ART HISTORY WESTERN

GROUP MEMBERS

Del Castillo Paldo

Llabres Magistrado
Orcine Tabarangao
Buenafe
Bernales
Dagarat Imperial
Llanza Panday
Valeras
OBJECTIVES

• Define Western Art

• Pre-Historic Period
• Anciet Egyptian Period
• Greek Period
• Medieval Period
• Renaissance Period
The term WESTERN ART largely describes the art of weste
rn Europe, but is also used as a general category for forms
of art that are now geographically widespread but have thei
r roots in Europe.
WESTERN ART CAN BE DIVIDED TO:

I. PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD
II. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PERIOD
III. GREEK PERIOD
IV. MEDIEVAL PERIOD
V. RENAISSANCE PERIOD
I. PRE HISTORIC PERIOD

DIVIDED INTO THREE PERIODS:

1. Stone age
1. Paleolithic ( c. 1,500,000 to 8000 B.C.) – Palaios & lithos
( Palaios means old and lithos means stone)
2. Mesolithic ( 8000 to 6000 B.C.) – mesos & lithos
( mesos means middle and lithos means stone)
3. Neolithic (c. 6000/4000 B.C. to c.3000 B.C.) – neos & lithos
( neos means new and lithos means stone)
2. Broze age ( characterized by the use of bronze)
3. Iron age ( characterized by use of iron or steel)
During neolithic period there was a new form of art that was created and that is MEGALITHIC ART

TYPES OF MEGALITHIC ART:

1. MENHIRS

• Came from two celtics words: MEN meaning “stone” and HIR
meaning “long”, are unhewn or slightly shaped single
stones( monoliths), usually standing upright in the ground
• Menhirs were used as a territory divider between communities.

2. DOLMENS
• Dolmens from the celtic word DOL meaning “table” and
MEN meaning “stone”, are chambers or enclosures
consisting of two or more vertical stones, much as legs
support a table.
• Dolmens were used as burial chambers or a collection these
of were used as underground tunnels.
3. CROMLECHS

• Cromlechs ( from the cetric word for “circular place”) are

megalithic structures in which group of menhirs form circles or
semi-circles.
• According to archeologists, the stonehenge was used as a sun
dial to determine time for it is stratigically located on one top
of a hill. Another theory was it was used as a communal place
where prehistoric people can conduct rituals.
TOOLS USED DURING THE STONE AGE PERIOD:

1. PEBBLE TOOL

• This tool contains a curved edge on the other

side, and a sharp edge on the other.

2. BIFACIAL TOOL

• It is a hand axe prehistoric stone tool

flake with two faces or two side.
3. FLAKE TOOL

• This hand tool are usually formed by crushing

off a small or large fragment then used as the
tool. It has multiple purposes, every side has
different levels of sharpness therefore it can
used in many ways.

4. BLADE TOOL

• Created by striking a long narrow flake from a

stone core. This procedure of cutting the stone
and creating the blade is called lithic reduction.
II. Ancient egyptian art
Example of an art piece under the ancient egyptian perod:

 PYRAMIDS are the monumental architectural expression of

an egyptian pharaoh’s power. It also serves as their burial
place and zone of passage into the afterlife. This was
originally made of mud brick and were faced with cut stone
 The shape of the egyptian pyramids is thought to represent
the primordial mouth from which egyptians believed that
the earth was created.

 BUST OF NEFERTITI was found on December 6, 1912 at

amarna by the german oriental company led by the
German archaeologist Ludwig Boardshard.
 Nefertiti became one of the most women of the ancient
world and she became an icon of feminine beauty even
her name nefertiti means the beauty one has come forth,
nefertiti was not only a queen consort of egypt she also
became a queen in her own right.
III. GREEK PERIOD

Example of greek period art:

 It is a red-figured pottery where a large

quantity of them were found at Kerch ( ancient
pantika paion) on the black sea coast of crimea.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF KERCH VASES:

Hydria – water container

Lekythos – a flask for storing and pouring oil
krater – a bowl for mixing wine and water
amphora – vessel for storing honey, olive oil, water, etc.
kylix – dringking cup
oenochoe – a jug for pouring wine
ARCHITECTURE:

PATHENON ( 438 B.C.)

