A.

A-REV 1

LESSON 7: Art in Early

Civilization

 Stone Age is a term used to Mesolithic (Middle Stone

describe a period of history Age), and the Neolithic (New
when stones were used to Stone Age).
make tools for survival.
 The unearthing of
 The term “conjures an image archaeological artifacts and
of men and women dressed in remains provide modern
skins, huddling before a fire in society a glimpse of the
a cave” (Fitcher-Rathus,2013). beliefs, practices, and
 Though prehistoric humans activities of early civilizations.
would not necessarily possess
the compel rational  The motives and reasons
capabilities to tell their story behind the creation of ancient
through written records and materials such as sculptures,
accounts, some artifacts in the paintings, and architectural
form of cave paintings and structures may not be clearly
sculptures would serve as the defined.
“storytellers”.
 Nevertheless, the early
 In order to talk about people produced such
prehistoric art, there is a need materials that reflect their
to situate them within the attitudes and belief systems on
context of the three periods of spiritual, social, political, and
the Stone Age culture (which economic matters.
roughly span the 14,000-2,000
BCE): Paleolithic (the late
years of the Old Stone Age),

 It can be noted that works of
art and architecture were
created from a wide array of
materials from limestone to
precious gems and metals to
name a few.
 As the early humans started
to transition from being
nomads to permanent settlers,
their everyday activities also
had some changes, which is
evident through the materials
and even the works of art they
have created.
 Despite changes as a result
of adapting to their
environment, there are central
themes in their artworks.
 Most ancient artworks depict
religious symbols, a wide
array of organisms from nature
and activities of everyday life.
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PREHISTORIC ART
 The stone Age has witnessed
how humans were able to lead
more stable lives and
eventually come up with
permanent shelters and tools
for survival.
A. Paleolithic Art
 Caves became protective
havens for the early humans
and these caves paved the way
for the birth of their first
attempt to create art.
 Representations in caves,
painted or otherwise, include
few humans, but sometimes
human heads or genitalia
appear in isolation. Animal
figures always constitute the
majority of images in caves.
 Birds and fish were rarely
depicted. Geometric signs are
always numerous, though the
specific types vary based on
the time period in which the
cave was painted and the
cave’s location.
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 Most cave art consists of (e.g., the Maya caves in

paintings made with either red
or black pigment.
 Cave art is generally
considered to have a symbolic
or religious function,
sometimes both.
 The exact meanings of the
images remain unknown, but
some experts think they may
have been created within the
framework of shamanic beliefs
and practices.
Mexico, the so-called mud-
glyph caves in the
southeastern United States),
in Australia (Koonalda Cave,
South Australia), and
in Asia (the Kalimantan caves
in Borneo, Indonesia, with
many hand stencils).
 Art in the open, on shelters
or on rocks, is extremely
abundant all over the world
and generally belongs to much
later times.

One such practice involved

going into a deep cave for a
ceremony during which a
shaman would enter a trance
state and send his or her soul
into the other world to make
contact with the spirits and try
to obtain their benevolence.

Examples of paintings and

engravings in deep caves—
i.e., existing completely in the
dark—are rare outside Europe,
but they do exist in the
Americas

B. Mesolithic Art
The Mesolithic
Period, or Middle Stone Age,
is an archaeological term used
to describe specific groups of
cultures defined as falling
between the Paleolithic and
the Neolithic Periods.
 While the start and end dates
of the Mesolithic Period vary
by geographical region, we
can date it approximately from
10,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE.
 Art from this period
responds to the changing
weather conditions to a
warmer climate and adaptation
to relatively sedentary
lifestyles, population size, and
use of plant foods—all
evidence of the transition to
agriculture and eventually the
Neolithic.
 Mesolithic rock art moves
from caves to outdoor sites
such as vertical cliffs or sheer
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faces of natural rock, often
protected from the elements by
outcroppings or
overhangs. The human figure
is frequently the main theme
in painted scenes. When it
appears in the same scene as
animals, the human figure runs
towards them.
 Hunting scenes are the most
common, but there are also
scenes of battle and dancing,
and possibly agricultural tasks
and managing domesticated
animals.
 These Mesolithic rock arts
have been discovered in
numerous locations across
Spain, Asia, Africa,
Australasia and the
Americas.
C. Neolithic Art
 In Prehistoric art, the term
"Neolithic art" describes all
arts and crafts created by
societies who had abandoned
the semi-nomadic lifestyle of
hunting and gathering food in

