emergence of the individual figures and faith in the
nobility of man
‫ ﻩ‬Realism and naturalism – one of the big changes in art was
to paint and sculpt subjects realistically. This is called realism
and involves a number of techniques that make the subjects
and background look like they would in real life.
They studied human anatomy, measuring proportions and
seeking the ideal human form. People looked solid and
displayed real emotions, allowing the viewer to connect with
what the depicted persons where thinking and feeling.
Showing realism in art
  Vitruvian man – it depicts the ideal human proportions. Vitruvius described the human
figure as being the principal source of proportion. Vitruvius determined that the ideal
body should be eight heads high

Renaissance art is often divided into three periods:

Early Renaissance. Artist learned by trying to emulate classical artists focusing on
symmetry and creating the perfect form. This era featured such artists as Giotto,
Masaccio and Donatello.
Vitruvian Man High Renaissance. A rising interest in perspective and space gave the art even
more realism. Great artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Rafael
flourished during this period.
Mannerism Period (to be discussed later on)

Renaissance Painting
 Subject:
‫ ﻩ‬Renaissance artists continued to paint religious paintings but they also branched out to other subjects
including Greek and Roman mythology, historical subjects and portraits of individuals. They also
focused on the details of everyday life.
‫ ﻩ‬Painters took an increasing interest in the representation of the visible world instead of being confined
to that exclusive concern with the spirituality of religion that could only be given visual form in symbols
and rigid conventions.
 Mediums:
‫ ﻩ‬Moved from frescoes to easel or detached painting on canvas. Although painting on canvases become
prominent during the Renaissance, some artist, especially ones from the early Renaissance continued
to paint on polyptychs (wooden panels with folding wings mainly to serve as altarpieces in churches)
as was the custom during the medieval area.
‫ ﻩ‬The art of oil painting was mastered. They began using oil paints in preference to tempera or fresco
due to climatic and other reasons.
 Techniques. Many new techniques were introduced during the Renaissance. These techniques helped
to enhance the quality and realism of the art.
‫ ﻩ‬Development of perspective - drawing or painting a
picture such that it looks like there are 3 dimensions.
It gives the illusion that some objects in the painting
are further away than others.
‫ ﻩ‬Foreshortening - object is visually compressed to give
the illusion of depth
‫ ﻩ‬Quadratura - an illusionistic mural painting in which
images of architectural features are painted onto
walls and ceilings so that they seem to extend the real
use of perspective architecture of the room into an imaginary space
beyond the confines of the actual wall or ceiling. use of foreshortening
‫ﻩ‬ Use of light and dark - many artists started using light
and shadows in their works to add drama, perspective
and timing to their art.
‫ﻩ‬ Balance and proportion - drawing subjects such that
they are the correct size when compared to each other.
‫ﻩ‬ Sfumato - oil painting technique of blurring the lines
between subjects.
‫ ﻩ‬Paintings in a tando format (circular painting).
use of Quadratura use of stumato
 Renaissance Sculpture
 Themes and Subjects:
‫ ﻩ‬Subjects for ecclesiastical works nearly always came from the Old and New Testament of the Bible.
‫ ﻩ‬Themes for non-church sculpture features scenes from classical mythology and portraits of or motifs
connected with the patron concerned.
‫ ﻩ‬Reflected the primary of human figure, notably the male nude.
 Mediums:
‫ ﻩ‬Bronze was given more important role, being employed first for reliefs, then for statues or busts. It was
a popular medium for sculptors because of its ductility and durability and also because of its brilliance
when gilded.
‫ ﻩ‬Italian artists turned to marble, which allowed them a degree of subtlety and expressiveness that was
not possible with other materials.
‫ ﻩ‬Terra cotta was also used in place of marble because it was more affordable.
 Techniques:
‫ ﻩ‬Renaissance sculptor’s technique were by and large
the same as those used by Greek and Roman
sculptors but the ethos of the Renaissance was far
more pictorial. Great attention was paid to
perspective, the use of multiple planes and
gradations of relief.
‫ ﻩ‬Increasing naturalism in Renaissance sculpture in
which human and animal figures were depicted with
starting life-likeness
Pietta