 The pathenon is a former temple on the athenian

acropolis of greece, it was dedicated to the goddess
athena whom the people of athens consider their patron.
The construction began in 447 B.C. When the athenian
empire was at its peak of power it was completed in 438
B.C. Although the declaration of the building continued
until 432 B.C.
 Pathenon’s name is from the greek word parthenon
which refered to the unmarried women’s apartment in a
house
SCULPTURE:

Elgin marbles

 The elgin marbles also known as parthenon marbles

are collection of classical greek marble sculptures
made under the supervision of the architect and
sculpture fides and his assistants

 These statues or marvel sculpture were originally part

of the temple of parthenon and other building on the
acropolis of athens. These marbles are currently
housed in the british museum.
IV. MEDIEVAL ART

BYZANTINE (C. 330 – C. 1450)

• Byzantine art developed when Constatine the Great relocated the

capital of the Roman Empire to the Greek city of byzantium in
AD 330. Byzantium, later known as Constantinope.
• Byzantine art comprises the body of the christian greek artistic
production of the east roman( byzantine) empire, as well as the
nations and states that inherited culturally from the empire.
• The city of byzantium was a rich trade route. It was labeled as the
“ gateway of the world “ due to its location ( in between asia
and europe). During those times not only goods were traded. But
also ideas, art technique were one of them.
• Christianity became the official religion of the roman empire
after the conversion of constatine, and it was the duty of the
emperor to unite the faith across the empire by bringing various
heretic group into line and standardizing christian teaching.
V. RENAISSANCE ART ( 14 TH – 18 TH CENTURY)

Renaissance period marks the pinnacle of artistic development in western european art of th
e late 14th, 15th and early 16th centuries. The word Renaissance means rebirth – a rebirth o
f the classical ideas from Ancient Rome and Greece.

SOME FAMOUS RENAISSANCE ARTIST AND THEIR MASTERPIECES

DONATELLO ( 1386-1466)

• St mark – is a marble statue that stands approximately seven feet and nine
inches high and displayed in the museum of the Orsanmichele church,
Florence.
2. GIOTTO DI BONDONE( 1266-1337)

“Ognissanti madonna” ( 1310) – housed in the the

Uffizi Gallery of Florence, italy

“Stefaneschi triptych” ( 1320) – commissioned by Cardinal

Giacomo Gaetani Stefaneschi to serve as an altar piece for one
of the altar’s of Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is now at
the Pinacoteca Vaticana, Rome.
3. LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI ( 1404-1472)

“ Palazzo Rucellai “ ( 1451) – a palatial

fifteenth-century townhouse on Via della Nuova in
Florence, Italy.

4. GIOVANNI CUMABUE ( 1240-1302)

The Santa Trinita Maestà is a panel painting by the Italian medieval

artist Cimabue, dating to c. 1290–1300. Originally painted for the
church of Santa Trinita, Florence, where it remained until 1471, it is
now housed in the Uffizi Gallery of Florence, Italy.
ART FROM PREHISTORY:
CAVE ART
Cave art, generally, the numerous paintings and engravings found in cav
es and shelters dating back to the Ice Age (Upper Paleolithic), roughly be
tween 40,000 and 14,000 years ago. ... The first painted cave acknowled
ged as being Paleolithic, meaning from the Stone Age, was Altamira in Sp
ain.
7 OLDEST PAINTING IN THE WORLD

