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40,000 BCE
Lion-man from Hohlenstein-Stadel cave, Paleolithic, c. 40,000-35,000 BCE
Made of ivory, this statuette from the paleolithic is a figure of a bipedal lion, which can be interpreted as either a lion with human traits or vice-versa. The hybrid combination portrays the union between humans and nature. During the paleolithic era, hunting was essential to get food due to that agriculture wasn't developed yet. It is possible that the Lion-man figure illustrates the necessity of a hunter to exhibit strength in order to be a formidable opponent. -
Period: 35,000 BCE to
Art History
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24,000 BCE
Woman from Willendorf, Paleolithic, c. 24,000 BCE
The Woman from Wilendorf has some of the properties characteristic from Prehistoric art, which is its portability and its simplicity in design. The statuette illustrates a naked woman with big proportions in her figure, emphasizing some sexual aspects of the female body, which could be associated with high fertility and a form of erotic art. -
7400 BCE
House in Çatalhöyük, Turkey, Neolithic, c. 7400-6200 BCE
The emergence of house constructions in Çatalhöyük started a change in the lifestyle of humans, which was the transition from nomadic to forming settlements. The houses counted with ovens, beds, and an accessible roof that was interconnected to other houses. This interconnection made possible the formation of communities, essential for societies to emerge. People had more access to the exchange of knowledge and cooperative work, which established a new way of life for humans. -
3300 BCE
Anu Ziggurat and White Temple, Ancient Mesopotamia, c. 3300-3000 BCE
The Anu Ziggurat was the greatest monument built in Ancient Mesopotamia, which was made in order for the citizens to look at it from a distance to acknowledge the presence of a deity. This monument was dedicated to Anu, the sky god. The White Temple was built in top of the Anu Ziggurat, and it is assumed to be a place where rituals took place. -
3100 BCE
Cuneiform Script, Ancient Mesopotamia, c. 3100-3000 BCE
The cuneiform script is the earliest documented for of writing, done by the Sumerians, which used symbols as pictographs to communicate a message, such as the picture of an eye used to express the noun "eye" or the pronoun "I". Cuneiform writing was done on a clay tablet using a stylus, and its earliest uses were associated with accounting purposes, which was necessary in the era to keep track of crops and services, activities that came along with the start of the Agrarian era. -
3000 BCE
The Palette of Narmer, Ancient Egypt, c. 3000-2920 BCE
The Palette of Narmer is carved with low relief in smooth greyish-green siltstone on both sides, with a height of 63.5cm. King Narmer united Upper and Lower Egypt in c. 3100 BCE and became the first king of Egypt. One possible interpretation of this palette is the unification of Egypt, which can be symbolized by King Narmer wearing the crowns of both Lower and Upper Egypt, each one depicted on one side of the palette. The king's pose against his enemies becomes a recurrent motif in later art. -
2589 BCE
Pyramid of Khufu (far right), Built by Pharaoh Khufu, Ancient Egypt, c. 2551-2528 BCE
The Pyramid of Khufu is the largest of the three Pyramids of Giza, with a height of 146 meters and a base of more than 230 meters per side. The pyramid is made out of stone blocks. The interior of the pyramid contained the King's and Queen's chamber, which are assumed to be their burial sites for the afterlife. Seven model boat pits have also been found inside, thought to be made to transport the king in the after-world. The Pyramids have proved to be solid in construction through the years. -
2254 BCE
The Stele of Naram-sin, Ancient Mesopotamia, c. 2254-2218 BCE
The Stele of Naram-sin is a stone monument carved in pink limestone that represents the victory of Naram-sin, ruler of the Akkadian Empire, over the Lullubis people of the mountains. This monument depicts Naram-sin as a powerful ruler by putting him at the top of the mountain and at a short distance from the suns, which are considered deities. Under Naram-sin, the Akkadian empire expanded throughout Mesopotamia and trade increased, as also it remained stable during his reign. -
1275 BCE
Judgement of Hunefer Before Osiris, Ancient Egypt, c. 1275 BCE
The scene is painted in papyrus, a material used in Ancient Egypt art. It depicts Hunefer (far left) being brought to a balance by Anubis, the god of the dead, and the balance weights a pot and a feather. The pot symbolizes Hunefer's heart and the feather symbolizes the established order of things. The heart represented the character of a person, and it was believed that if it balanced with the feather the person could go to the after-world, but if not, the person was condemned to non-existance. -
460 BCE
Riace Warrior, Ancient Greece, c. 460-450 BCE
The Riace Warriors create a balance between the ideal and the realistic aspects of human anatomy by showing ordinary humans with impossible physical qualities, such as a muscular yet flat chest. The design in this statue illustrates what the ideal physique would look like, and it is possible that in the context of the era, it served as an inspiration for Greek warriors to train harder and come close to achieving an idealistic yet plausible body image. -
447 BCE
The Parthenon, Kallikrates and Iktinos, Ancient Greece, c. 447-432 BCE