Renaissance Architecture
 Architects began to look back to the Romans and Greeks for inspiration
when designing buildings. Much of Renaissance architectural style was
taken from Ancient Rome and Greece and then altered to fit their current
lifestyle. Filippo Brunelleschi considered the first Renaissance architect.
 Renaissance architecture creates a feeling of serenity and order through
uncluttered lines, balance and symmetry. Its features are as follows:
‫ ﻩ‬Square – many buildings were built as square or rectangle
symmetrical shapes
‫ ﻩ‬Front – the front or facade of the buildings were generally
symmetrical around the vertical axis
‫ ﻩ‬Columns – they used Roman type Cathedral of Pienza. This
columns specifically the order. Cathedral demonstrates one of the first
true Renaissance facade
‫ ﻩ‬Arches and Domes – semi-circular and
round arches, tunnel vault and domes became popular again. Dome is
used frequently in this period both as a very large structural feature that is
visible from the exterior and also as a means of roofing smaller spaces
where they are only visible internally.
‫ ﻩ‬Ceilings – the ceilings of buildings were generally flat unlike with Middle ages
ceilings which are often left open.

Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica – ‫ ﻩ‬Simplicity – abandoned the complex aspects of Gothic art
often cited as a foundational piece of
Renaissance Architecture
MANNERISM ART

 High Renaissance painting evolved into Mannerism. Mannerist artists,

who consciously rebelled against the principles of High Renaissance,
tended to represent elongated figures in illogical spaces.
 Most artworks during this period displayed lack of clear perspective,
highly stylized poses, elongated proportions, two-dimensional spaces,
discordant hues and colors and lack of defined focal point. Most artworks
have a witty intellectual quality.
 Mannerist artists often based their depictions of human bodies in
reference to sculpture and prints. Thus, allowed Mannerist artists to focus
on creating dimensions.
Madonna with the Long Neck

Mannerist Architecture
 Characterized by visual trickery and unexpected elements that challenged the Renaissance norms
 Architects experimented with using architectural forms to emphasize solid and spatial relationships.

The Town Hall in Zamosc, Poland The Vieeshal In Haarlem, Netherlands

POST - RENAISSANCE ART

 The cultural rebirth that occurred in Europe from roughly the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries.
This is sub-divided into 4 periods: Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

BAROQUE ART
 The term “baroque” is derived from the Portuguese term baroco which is translated as “irregularly shaped
pearl”.
 To appeal and compete with Protestant churches for worshippers following the Protestant Reformation,
the Catholic Church sponsored the creation of impressive religious art and architecture known as Baroque
movement.
 Baroque arts are characterized by rich color, Christian themes, intense shadowing, and highly dramatic
scenes that are heavily foreshortened.
 The appeal of Baroque style was visceral appeal aimed at the senses. It employed an iconography that
was direct, obvious and theatrical.
 Arts were full of drama and movement.
‫ ﻩ‬Motion and space were taken into consideration by artists like the use of dramatic lightning and the
concept of time.
 ‫ ﻩ‬Exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance and
grandeur in sculpture, painting and architecture.

Baroque Painting
 The Baroque style started with catholic Church. The church wanted its religious paintings to become more
emotional and dramatic. This type of style spread to where much of the art of the time became very
dramatic, full of life and movement and emotional.
 There was generally action and movement and color were often monochromatic with variations in the
saturation and value of one color.
 Subject: religious painting, history painting, allegories and portraits were still considered as the most
notable subjects. Landscape, still life and genre scenes rapidly gained notoriety.
 Medium: Fresco painted on the ceiling of church or in canvas
 Techniques:
‫ﻩ‬ Still uses perspectives and foreshortening techniques to heightened drama
‫ﻩ‬ Line was diffused – one form melts into another
‫ﻩ‬ Favored open form – action implied beyond the visible limits of the canvas.
‫ﻩ‬ Use of chiaroscuro technique – refers to the interplay of light and dark and is often used in paintings
of dimly lit scenes to produce a very high contrast, dramatic atmosphere.
‫ ﻩ‬Painterly brushstrokes, recession of the plane, open form, unity, unclearness of subject

The entry of St. Ignatius into Heaven by Andrea Pozzo. The

drama is heightened by the amazing illusion of perspective. The
ceiling is actually flat, but Pozzo uses the drawing technique of
foreshortening to make it appear as if the walls of the church
continue to rise until the opening at the top of the sky.