1. ALTAMIRA CAVE
In northern Spain, discovered within the 19th
century, the Altamira Cave was the original ca
ve where prehistoric paintings were found. Pai
ntings were of such a high quality that scientif
ic society had doubts about their authenticity
and accused its discoverer of forgery.
2. SERRA DA CAPIVARA
In northeast Brazil, Serra da Capivara
National Park houses a number of roc
k shelters which are adorned with cav
e paintings. These paintings include s
ceneries of hunting and rituals, animal
capivaras, and trees. Some researcher
s think the oldest cave paintings insid
e the park were created 25,000 years
ago. However, it’s disputed by many g
eneticists, as it’d conflict the presently
accepted human settlement date withi
n the Americas.
3. LASCAUX PAINTINGS
The Lascaux Caves, given the nickname
“prehistoric Sistine Chapel”, are a cave co
mplex inside SW France adorned with the
most famous and impressive cave paintin
gs worldwide. These cave paintings are e
stimated to be around 17,000 years old. M
any of the paintings are located far away f
rom the entrance and have to have been
made with the help of candles. The most f
amous painting is Great Hall of the Bulls i
n which deer, horses, and bulls are displa
yed. One of its bulls is 17’ in length, the b
iggest animal found thus far in any cave.
4.BHIMBETKA
Bhimbetka, located in central India, con
tains more than 600 rock shelters ador
ned with prehistoric cave paintings. Mai
nly executed in white and red with an o
ccasional use of yellow and green, the
paintings generally depict the times an
d lives of those living in the caves. In s
ome caves, animals like tigers, bison, c
rocodiles, and lions are also seen. Its o
ldest paintings are considered to be aro
und 12,000 years old.
5. LAAS GAAL
Laas Gaal is a rock shelter and cave co
mplex inside northwestern Somalia cont
aining some of the earliest-known rock a
rt within the Horn of Africa and, in gener
al, the African continent. These prehistor
ic cave paintings are guessed to be from
11,000 to 5,000 years old. They depict c
ows in ceremonial robes that are accom
panied by a giraffe, domesticated dogs,
and humans. Cave paintings are well pr
eserved and retain their strong colors an
d clear outlines.
6. CUEVA DE LAS MANOS
In the Patagonian landscape of souther
n Argentina, Cueva de las Manos is a c
ave in an isolated region. It’ll take its re
ference from the stenciled outlines of h
ands of humans; however, there also ar
e several depictions of rheas, guanacos
, additional animals, and hunting scene
s. The majority of the human hands are
left hands, suggesting that painters held
spraying pipes using their right hand. T
hese paintings are believed to have bee
n made from 13,000 to 9,500 years ago.
7. MARGURA CAVE
In Bulgaria, the Magura Cave is amon
g the largest caves in the NW portion
of the country. Its cave walls are adorn
ed by prehistoric cave paintings that d
ate back around 8000 to 4000 years a
go. Over 700 drawings were discovere
d on its cave walls. They’re painted wit
h bat excrement and represent dancin
g and hunting people and various anim
als.
Materials and techniques i
n ancient Egyptian art
 A W I D E VA R I E T Y

Egyptian artists used a wide array of

materials, both local and imported, fro
m very early in their history. For instan
ce, already in the Predynastic period
we find figurines carved from lapis laz
uli—a lustrous blue stone that originat
es in what is now Afghanistan and indi
cates the early presence of robust trad
e routes.
STONE
Menkaure (Mycerinus) and Khamerern
ebty(?), graywacke, c. 2490-2472 B.C.
E. (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston)
 PAINTED STATUARY
Most statuary was painted; even stones selected for the symbolism of t
heir color were often painted. For instance, the exemplary statues of M
enkare, builder of the smallest of the three major pyramids at Giza, wer
e executed in dark schist (also called greywacke). This smooth black st
one is connected with Osiris, resurrected god of the dead who was ofte
n shown with black or green skin referring to the fertile silt and lush veg
etation of the Nile valley.
These images preserve traces of red paint on the king’s skin indicating that, whe
n completed and placed in his memorial temple near his pyramid, they would hav
e appeared lifelike in coloration. With time, the paint would have flaked away, rev
ealing the black stone underneath and explicitly linking the deceased king with th
e Lord of the Underworld.
WOOD
Egyptian artists also used a variety of w
oods in their work, including the native a
cacia, tamarisk, and sycamore fig as well
as fir, cedar, and other conifers imported
from Syria. Artisans excelled at puzzling
together small, irregular pieces of wood
and pegged them into place to create sta
tuary, coffins, boxes, and furniture.

