Western Classical Art

Traditions
From Ancient Art to Medieval Art Period
Ancient Art
refers to the many types of art produced by the advanced cultures of
ancient societies with some form of writing
Images, Symbols,
Supernatural Forces
--- these were but a few concerns of prehistoric
and ancient artists.
Ancient Art: Painting
Ancient Art: Painting

During Ancient Period, people were

preoccupied with protecting themselves
from intimidating or unknown forces.
Ancient Art: Painting

|| Pre-historic Art ||
-divided into three phases that corresponds to the cultural periods of Stone Age

1)Upper Paleolithic
2)Mesolithic
3)Neolithic
Ancient Art: Painting

PRE-HISTORIC ART

Hall of Bulls,
Lascaux (Dordogne), France
C 15 000 – 10 000 BC
Ancient Art: Painting

|| Ancient Egypt ||
Egyptian art was religious.

Three Aspects of Egyptian Art and Life:

1) their link to religion;
2) their link to death;
3) their ongoing use of strict conventionalism in the arts that
affords a sense of permanence.
Ancient Art: Painting

ANCIENT EGYPT

Sarcophagus of
Tutankhamen XVIII dynasty
1362 A.D. – 1253 BC
Ancient Art: Painting

|| Classical Greek Era ||

Greek art marked the beginning & set the
standard for much of the later art of the
West.

Four Periods of Greek Art:

1) Geometric
2) Archaic
3) Hellenistic
The common methods of Greek Painting
1. Fresco – water-based pigments on freshly applied plaster on a wall
surfaces
2. Encaustic – developed to use by Greek ship builders, used the hot
wax to fill the cracks of the ship
• FRESCO • ENCAUSTIC
Ancient Art: Painting

|| Romanesque Painting ||

Manuscript Illumination
Wall painting
Ancient Art: Painting

Romanesque Painting

Manuscript Illumination

“The Journey of Magi”

“Winchester Bible”
Ancient Art: Painting

Romanesque Painting

Wall Painting

“Apocalypse”
“Apse of Saint”
Ancient Art: Sculpture