Calling of St. Matthew by Caravaggio. Movement is shown in

the pointing of Jesus hand as well as the turning of the men at
the table towards of Jesus. The real mastery of this painting is
the lightning. A bright line comes from the background and
shines on Matthew. The lightning gives the painting drama and
emotion.

Baroque Sculpture
 Sculptors now are taking the ideas of the Renaissance artists and running wild with them. The resulting
works of art are almost exclusively in the round, very dramatic and dynamic.
 Baroque sculptures were often made of rich materials such as colorful marble, bronze or even gilded with
gold.
‫ ﻩ‬Many artists felt free to combine different materials within a single work and often used one material
to stimulate another.
  More action, expressiveness and individuality than Renaissance sculpture
 Many works of Baroque sculpture are set within elaborate architectural settings, and they often seem to
be spilling out of their assigned niches or floating upward toward heaven.
 Features:
‫ ﻩ‬the use of more than one block of marble, thus allowing a large array of gestures
‫ ﻩ‬the treatment of drapery, which does not fall in an ordinary way, but is moved by a sort of wind
‫ ﻩ‬the use of variegated/colored marble or of different marbles

Apollo and Daphne (left) and

Ecstasy of Saint Teresa (right) by
Gian Lorenzo Bernini – the undisputed
master of Baroque sculpture

Baroque Architecture
 Took the basic elements of Renaissance including
domes and colonnades and made them higher,
grander, more decorated and more dramatic.
 Baroque was characterized by complex shapes,
extravagant ornaments, opulent paintings and
bold contrast. Baroque architects added profuse
ornamentation, highly decorative and theatrical
style.
 The interior is often made with high ceiling
frescoes and effects were often achieved with the
use of quadratura or trompe-l’oeil painting
combined with sculpture. Clusters of sculpted
angels and painted figures crowd the ceilings.
 Chiaroscuro or use of strong contrast of darkness
and lights for dramatic effect
 Solomonic or twisted columns to give an
illusion of upward motion
 The external facade is often characterized by
a dramatic central projection.
 Emphasized symmetry of forms. The Baroque palace
 Was more serious, placing an emphasis on of Versailles in
religion, and was often characterized by France, an
Christian themes architectural style
lavished building with
irregular shapes and
extravagant
ornamentation
 ROCOCO ART
 The Rococo developed in the early part of the 18 th century in Paris, France as a reaction against the
grandeur, symmetry and strict regulations of the Baroque.
 Rococo style developed first in the decorative arts and interior design, and its influence later spread to
architecture, sculpture, theater design, painting and music. Rococo art was often used by nobles for
displaying their wealth.
 Rococo style is characterized by elaborate ornamentation, asymmetrical values, pastel color palette and
curved or serpentine lines.
 Love and Romance were considered to be better subjects than historical or religious subjects. Thus,
rococo art works often depict themes of love, classical myths, youth and playfulness
 Light-hearted depiction pf domestic life in the upper-class home, almost whimsical style

Rococo Painting
 Theme/ Subject
‫ ﻩ‬Placed emphasis on portraying the carefree life of the aristocracy
rather than on grand heroes.
‫ ﻩ‬Depicts the pursuit of pleasure and leisure time of the wealthy; playful,
decadence
‫ ﻩ‬Usually mundane or palace life scenes.
‫ ﻩ‬lighthearted and “frivolous” subject matter
‫ ﻩ‬youth and myths of love as well as portraits and idyllic landscapes
(nature). Landscapes were pastoral and often depicted the leisurely
outings of aristocratic couples
 Techniques
‫ ﻩ‬forms are often asymmetrical
‫ ﻩ‬heavy use of ornaments and curved or The Embarktion for Cythera by
serpentine lines (irregular lines and Jean-Antoine Watteau
contours)
‫ ﻩ‬subjects are painted with wispy brushstrokes
‫ ﻩ‬softness of paint application
 Medium
‫ ﻩ‬Canvas; murals; tapestries; wall and ceiling fresco
‫ ﻩ‬the use of gold and pastel-based pallete

The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard

Rococo Sculpture
 Rococo’s sculpture, being highly ornate and exquisite, designed
purely for ornamental purposes. This art appeared largely in furniture,
panels, vases and urns.
 Medium: makes use of very delicate porcelain instead of marble or
another heavy medium
 Themes: the prevalent themes echoed those of the other mediums,
with the display of classical themes, cherubs, love, playfulness and
nature.