Ceremonial gilded wooden shield from the

tomb of Tutakhamun. Egyptian Museum,
Cairo (New Kingdom). Photo: Amy Calvert
METALS
They also executed pieces in various metals
, including copper, copper alloys (such as br
onze), gold, and silver. Cult statues of gods
were made in gold and silver—materials ide
ntified by myth as their skin and bones—and
were often quite small. Very few metal statu
es survive because they were often melted
down and the material reused, although pre
served examples from the Old and Middle Ki Tutankhamun's lunar pectoral in the
Egyptian Museum, Cairo (New
ngdoms demonstrate that they were skilled
Kingdom). Photo: Amy Calvert
not only in sheet metal forming, but also pra
cticed complex casting.
RELIEF SCULPTURE
Relief was usually carved before being
painted. The two primary classes of rel
ief are raised relief (where the figures
stand up out from the surface) and sun
k relief (where the figures are cut into
and below the surface). The surface w
ould be smoothed with a layer of plast
er and then painted. If the surface wa
s not carved before painting, several l
ayers of mud plaster would be applied Painted raised relief in the Temple of Seti
to create a flat plane. I at Abydos (New Kingdom)
PIGMENTS

Most pigments in Egypt were derived from n

ative minerals. White was often made from
gypsum, black from carbon, reds and yellow
s from iron oxides, blue and green from azu
rite and malachite, and bright yellow (repres
enting gold) from orpiment. These minerals
were ground and then mixed with a plant or
animal based glue to make a medium able t
o attach to the walls. They could be applied
as a single plane, but were also layered to Iron oxide nodules, source of a range of red
create subtle effects and additional colors, pigments, Thebes

such as pink or grey.

ART FROM ANCIENT EG
YPT
• Ancient Egyptian art refers to art produced i
n ancient Egypt between the 6th  millennium
 BC and the 4th century AD, spanning from 
Prehistoric Egypt until the Christianization of
 Roman Egypt. It includes paintings, sculptu
res, drawings on papyrus, faience, jewelry, i
vories, architecture, and other art media. It i
s also very conservative: the art style chang
ed very little over time. Much of the survivin
g art comes from tombs and monuments, giv
ing more insight into the 
ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs.
Ancient Egyptian Art, Death and Unchanging Egypt

Much of the ancient Egyptian art that has made it to us today

was oriented towards death, the dead and the quest for the a
fterlife. The Egyptians believed that artistic renderings of ima
ges placed in tombs would become real and accompany the d
eceased to the afterlife. Some scholars say the Egyptian beli
ef in the afterlife is what helped ancient Egypt survive even a
fter the empire had died.
Ancient Egyptian Art, Death and Unchanging Egy
pt

While ancient Egyptian art is regarded as static there hav

e been some developments over time, with artists finding
s modes of expression within strict rules. While poses are
often the same, faces and expressions can be highly indi
vidualized. It can be argued that Christian art was equall
y static. There are many images of Jesus on the Cross wi
th individual works having their own modes of expression.
Ancient Egyptian Art, Death and Unchanging Egy
pt
Much of the ancient Egyptian art that has made it to us to
day was oriented towards death, the dead and the quest f
or the afterlife. The Egyptians believed that artistic rende
rings of images placed in tombs would become real and a
ccompany the deceased to the afterlife. Some scholars s
ay the Egyptian belief in the afterlife is what helped ancie
nt Egypt survive even after the empire had died
Individuality and Ordinary Life in Ancient Egyptia
n Art

Souren Melikian wrote in New York Times the remarkable

show “Haremhab, the General Who Became King” at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in the summer of 2011"which
zooms in on the time of Haremhab, the military chief who
wielded immense power before ruling as a pharaoh from
around 1316 to 1302 B.C.”dispels the long-held myth that
ancient Egypt was a culture solely concerned with timele
ss icons of gods
Individuality and Ordinary Life in Ancient Egypti
an Art

Among a few works serving as an introduction to Harem

hab’s lifetime, the small figure of a scribe, probably fro
m Saqqara in the area of ancient Memphis, is seen seat
ed cross-legged, holding a papyrus scroll unrolled on hi
s lap. The hieroglyphic inscription engraved on the scro
ll states his name, Nikare, and his title, scribe, one of t
he highest offices in the ancient Egyptian administratio
n.
Individuality and Ordinary Life in Ancient Egyptian
Art