favour of farming and animal
husbandry.
 It has developed especially
when life for the early humans
has become more stable.
 By 4000 BCE, there were
several monument and
architectural structures
erected.
 Neolithic sculpture became
bigger, in part, because people
didn’t have to carry it around
anymore; pottery became
more widespread and was used
to store food harvested from
farms.
 Alcohol was first produced
during this period and
architecture, as well as its
interior and exterior
decoration, first appears. In
short, people settled down and
began to live in one place,
year after year.
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Stonehenge (Southern
England)
EGYPTIAN ART
 Fertile Ribbon starts from
the banks of the Nile River
(length- 6650km), which flows
north to Africa and ventures
into the Mediterranean.
 It is in this very ribbon
where early Egyptians
recognized the integral role of
the Nile River to their daily
lives.
 It is this indispensability
and utility that eventually led
to the belief that the Nile is to
be worshipped as a god. With
this came the notion that art
was something that can be
ascribed and associated with
religion.
Three Periods of Egyptian
Civilization:

1. Old Kingdom
 It was evident that religion
was bound to the afterlife.
Tombs are used for keeping
the dead bodies of important
people particularly
PHARAOHS and served as a
shelter for the next journey.
 Tombs are decorated with
everyday objects that would
reflect day-to-day activities as
if the afterlife is a mere
continuation of what
transpired on earth.
 One of the cosmetic palettes
found in Egypt was called
NARMER PALETTE. It was
a palette that utilized and
applied dark colors around
King Narmer’s eyes. It
symbolizes the unification of
Upper and Lower Egypt
 During the Old Kingdom,
one of the architectural
wonders was also constructed.
The pyramids in Giza served
as tombs since their main
purpose was to provide resting
place for the Pharaohs.
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 The pyramids are massive in
size and were constructed
using roughly more than two
million limestone blocks. The
construction of the pyramids
highlighted the ingenuity and
advancement of the Egyptians
for their time.
 They used wooden rollers to
move the stones from the
plateau to construction site.
Stonecutters on the site carved
the blocks in a fine way before
stacking them.
 The stacking process also
showed the advancement of
the Egyptians since they
already used a system of ropes
and pulleys.
 The construction of the
pyramids did not only show
the brilliance of the early
Egyptians but it also
highlighted the reverence of
the people to their pharaoh at
the expense of the citizens.
 They also ensured that the
insides of the pyramids would
celebrate the life of their
pharaoh by lavishly decorating

them. However, it posed as a
problem since thieves usually
plundered the valuable objects
used to decorate the inside of
the pyramids.
2. Middle Kingdom
 Shift in the Political
Hierarchy – one of the
key features of the
Middle Kingdom.
 The most striking aspect
of Middle Kingdom art,
however, is the subject
matter.
 Common people, instead
of nobility, feature more
often in art from this
period than any other.
PORTRAIT SCULPTURES
AND FRESCO PAINTINGS
 are freely drawn are some of
the styles that emerged during
this period.
To solve the problem on
thieves, the Egyptians made
rock-cut tombs by carving out
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a living rock. The inside of the
tombs where still filled with
chamber and the hallways
were lavishly decorated to
celebrate the life of the
deceased.
Egypt was not immune from
foreign invaders and
eventually fell into the hands
of the Hyksos.
This Asiatic tribe introduced
bronzed aged weapons and
horses to the Egyptians.
3. New Kingdom
 It was a time of
expansionism through
territorial acquisition. The art
of the New Kingdom had
references from both of the
preceding kingdoms.
Monuments and sculptures
were still linked with death
and reverence for the
deceased.
 Egypt has established itself
as a more advanced and
powerful civilization. Their
high regard for the people can
be seen through their

