Art History Canon

Art History

Period: 40,000 BCE to 1700

Venus of Brassempouy

24,000 BCE

Although this is only a fragment of a larger sculpture, this detail is very important because it is unique compared to other neolithic artifacts. This figure has details of a human face, and, for the time, seems very naturalistic. There has been no other female "venus" statue with facial features discovered from the neolithic era

Lascaux Cave Drawing, Paleolithic Era

15,000 BCE

At this point in evolution, humans are beginning to branch out of the animal kingdom. As we do this we begin to analyze and conceptualize the forms of the animals we hunted. These wall paintings are an excellent example of the developing human mind.

Stonehenge

3100 BCE

So much mystery surrounds this megalith and the many others from this era*. The stones were imported from BLANK, which is baffling given that each stone weighs about BLANK. The placement of each stone is significant as it is aligned with BLANK. Which suggests that the beings that created this were highly intelligent and advanced.

MESOPOTAMIA: Bull-Headed Lyre

2550 BCE

This artifact is evidence of music's role in Mesopotamia. This bull's head would have represented a deity, suggesting that music played a role in spiritual practices. The details throughout this instrument are very opulent and value able. There is Gold and Lapis Lazuli throughout this art piece.

EGYPTIAN: Menkaure and His Wife

2530 BCE

The style of this sculpture is very important because it appears in classical Greek and Roman sculpture. The figures are relatively realistic, but seem static despite the king with one foot forward which could be seen as a move toward depicting motion, and power.

EGYPTIAN: The Great Sphinx of Giza

2500 BCE

The date on this megalith is an approximation, and has been heavily debated. The Sphinx may be thousands of year older. The structure stands at 66 feet tall and 240 feet long, so this was a massively significant project in its time. The body of the Sphinx is heavily eroded, and may very well have been much more detailed. From what is left of the face, we can tell that it was a Pharaoh wear the Egyptian head dress with a cobra in the center.

MESOPOTAMIA: Stele of Hammurabi

1750 BCE

As humanity comes together and forms communities we see philosophical and political structures forming. In this instance, King Hammurabi is introducing the world's first constitution for social justice through the Stele of Hammurabi. The object itself is carved out of basalt, and features a relief of Hammurabi receiving the laws from the deity Shamash. (Justice is from god and we interpret it)

MESOPOTAMIA: The Sumerian King List

1712 BCE

Mesopotamia is earlier known culture to have a written language. We are able to translate the writings now, and upon doing so archaeologists have discovered that these texts are a written history of the human race from the earliest civilization to recall it. There is much debate over the meaning of these scrolls, but the translation is believed to tell that greater beings from another planet came to earth to create human race through genetic engineering.

GREEK: Young Girl Gathering Saffron Crocus Flowers

1630 BCE

detail of wall painting, Room 3 of House Xeste, Akrotiri

EGYPTIAN: Funerary Mask of Tutenkamen

1332 BCE

The opulence of this iconic funerary mask shows the ancient Egyptians focus on the afterlife. This sculpture predates the Greeks and Romans, yet displays a natural, humanistic style which we find in the bronze Raice warriors. Although here there is use of symbolism and the headdress had a spiritual purpose that was exclusive to Egyptian culture.

GREEK: Marble Statue of Kouros

590 BCE

This marble statue is a great example of early

GREEK: Raice Warriors

460 BCE

These figures mark a transition into classical antiquity, a style which will influence many artists and styles to come. There is a strong attention to a natural representation of muscles and the calm human posture. Although the proportions are not totally realistic, this was an attempt at the ideal and objective human form, something that the Greeks were increasingly interested in.

ROMAN: Colosseum

75

This building was a cultural centerpiece in early roman civilization. This was a community gathering space shared by all people to hold many events. This was an incredible architectural accomplishment. The size, the shape and the use of repeating arches makes this building iconic influential. This can be seen as a symbol as Rome, or for Art-Historical purposes, a symbol of the Roman arch which shows focus to geometry, mathematics and reason.