Vertumnus and Pomone by Jean-

Baptiste Lemoyne
Rococo Architecture

Catherine Palace Interior of Catherine Palace Augustusburg and Falken Lust Palace

 Rococo architecture was a lighter, more graceful yet also more elaborate version of Baroque architecture,
which was ornate and austere.
 Was more secular and light-hearted.
 Builders constructed graceful white buildings with sweeping curves.
 Characterized by elegant decorative designs with scrolls, vines, shell-shapes and geometric patterns.
 Rococo architecture has its emphasis on asymmetry, bright colors and ornamentation.

NEOCLASSICISM
 Neoclassicism was a movement in Europe that transpired during the late 18 th and early 19th centuries. It
arose from first-hand observation and reproduction of antique works.
 It was developed as a reaction against Rococo. Artist believed that their art should serve a higher purpose
rather than to entertain aristocrats. They believed that art should educate people about virtue and a higher
moral purpose.
 Emphasis on human reason and keeping society in order were the dominant principles during this period.
 Has the precepts of order, calm, harmony, balance, idealization and rationality
 Neoclassicism is defined stylistically by its use of straight lines, minimal use of color, simplicity of form
and adherence to classical values and techniques.
‫ ﻩ‬Adopted many characteristics of Greek and Roman Classicism, which is evident in the poses of
figures, the types of paint and the drapery of fabrics.
 Intellectually, Neoclassicism was symptomatic of a desire to return to the perceived “purity” of the arts of
Rome. It was a dominant art movement during that time, which basically aimed to revive and rekindle the
influences of Greek and Roman into art and architecture

Neoclassical Paintings
 Themes and Subjects:
‫ ﻩ‬relates to either Greco-Roman history or other cultural attributes such as allegory and virtue
‫ ﻩ‬depiction of events from history, mythological scenes and the architecture and ruins of ancient Rome
‫ ﻩ‬contemporary settings and costumes
 Techniques:
‫ ﻩ‬use of straight lines, a smooth paint surface hiding brush work, the depiction of light, a minimal use of
color and the clear, crisp, definition of forms
‫ ﻩ‬brush strokes are smooth, barely visible; clarity of form; sober colors; shallow space; strong horizontal
and vertical that render subject matter timeless
 ‫ ﻩ‬figures look idealized and perfect; faces are often calm, without emotion
‫ ﻩ‬bodies are draped in togas, or in formal, elegant clothing or are nude

Oath of Horatii (left) and The Death of Marat (right) by Jacques-Louis Davil, oil on canvas

Neoclassical Sculpture
 A reaction against the frivolity of the
Rococo, Neoclassical sculpture depicts
serious subjects influenced by the ancient
Greek and Roman past.
 The subjects of Neoclassical sculpture
ranged from mythological figures to hero of
the past to major contemporary
personages.
 Capture its subject as either idealized or in
a more veristic manner (an ancient Roman
technique in which the subject is depicted
with warts and all realism)
 Neoclassical sculpture is defined by its
symmetry, rigidity, solidity, life-sized to
monumental scale and its serious subject
matter
Voltaire
Hebe  Sculptural bas-reliefs are flatter and tend to
be in framed in friezes, tablets or panels.

Neoclassical Architecture
 The Neoclassical architecture can be seen as a fusion of different elements from different periods of art.
It looks to the classical past of the Greco-Roman era, the Renaissance and classicized Baroque to convey
a new era bases on Enlightenment principles.
 The style was characterized by monumental structures, supported by columns of pillars and topped with
classical Renaissance domes. Employ innovations like layered cupolas, it lent added grandeur to palaces,
churches and other public structures.
 Neoclassical architecture emphasizes its planar qualities, rather than sculptural volumes. Projections and
recessions and their effects of light and shade are flatter.
 Neoclassical architecture has three main variations:
 Temple-style buildings emulate the style of ancient temples, such
as Paris Pantheon based on the Pantheon in Rome. Many temple
style buildings feature a peristyle (a continuous line of columns
around a building)