sculptures built on massive
and monumental scales.
MORTUARY TEMPLES
 have emerged in New
Kingdom. These temples
which were carved out of
living rocks, served not only a
sanctuary for the dead but also
a place of worship for the
living.
Most sculptures during this
period had curving lines and
full-bodied forms.
 There is emphasis to life-like
features of the face like an
elongated jaw and thick-lidded
eyes.
 Most artists created artworks
that are natural and seemingly
real, highlighting the features
of their subjects. Naturalism
was not only used to depict the
pharaoh but also was used for
members of the royal family.
 The bust of Queen Nefertiti
has a long and sensuous neck.
 Probably one of the greatest
discoveries from the Egyptian
8
civilization was the tomb of
Tutankhamen. He became
king at a very young age and
died at the age of eighteen.
Howard Carter discovered
his tomb in 1922.
 It was a gold artwork and the
coffin was made out of solid
gold.
Summary
 During the Prehistoric
period, the early humans had
transitioned from a nomadic
lifestyle to that of a more
permanent one, which led to
early civilizations.
 Some of the works
discovered from this period
would give modern society a
glimpse of what was life
during that period.
 Through these unearthed and
discovered artworks, the
modern world could have a
better understanding of the

past and how it can affect the
present.
LESSON 8: Art in Emerging
Europe
BAROQUE PERIOD
Baroque art, derived from the
Portuguese word "barocco, "
meaning irregular pearl or
stone, originated in Rome
during the 17th century to
18th century. It reflects
religious conflicts of the age,
particularly the Catholic
Church's response to the
Protestant Reformation.
ANCIENT ROME (500 B.C.
to 1453 A.D.)
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 Roman art began around 500
B.C. and ended at the fall of
Rome in 1453 A.D.
 Roman art was developed
largely because of the Roman
empire, during the time of
Romulus to Emperor
Constantine.
 Roman art often depicted
Roman mythology because of
their belief in the power of
gods, artists also illustrated
Roman emperors particularly
in sculpture.
The Greeks were a great
influence in Roman sculpture.
But Roman portraiture showed
the skills originality of the
Romans by portraying their
emperors, generals and
senators with a degree of
realism unknown to the
Greeks.
Great Roman Arts
 The Aqueduct of Segovia,
Spain
 Iconic dome of the Florence
Cathedral
 Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rom
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 The Colloseum in Rome, building sacred buildings, such

Italy as churches, which was the
primary structure signifying
Christian faith. The Roman
A. MEDIEVAL ART ( c. 450 basilica was the primary
C.E to 1400 C.E.) model of medieval
architecture.
 Medieval art covered almost Castles and walls are the most
notable examples of non-
ten centuries between the Sack
religious medieval
of Rome (c. 450 C.E.) and the
early Italian Renaissance architecture.
(1400 C.E.).
Romanesque Art
 In the beginning of the
Romanesque Architectural
medieval period, all work of
style flourished across the
art are commissioned by
western part of Europe with
religious authorities for
France as the center of
churches/monasteries.
production and innovation.
Prominent use of valuable
It took shape in the eleventh
materials such as gold, for
(11th) century, initially
objects in churches, jewelry,
developing in France then
mosaic backgrounds.
spreading to Spain, Germany,
Italy, and other regions.
Art historians generally
classify medieval art into the
Romanesque buildings were
following periods:
characterized by semi-circular
Early Medieval Art,
arches, thick stone walls,
Romanesque Art, and Gothic
sturdy pillars, barrel
Art
vaults,large towers, decorative
arcading, and durable
Early Medieval
construction.
Pre-Romanesque or
Early medieval architecture
Carolingian was the north
was predominantly related to
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European style of the Originated in the 12th century

Renaissance in the late 8 th and with the rebuilding of the
9th century during the reign of Abbey Church in Saint
Charlemagne Denis, France.

Ottonian architecture was the  Gothic architecture offered

later period of Romanesque,
developed under the reign of
Emperor Otto the Great (936-
975)
Sculpture were prevalent
during this time, where stone
was used to present biblical
subject matter and church
doctrines.
Other significant media are
stained glass and the tradition
of continued illuminated
manuscripts.
revolutionary structural
advancements such as ribbed
vaults, flying buttresses, and
decorative pinnacles all
contributing to taller and
lighter building design.
 Gothic architecture was
light, graceful and mostly
spacious in nature.
 Heavy piers were replaced
by slender ones while window
dimensions became larger as
vaults and spires increased in
height.

Christi illuminated  Gothic sculptures borrowed

manuscript motifs from the architecture of
the period since it was
primarily used to decorate
exteriors of cathedrals and
other religious buildings.

Characteristics of Medieval
Art

Gothic Art  Rich colors

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spaces, arches and lavish

 Heavily outlined decorations.