ROMAN: Panel of Achillies

79

This painting was found in a home at the volcano ruins of Pompeii from the year 79. This artwork, aswell as many other ancient roman paintings are very advanced given its time in history. The detail on this shows an approach to naturalism. Despite depicting mythological beings, the artist paints a very realistic space, and even uses atmospheric perspective by painting the background lighter and overlapping the figures. The people express movement and emotion in thier elaborate poses.

ROMAN: Pantheon

110

The Pantheon was created around the same time as the Colosseum, and in close proximity to it. This era evidently has some of the most significant architecture during classical roman antiquity which inspires many waves of artists and styles that come after. This building is significant for its giant dome and its iconic roman columns all of which were mathematical accomplishments manifested into objective reality.

BYZANTINE: Hagia Sophia

537

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the remants carried on what as left of the roman tradition in the Byzantine Empire. This building is a great example of an elaboration of classical architecture. The use of multiple domes shows interest in the roman style. Originally this was created to be a catholic church, but as politics changed its function changed into a mosque under rule of the Ottoman Empire.

BYZANTINE: Church of San Vitale

547

The structure of this church resembles the Hagia Sophia because it has a large building in the middle, surrounded by other radial buildings, and this building also features a pillar. Their is a heavy focus to geometry throughout the architecture, as well as the Art. The Church of San Vitale can be seen as a transition from Byzantine architecture and the Gothic style. However, inside the church displays many art pieces that are the archetype Byzantine Style.

ISLAMIC: Dome of the Rock

691

Similar to the Byzantine empire, much of Islamic art from this period rely's on geometry. However, Islamic art went much further in the direction of elaborate geometric patterns. As the west fell into what is known as the medieval period, the middle east was moving into the golden age of Islam. The Islamic world goes on to make many mathematical contributions to the world through a tradition of mathematicians. shift to complex objective mathematics is evident through the whole building.

ISLAMIC: Cordoba Mosque

987

The detail featured on this timeline is the interior of the dome on the mosque in Cordoba Spain. This came out of a period when Islam was expanding through the Mediterranean world. For this reason, we see a blending of Spanish style with the mathematical symmetry which was common in the Islamic world. We also see calligraphy incorporated in the geometric decorations which customary throughout Islamic Art and Architecture

ROMANESQUE: Reliquary of Sainte Foy

1050

This piece artwork served a very important function in its original context. During this time pilgrimage was a large part of European life. A pilgrimage route was formed, and it included many stops at churches throughout Europe. Many churches at these stops held the remains of catholic saints, which were called relics. Given thier context the container of the relics were very important, so the cases were decorated to be very opulent.

ROMANESQUE: Pentecost and Mission to the Apostles

1130

This is a detail on the tympanum from the Vezelay Abbey in Burgundy France. The subject matter in this piece is significant because it summarizes the growing ideology of the time. The relief features Jesus at the center blessing all of his apostles to spread his message around the world. Around the tympanum are representations of foreign peoples. This idea justified the crusades and the pilgrimages that happened throughout the Romanesque period.

GOTHIC: Church of San Denis

1144

This Church comes out of an era and place which is considered to be the birthplace of the Gothic style. This church was created in 1144 in france. It features a rose window which is an important addition in a church. Essentially the idea was to incorporate natural sunlight as the light of god to illuminate the church. The interior features the use of pointed arches which is also a quintessential detail in many Gothic basilicas that allowed architects to support more weight.

ROMANESQUE: Santiago de Compostela

1150

The image on this event listing is the original form of the Santiago de Compostela from the 12th century during the Romanesque period. The form of the church is important because it displays the common form of a cathedral during this time. The entrance is called the narthex, which leads into the Nave with an aisle to each side, until there is a transept which is an addition to regulate pilgrimage traffic. At the end is a choir, an apse and an ambulatory where relics would be held.

GOTHIC: Santa Croce Crucifix

1265

This art piece was done by Cimabue who is considered one of the masters of the late Gothic era along with Giotto di Bondone. Thier style seems to be a prototype to the early renaissance. Here on this painting Cimabue uses many techniques to depict Jesus on the cross. His dynamic use of color and shadow expresses natural looking anguish in Jesus's face. This expression is continued in his pose as well

GOTHIC: Virgin and Child Enthroned

1310

This art piece came out of the later age of the Gothic era in Italy, and shows a transition into the early Italian renaissance. Although the faces and bodies are elongated and simplified into geometric forms, thier is still hints of natural represention more so than many of artworks earlier in the Gothic and Romanesque era. There is a proportionally correct use of perspective that gives the scene being depicted a natural organic feel.