Pantheon

Palladian buildings are inspired by the villas of

the 16th century Italian Renaissance architect
Andrea Palladio who was himself inspired by
the buildings of ancient Greece and Rome

Robert Adam in Britain

Classical block building features a vast rectangular plan, with

a flat roof and an exterior rich in classical detail. The exterior
is divided into multiple levels, each of which features a
repeated classic pattern, often a series of arches or columns.
The overall impression of such a building is an enormous,
classically-decorated rectangular block.
Library of Sainte-Genevieve

ROMANTIC ART
 The Romanticism also known as the Romantic era lasted from about 1800 to the 1850’s. The Romanticism
movement originated as a revolt against the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution of Early
modern Europe.
 Romantic artists expressed a more personal response to life, relying more on their senses and emotions
rather than reason and intellect.
 Romantic works of art showed strong imagination and emotions, feelings and moods of all kinds including
spirituality, mystery and fervor.
 Celebrated nature as out of control
 Romanticism paintings appealed to the emotions of trepidation and awe, through nightmarish narratives
and awe-inspiring natural shots.
 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.

Romantic Painting
 Romanticist artist created paintings far dreamier and more imaginary and were often narratives. Narrative
or history painting was another important genre in Romanticism.
 Subject:
‫ ﻩ‬Varied widely including landscapes, religion, revolution and peaceful beauty.
 ‫ ﻩ‬Every art piece had a full detailed background of nature. Nature
– can be calm or stormy; emphasis on the expanse of sky
‫ ﻩ‬rural life, common people and exotic subjects
‫ ﻩ‬emphasis on the goodness of mankind and emotions – faces
show inner thoughts and emotions such as fear, anger, love and
hope
 Techniques:
‫ ﻩ‬unrefined outlines, unrestrained
brushstrokes and emphasis on color
over form
‫ ﻩ‬use of small, close strokes of
complementary colors to create
Liberty Leading the People
brilliance and vivid visual effect
‫ ﻩ‬visible brushstrokes which lend themselves to an energy and immediacy
to painting
‫ ﻩ‬Utilize modern painting supplies which allowed artists to create more work
easily and with more autonomy than ever before. Tubes of paint and
artificial pigments became available during this time.
Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog

Romantic Sculpture
 The Romantic period was short and works are rare, even more so in sculpture.
 Since marble does not easily lend itself to postures that one might associate with intense emotion,
sculpture in marble remained relatively untouched by the Romantic period. Instead, most of the work are
done using bronze.
 Romantic sculpture can be divided into works that concern human world and those that concern the
natural world

Theseus Slaying a Minotaur Hercules Sitting on a Bull Departure of Volunteers

(stone sculpture)

Romantic Architecture
 Romanticism in architecture is an umbrella term that covers many of the European 19 th century “revivalist”
and Eastern influenced styles. Neoclassical/Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Baroque Revival,
Romanesque Revival and Indo-Saracenic are some examples of architecture during this period.
 The Romantic movement in Europe would spark a widespread reuse of Gothic building styles
characterized by pointed arches, large windows, steep gables and heavy, detailed decoration.
 Romantic architecture emphasizes strong emotions as a source of aesthetic experience, putting new
stress on emotions such as fear, horror and wonder as experienced by a sublime of nature.
  Romantic-era architects used new building materials, like cast iron, to play with Gothic forms and
introduced exotic motifs inspired by Britain’s global empire.


Palace of Westminster Royal Pavilion

REALISM
 Realism, sometimes called naturalism, is an art period where artists tried to represent their subjects
truthfully and accurately. The movement was a reaction against Romanticism and the Industrial
Revolution and focused on everyday life, even the unpleasant parts of life.
 Realism as a style of work focuses on the accuracy of details that depicts and somehow mirrors reality.
There is a little room for imagination in this movement since emphasis is placed in observable traits that
can concretize through artworks. Idealistic concepts and images were replaced by real manifestations of
society. There is a move to combine both art and life in artistic works.
 Artist worked with the context of revolutions and social change; artistic works began to depict real-life
events. This movement also expanded and widened existing notions of what can be considered as an art.
 Realist artist were characterized by painting everyday people in ordinary situations, as well as being
audacious by painting explicit subject matter like prostitutes.
 Realism paintings were often en plein air, which means they were painted while outdoors.

Bonjour, Monsieur Courbet A Burial at Ornans