 Flat and stiff figures

showing no depth
 Religious icons
 Architecture is influenced by
Greek and Roman- Byzantine,
Romanesque and Gothic styles
emerged from this period.
 Mosaics replaced carved
decorations
 Large domes central to the
church
Types of Medieval Art
Illuminated Manuscripts
 these are religious texts
decorated with rich colors,
which often featured the use of
gold and silver.
The word “illuminated” comes
from the word illuminare,
meaning adorn.

Medieval Churches and Metalwork

Monasteries  metals with great luster,
 Romanesque structures such as gold, silver, and
featured pointed arches and bronze were frequently used as
heavy thick walls,small mediums in the creation of
windows like the Roman style. religious artifacts. Metal
A lot of sculptural decorations workers transform these
beautiful metals into objects of
 Gothic structures featured adornment for the church
pointed arches and have (sculptures jewelry, and
slender feel as if they soar church doors).
upward, large stained glass
windows filtered in light and Paintings
color.
 medieval painting includes
 Byzantine structures featured artwork in iconography, fresco
large domes that cover soaring and panel painting

Embroidery
 made of colored wool sewn
together to form a continuous
panel. Story of William the
Conqueror, the Norman
invasion of England and the
Battle of Hastings were
embroidered in a linen 20
inches high and 230 feet long,
“The Bayeux Tapestry”.
Ceramic Art
 done handmade and not
wheel-turned during the
medieval period.
Mosaics
 artful creation of pictures
with the use of broken pieces
of colored glass, rock, or any
other material.
Sculpture
 elongated style of statues
used in Romanesque art, a
more naturalistic style in the
late 12th and early 13th century.
Stained Glass
 stained glass art makes use
of fragmented pieces of glass
set to look like an image or a
picture, the pieces are joined
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together by strips of lead
supported by a hard durable
frame. It was displayed to the
windows of medieval
churches, cathedrals and
castles.
Heraldry
 was the art and custom of
creating coats of arms and
badges of the nobles
Famous Medieval Artists
 Donatello
Feast of Herod
 Leon Battista Alberti
Santa Maria Novelle
B. RENAISSANCE
( Rebirth) 14th to 17th
century
 The period in European
history, from the 14th to 17th
century, was considered the
link the middle ages and the
modern history. The term
“Renaissance” is from the
same French word, meaning
rebirth or revival. It began as a
cultural movement in Italy in
the late medieval period and
later spread to the rest of
Europe.

 The revival in classical
learning characterized by a
sharp increase in secular
values and increased interest
in learning the classics.
 Renaissance is reflected in
humanism. Humanism focused
on developing the full
potential of man. This
included not only the
traditional virtues of love and
honor but also virtues such as
judgement, prudence and
eloquence.
 Leonardo da Vinci, making
observational drawings of
anatomy and nature.
 The most important
development of the period was
not a specific discovery but
rather a process for discovery,
the scientific method.
Influential promoters of these
ideas include Copernicus and
Galileo.
Early Renaissance
 By 1500, because of the
rediscovery of the classical
world, the art of painting was
14
radically changed. The
Renaissance revived ancient
forms and content. The
spiritual content of painting
changed, and subjects from
Roman history and mythology
were borrowed.
 Devotional art became
classically humanized.
Classical artistic principles ,
harmony, proportion, realistic
expression and rational
postures were followed.
 Active artistic regions in
Europe during the period:
Flanders and Italy. Almost all
early Renaissance art were
produced between 1420 and
1550.
 Dome of Florence
Cathedral by Filippo
Brunelleschi
Expulsion from the Garden of
Eden by Masaccio
 Jacob and Esau relief,
Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo
Ghiberti
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 The Adoration of the Kings for ultimate truths in the study

by Hugo van der Goes
 The Birth of Venus by
Sandro boticelli
 The Nativity in the Lower
Church by Giotto di Bondone
of the classical world of Greek
and Roman culture.
Some of the best well-known
masterpieces of High
Renaissance:
 Genesis, Sistine Chapel
Frescoes by Michelangelo
 Virgin of the Rocks by
 Leonardo da Vinci
 Last Supper
 Mona Lisa
 Transfiguration

High Renaissance (c. 1490-

1530)

This was the period when

classical ideals of humanism
were fully implemented in
both painting and sculpture.
The preceding Early
Renaissance had been centered
on Florence and paid for by
the ruling Medici family while
the High Renaissance was
centered on Rome and paid for
by the Pontiff.

High Renaissance artists

wanted beauty and harmony
more than realism, they looked