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1323 BCE
Tutankhamun’s Mask
discovered in the 1900’s, designed to act as a covering for the young pharaoh’s corpse -
206 BCE
Terracotta Army
6,000 clay soldiers commissioned for construction by Ying Cheng, the first Chinese emperor of the Qin Dynasty, as to stand guard to his tomb. Uncovered in 1974 by Chinese workers digging a well. Thought to have been constructed between 221 and 206 BCE. -
990
Movable Type
Used by Bi Sheng of the Northern Song Dynasty. Similar to modern day stamps. -
1415
Linear Perspective
Founded by Architect Filippo Brunelleschi. Poked hole in painting, then held a mirror with a hole in it as well. this allowed him to visualize where lines should form and go. (see photo) -
1425
Holy Trinity
Done by Masaccio. Fresco. 263 in × 125 in (HUGE), nearly human size. Could have been the first complete fresco using linear perspective. -
1427
Bidding Farewell at the Tiger Hill
Handscroll, ink and color on paper, 32 x 116 cm. -
1434
Arnolfini Wedding
oil on 3 wood oak boards. One of the first successful paintings of a mirror. Considered one of the most original and complex paintings in western art. -
1440
Johannes Gutenberg's Printing Press
Invented during the Italian Renaissance. -
1472
Adam and Eve
The representation of Eve in paintings depicting the creation story remains to be one of the most common representations of woman as responsible for sin. This painting was created by Lucas Cranach. -
1501
David (sculpture)
Done by Michelangelo. 17 feet tall. Head and hands are proportionally larger than rest of body to aid perspective when you look up to the top of the sculpture -
1511
School of Athens
One of the most famous frescoes by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael -
1567
The Peasant Wedding
By Pieter Bruegel the Elder. depicts peasant life. Oil on Panel. -
Vanitas Still Life with Self
Portrait created by Pieter Class symbolically representing death through everyday objects and the inclusion of a scull. -
Taj Mahal
Mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, the Indian ruler's wife. Mausoleums were popularly used by those of the Islamic faith when relatives passed away. -
Opticks (book)
Written by Sir Isaac Newton. The science of the color wheel and prisms. discovered white light can divide across the whole spectrum. -
Ancient Rome (Painting)
painting by Giovanni Paolo Panini. Oil on Canvas. Depicts many of the most significant architectural sites and sculptures from Ancient Rome. -
David, Jacques - Louis Self Portrait
oil on canvas. 1790 versus 1794. Made himself appear much younger in the updated painting. -
Grande Odalisque
Oil painting created by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres depicting prostitution and the attitude assumed by men toward the profession. -
View from the Window at Le Gras
First photograph EVER! Taken by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. -
Boulevard du Temple
First photograph to capture a human being. Human was visible in photograph because he was motionless while having his shoes shined. Taken by Louis Daguerre (1781-1851) -
Valley of The Shadow of Death
Taken by Roger Fenton to illustrate the hardship of conflict. -
Entrée du village de Voisins
Created by Camille Pissaro during the Impressionism era as a reaction to photography. -
The Sick Husband
created by Vassily Maksimov. You can see an "icon corner" in the painting which is a space saved for prayer, similar to a shrine. -
The Potato Eaters
Done by Van Gogh, Oil on canvas. Considered Van Goghs first masterpiece. Depicts the true life of peasents. -
The Night Cafe
Vincent Van Gogh. Oil on canvas. The painting is intentionally flat, allowing to see the world the way we want to see it, and painting it that way. -
Paul Gaugen Self Portrait
Oil on Canvas. Faces are seen in the background. 76 x 64 cm -
A Trip To The Moon
Early French silent film directed by Georges Méliès, following a group of astronomers who venture to the moon. Excellent example of early production quality and an introduction to the expanse of opportunity motion picture provided the creative mind. -
The Treachery of Images
Painting of a pipe by Rene Magritte. The image is meant to express that a picture of a pipe isn't a pipe but a representation of a pipe. -
Albert Speer (Architect)
Lead architect of Nazi Germany. Created massive buildings considered "Nazi rally grounds". Most were destroyed either during or after WWII. Pictured is Zeppenfield, one of his first works with the Nazi party. holds 340,000 people. -
Migrant Mother
Photo taken by Dorothea Lange in an attempt to capture the hardship that was the Great Depression and the corresponding Dust Bowl of the Midwest United States. Commissioned by the US as an official image of the Great Depression. -
Pantone
American printing company, created a standardized color matching system. -
Campbell's Soup Cans
Depicts 32 cans of soup. Created by Andy Warhol. He was a large influence in the visual arts movement known as pop art. -
Let the People Vote on War!
Propaganda poster advocating that the people of 1970 be aloud to vote on the US' involvement in Vietnam. Made with pen and ink -
The Rothko Chapel
The Rothko Chapel is a chapel in Texas. Artist is MArk Rothko. The interior serves not only as a chapel but also as a major work of modern art.The shape of the building is an octagon inscribed in a Greek cross. Rothko committed suicide in 1970, and never saw his finished piece. (finished in 1971) -
TV Buddha
Art installation by Nam June Paik of a Buddha statue facing a camera and television, the image captured by the camera being transmitted through the front facing television. -
Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
Constructed to commemorate the life of Mao Zedong and the establishment of the communist regime in China during his rule. The monument serves as both a commemorative piece as well as a political installation. -
Piss Christ
Created by Andres Serrano. Small plastic crucifix submerged in a small glass tank of the artist's urine. This is just one photo of a set. there were other liquids such as milk and blood. -
Buddha statue of Hyderabad
Stands in India. 58 feet tall. Fell during construction and killed 10 people. -
The Kitchen Table Series
Series of photographs taken by Carrie Mae Weems at a kitchen table, capturing the intimate lives of African Americans and humans in general in the home environment. -
Monywa Buddhas
laying Buddha - 1991
standing Buddha - 2008
These are actual buildings with places of worship inside. There are also depictions of "Buddha Hell" on the walls inside. -
Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn
Ai Wei Wei a Chinese citizen and political activist, dropped a Han era urn and photographed himself doing so, in sighting government distaste for his irreverence. -
The Green Line
Art piece by Francis Alÿs were he walked along the armistice border between Jordan and Israel following the conflicted in 1948. While walking Alÿs carried a leaking can of green paint which resulted in a trail which he called the green line. -
Cotton Hoards in Southern Swamp
created by Kara Walker a contemporary African American painter, utilizing commonly used Southern silhouette painting to illustrate African Americans. -
Shibboleth
Art installation of a crack in the floor. Made by Doris Salcedo using concrete and metal. Is 548 ft long.