BYZANTINE: Anastasis Fresco

1320

This Fresco comes out of the later period of Byzantine era as the style transitions into what is known as the Gothic. Earlier Byzantine art would have a heavier geometric simplification of the human form. Here, that style is still present, but their is a stark move toward naturalism. The people are relatively more proportional, and the poses express action. Although thier are still inconsistencies in this painting that make the perspective seem unnatural.

ISLAMIC: Ilkhanid Mihrab

1355

This masterpiece was meant to symbolize the prayer niche which is a traditional feature in all mosques. This indicates the direction of prayer toward mecca. It's also important to note that the Islamic religion did not allow any depictions of god, so the geometry and symmetry are meant to symbolize God and the harmony of the universe.

AFRICA: Yoruba Shrine Head

1450

This terracotta sculpture shows a very naturally expressionate face which seems very calm and collected which would have been associated with power in Africa. The lines along the face may also suggest scarification as another expression of rank or power in a tribal community. Their are grooves on the neck of this head which could possibly be used to screw on to a body which is not pictured.

RENAISSANCE: The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci

1498

This art-piece is known world wide both as a well known depiction of the last supper, and as a symbol of the Italian high renaissance. The people, and the space painted looks so realistic compared to the style that has lingered since after the fall of the roman empire. Leonardo da Vinci uses perspective lines to draw the eye toward the enlightened Jesus who is juxtaposed by the chaotic, and elaborate poses of the apostles at the table.

RENAISSANCE: The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo

1508

Michel Angelo is another legendary painter that defines the Italian renaissance. This painting was done on the ceiling of the sistine chapel and is a part of a series which depicts the bible. Michelangelo paints a very realistic human form, with close attention to musculature. Michelangelo paints God in a graceful & complex posture as well as the angels carrying him. Throughout the figures is a very realistic use of shadow which adds to the drama of the scene

RENAISSANCE: The School of Athens, Raphael

1511

Both this image and its context are an excellent representation of what the renaissance was. The image depicts many important people of the greco-roman classical antiquity. This represents societies return to this tradition of thought and the empirical analysis of objective reality. This painting was done by Raphael who is one of the most important artists to come from the Renaissance, and it was painted in the palace of the Vatican which shows that the church sponsored this return to antiquity

BAROQUE: Elevation of the Cross, Peter Paul Ruben

1610

Carrying on the tradition of the renaissance, Peter Paul Ruben was a master of color and form. The size of the artwork, combined with the composition with Jesus at the top makes Jesus dominate the space. Their is much attention given to the human form, the muscles and anatomy. The dynamic use of color and shading gives this art piece a realistic sense, as well as a divine ambiance.

BAROQUE: David, Bernini

1623

This depiction comes after both Michelangelo's and Raphael's depiction of David. This version came after the Renaissance, and the statue shows are continuation of depiction realistic figures, but the baroque era went further. Here, David is in the middle of action, so his posture expresses movement, more so than previous versions.

AFRICA: Kongo Kingdom Crucifix

1650

This is an instance where Christianity spread into Africa, and this kingdom adopted Christian iconography. The result is a unique blend of African style as it shows in this traditionally western symbol.

BAROQUE: Las Meninas, Diego Velasquez.

1656

Diego Velasquez is another master of the Baroque era from the school of Spanish artists. During this time Spain was entering a golden age of art, music and culture. Diego Velasquez paints many details that have sparked controversy among art historians. This image is of the princess getting ready for a wedding, and to the left of her is Diego Velasquez himself painting the painting that he is in. It is also important that the artpiece incorporates the viewers, as many figures look at the viewer.

AFRICA: Great Mosque of Djenne

1907

This mosque is a cultural centerpiece within its community. It is a place of gathering, and a symbol of Islam in Africa, which is a major religion in Africa. It is also important to note that this structure was re-built in 1907 but has been used as a mosque since the 13th century