About four centuries later, an artist carving scenes on the l

imestone walls of a funerary chamber in ancient Thebes, d
epicted another scribe with his reed brush stuck behind his
ear. A tiny fragment, 10.9 by 9.2 centimeters, or 4 5/16 by
3 5/8 inches, is preserved, showing part of the head in pro
file. Excavated by a Metropolitan Museum team around 19
11-12, it is believed to date from 2000 B.C., give or take 2
0 years. The tomb was that of a pharaoh’s vizir called Dagi
who may have employed the scribe. The man stares glumly
. His raised eyebrow suggests incredulity. If the sculptor m
eant to convey the shock of a man who has suddenly been
made aware of his mortality, he could not have done it bett
er.
Humor, Sarcasm and Prejudice in Ancient Egypti
an Art
A strong sarcastic strain comes out here and there, mos
tly in very small pieces,” Souren Melikian wrote in New
York Times. “The ancient Egyptians were not above expr
essing their dislike of foreigners. Warfare repeatedly pit
ched the pharaohs against the Semitic states of the Nea
r East. The unknown artist who engraved an ivory plaqu
e destined to adorn a piece of furniture clearly did not h
ave much sympathy for the Assyrians.A prisoner wearin
g the Assyrian princely attire is depicted raising his arm
s, tied around the wrists. He seems to be wriggling in a
curious quasi-dancing posture. The Assyrian’s goggle-e
yed stare makes him a figure of fun. [Source: Souren M
elikian
Humor, Sarcasm and Prejudice in Ancient Egypti
an Art

Relations between the ancient Egyptians and the Nubia

ns who lived south of their territory were not the best eit
her. A small limestone trial piece was dug up at Tell el-A
marna by William Flinders Petrie during his 1891-92 exc
avation campaign. The sculpture in sunken relief portray
s a man with curly hair and exaggerated protruding lips.
This is a caricature, definitely not meant to flatter the m
odel.
Humor, Sarcasm and Prejudice in Ancient Eg
yptian Art
The museum label dates the small plaque to the reig
ns of Akhenaten or Tutankhamun, adding that it is “r
eminiscent of the images of Nubians and West Asian
s found in Haremhab’s tomb at Saqqara.” At that tim
e Haremhab was still the commander of Tutankhamu
n’s army. Apparently, the dour general wasted no lov
e on his foes. This was an ethnocentric culture that t
ook an unfavorable view of outsiders.
Man
10 OF ROME'S ART MAST
ERPIECES
1. Raphael’s Frescoes
• Villa Farnesina is a suburban Renaissance villa t
hat is probably the most underrated museum in a
ll of Rome. It was built for Agostino Chigi, the tre
asurer of Pope Julius II, who commissioned Rap
hael (among others) to paint elaborate frescoes i
n the airy space. Raphael’s 16th century frescoe
s of Cupid and Psyche and the Triumph of Galat
ea adorn the ceiling of the loggia, or ground floo
r of the palazzo, and are the best known works i
n the villa. Raphael is recognized as one of the
most important artists of the High Renaissance p
eriod, alongside Michelangelo and Leonardo da
Vinci, and is celebrated for his harmonious comp
ositions and ability to portray noble figures with
ethereal grace.
. Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne
• This statue will make you rethink what is humanl
y possible for an art genius to create. This life-si
zed marble statue residing within Galleria Borgh
ese portrays Apollo clutching Daphne as she trie
s to escape him, precisely in the moment that he
r father begins her transformation into a laurel tr
ee to save her from his grasp. Her fingers transf
orming into leaves are breathtakingly beautiful a
nd demonstrate Bernini’s talent in spite of his yo
ung age (he was only 24 when he began to work
on this statue).Cardinal Scipione Borghese was
Bernini’s patron and commissioned him to create
multiple statues for his collection, housed within
Galleria Borghese.
 3. Sarcophagus of the Spouses

