prehistoric art. prehistoric cave art-lascaux, france

Prehistoric art

Prehistoric cave art-Lascaux, France

Superimposed images may mean the act of creating was more important than the final image.

Prehistoric stone sculpture Venus of Willendorf-fertility figure

Stone Henge, Englandmonolithic architecture

Egyptian Art

The great pyramids at Giza were both tombs and monuments. 2500 BC

Egyptian Canopic jars hold the internal organs removed during mummification.

Egypt- Temple at Karnak shows stone architecture (post and lintel)

Karnak obelisk, temple and guardian sphinx sculptures.

Egyptian sculptureMycerinus and His QueenStone rigid, stylized, block -like

Mycerinus and his Queen - detail

Sculpture of an Egyptian Pharaoh

Note the symmetry, frontal pose and simplified details.

Sarcophagus and painted box from an Egyptian tomb were painted with hieroglyphs and scenes from the life of the deceased.

Animal mummy case

Wall paintings in Egyptian tomb shows Anubis (Jackal-headed god) with the mummified Pharaoh.

Size shows status. Rigid rules for figures, wildlife is more natural.

Men darker than women.

Tomb in Aswan shows hieroglyph captions with image.

Daughters of AkenatenWall paintingBriefly, during Akenatens reign artists were allowed to paint in a more natural way showing, foreshortening, perspective and natural poses. When he died the rigid rules of art making were again imposed.

Lions Gateshows Postand Lintelstructure

Early (Archaic) Greek sculpture rigid, stylized, nude youth (Kouros) was probably a funeral marker.

Classical Greek Sculpturethe Spear Bearer, shows contraposto, a natural s curve pose, detailed anatomy but a calm, god-like face.

Nike of SamothraceGreek SculptureNote the fluid drapery and beauty of the anatomy

Laocoon GroupHellenistic (late) sculpture showed movement, emotion & violence, great detail and facial expression.

The Acropolis (high city)in Athens, Greece.

Architectural Orders in GreeceDoric Ionic Corinthian

Temple from the Acropolis is of the Ionic Order, decorated with a high relief frieze base.

The Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Temple to Athena, goddess of war and wisdom.

Parthenon pediment sculpture and low- relief frieze.

Parthenon Doric order

Parthenon colonnade

The Dionysus Bowl glazed pottery shows the legend of how the god of wine (Dionysus) caused the boat mast to sprout into a grapevine, frightening the pirates. As they jumped into the sea they turnedinto dolphins.

Pottery design (red figure vase) shows a mythical creature popular in ancient cultures.

Red Figure Greek Vase (amphora) showing a legend about the gods and their winged horses. (Pegasus)

Roman Art

The Arch of Constantine Rome, Italy

Aqueducts allowed Romans to bring fresh water to their cities.

Roman sculpture show personality and unique, realistic, features Busts were of head and shoulders only.

Portrait bust of Julius Caesar

Coliseum, Rome, Italy built as a stadium for entertainment

It featured 3 tiers of arches, bleachers and box seats as well as a canvas awning for shade

Rooms under the stadium floor held animals, slaves and gladiators. It was even flooded so mock naval battles could be staged.

The Pantheon in Rome is a dome on a drum, with a Greek style front porch.

The ceiling of the Pantheon is coffered to lighten the weight of the stone. The domes oculus provides light (and rain!)

The interior of the Pantheon includes Greek style columns and pediment window niches.

Ruins in ancient Rome show how they borrowed ideas from the Greeks.

Courtyard of a Roman villa

Wall paintings from Pompeii were preserved when the city was encased in volcanic ash

The Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii shows great skill in painting