• This 6th century B.C. terracotta Etruscan sa

rcophagus is one of the greatest artifacts to
remain of the ancient civilization that prece
ded the Romans. Located within the Nationa
l Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia, this piece
depicts a married couple reclining at a banq
uet together. Because the two figures are of
equal proportion and pose, it also suggests
that the Etruscan culture was quite egalitari
an in terms of gender. The Etruscans were s
trongly focused on the afterlife and sought t
o ensure that the deceased were comfortabl
e in their resting places, creating ornate pai
nted tombs (such as in Tarquinia) and elabo
rate sarcophagi.
4. Caravaggio’s Paintings in the Contarelli Chapel
• Caravaggio is one of the most celebrated Baro
que painters in Italian history; he was a radical
innovator that painted dramatic scenes and ex
pertly employed the chiaroscuro technique, str
ongly contrasting light and dark to create multi
dimensional works of art with a strong base in
naturalism. His masterpieces are dotted aroun
d Rome, but the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi
dei Francesi Church is notable because it feat
ures three Caravaggio paintings together (a ja
ckpot for lovers of his works). Painted between
1599-1600, the cycle of paintings represent th
e life of Matthew the Apostle: The Calling of St
. Matthew, The Inspiration of St. Matthew and
The Martyrdom of St. Matthew.
5. Borromini’s Prospettiva

• This optical illusion by Borromini is a real tr

eat for the senses. The Baroque Prospectiv
e Gallery appears to be a long colonnade b
ut is in fact much shorter than it appears. O
nly 9 meters long, it has a rising floor, desc
ending ceiling and decreasing columns that
work together to create this playful visual; e
ven the hedges which lie in the back are ma
de of stone. This unexpected gem is part of
the Palazzo Spada, which houses the 17th
century Spada family painting gallery, a sm
all collection of works by artists such as Tit
an, Guercino and Gentileschi.
6. Michelangelo’s Moses

• Although the majority of Michelangelo’s mos

t famous works in Rome reside in Vatican Ci
ty, his stirring statue of Moses lies within th
e Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli, next to th
e Monti neighborhood. Moses is the central
figure of a tomb commissioned by Pope Juli
us II in the 16th century, and is notable bec
ause it depicts Moses with horns on his hea
d (due to a mistranslation of Hebrew in the
Bible, in which the words ‘rays of light’ were
interpreted as ‘horns’).
7. Mosaics in Santa Maria in Trastevere

• The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is

n’t only well known for being one of the old
est churches in Rome — it also has stunnin
g 12th century Byzantine mosaics by Pietro
Cavallini that depict the life of Virgin Mary.
The apse shows the Coronation of the Virgi
n surrounded by paints and features Pope I
nnocent II (who rebuilt the church in 1130)
holding a model of the church.
8. Gallery Mirrors, Palazzo Doria Pamphilj

• The opulent Gallery of Mirrors lies within the

Renaissance Palazzo Doria Pamphilj and feat
ures 18th century frescoes, gilded mirrors an
d dozens of marble statues. The gallery rese
mbles a miniature Versailles but without the c
rowds. It regularly showcases the incredible
private art collection of the Doria Pamphilj fa
mily, which includes works by Raphael, Titian
, Caravaggio and Velázquez, among others n
otable masters.
9. Boxer At Rest

• This Hellenistic Greek bronze sculpture

of a seated boxer is believed to date ba
ck to 300-50 B.C. and is housed within P
alazzo Massimo, one of four National M
useums of Rome. The boxer ’s emotive a
nd tired face, along with his hunched mu
scular body sculpted in incredible detail,
is a masterpiece of realism and athletic
victory.
10. Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Theresa
• Another breathtaking piece that showcases
Bernini’s artistry is the Ecstasy of Saint Th
eresa statue, located in the Santa Maria de
lla Vittorio Church. One of the finest examp
les of High Roman Baroque, it depicts Tere
sa of Ávila, a Spanish mystic and Carmelite
nun, during a moment of religious ecstasy
with an angel in which she felt a ‘pain so gr
eat that it made me moan; and yet so surpa
ssing that I could not wish to be rid of it’. T
he statue is admired for its sensuality and
method of combining sculpture with archite
cture and painting in its small chapel
THANK YOU!!