The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, who was considered the patron of Athens. The Parthenon relied on the use of columns, which became an element widely used in later cultures. The columns were made in different styles, known as orders. These columns had differences in the design of the top and the layout of their lines. The Parthenon was temporally converted to a mosque after the Ottoman invasion in c. 1456. In 1687, the Parthenon was partially destroyed in a bombardment. -
150 BCE
Venus de Milo, Alexandros of Antioch, Ancient Greece, c. 150-100 BCE
This marble sculpture is thought to represent Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. The body shape invokes the concept of idealized body figures, emphasized on the width of the sculpture's hips, and the pubic area of the female figure is covered in this case, which goes against the naturalist tendency of portraying humans in the nude, but might have been an implication that the figure portrayed was a goddess, which could not be portrayed in the nude as a human. -
70
The Colosseum, Ancient Rome, c. 70-80 CE
Also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, the Colosseum was used for entertainment events, such as gladiator fights and public spectacles, and it had the capacity to support over 50,000 spectators. The Colosseum's construction features the use of stacked arches, which was a common feature in Ancient Roman architecture. The arena was abandoned centuries later, and it has been damaged by natural disasters. -
81
Arch of Titus, Ancient Rome, c. 81 CE
The Arch of Titus is made of concrete and white marble, and it has a height of 15 meters. Relief sculpture can be appreciated in the interior, featuring the use of patterns and human figures. The arch was built by emperor Domitian in honor of his older brother Titus to commemorate his victories, as they were part of the Flavian dynasty, known to be victorious. The Arch of Titus is at the highest point of Rome's "sacred way", and it is thought to point to the triumphal route. -
118
The Pantheon, Ancient Rome, c. 118-128 CE
The Pantheon is considered one of the most revolutionary pieces of Ancient Rome because of its design, which featured a dome and the use of concrete. The Pantheon incorporates pillars similar to those of Ancient Greek architecture. The Dome is located at a height of 142 feet, and its shape offers a view similar to the sky when it is looked upward, giving a sensation of depth and open space despite it being an enclosed space. -
532
Hagia Sophia, Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus, Byzantine, c. 532-537 CE
The Church of Hagia Sophia has been reconstructed three times. The third and last time it was recontructed, it featured the work of Isidoros and Anthemios and it stands up until today. The design in the structure is similar to an Orthodox Basilica and some of the recognized features are the presence of a dome and the use of marble for the floor and the ceiling. During this era, Christian imagery was present around the church in the form of mosaics. It was converted to a mosque in 1453. -
547
Empress Theodora and Her Attendants, Byzantine, c. 547 CE
Empress Theodora was the wife of emperor Justinian I, and she is thought to be one of the most powerful women in Byzantine history. Theodora is known to have advocated for feminist causes, such as passing strict laws against women trafficking and giving women more benefits for divorce. Illustrations in mosaics were common in Byzantine culture. -
691
The Dome of the Rock, Islamic, c. 691-692 CE
This Dome of the Rock is commonly assumed to be a mosque, but it is not, and its true purpose still remains a matter of discussion. The rock at the center of the dome is thought to be the rock where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac. The construction design features a drum and an arcade: the drum is the center of the building, and the arcade is the hallway that surrounds it, which creates a separation with the use of pillars and gives a sensation of depth due to its continuous length. -
900
Calligraphy: Kufic script in folio from a Qur'an, Islamic, c. 900-950 CE
The imagery of human and animal figures was not permitted for sacred places and objects in Islamic culture, but the use of calligraphy permitted artists to express geometric and artistic elements in writing. Different calligraphy styles were made to express the same words, and the development of calligraphy was essential to write the Qur'an. The writing style set ground for modern Arabic, and it has always been read from right to left. -
1001
The Great Mosque of Isfahan, Islamic, 11th-18th Century CE
The mosques are built to face Mecca, so that the prayer can prey in the right direction. This mosque features the use of lapislazuli in its construction, and two minarets are shown, which serve the purpose of calling for prayers and act as a visual aid for people to find the mosque. The mosques also feature the use of domes, which show some influence from Ancient Roman art. -
1078
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Romanesque, c. 1078-1122 CE
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was a common destination for pilgrimages, which were activities that motivated families to travel throughout Europe in spiritual quests. Through pilgrimages, Europe started to have more international cultural elements and people were able to expand their faiths. -
1130
The Last Judgment, Gislebertus, Romanesque, c. 1130-1146 CE
The Last Judgment of Gislebertus features Jesus Christ in the middle, surrounded by angels. At the right, a balance can be appreciated, similar to a concept from Ancient Egypt, and it depicts the process of judgment, which determines whether a person goes to heaven or goes to hell based on their actions. -
1156
Stavelot Triptych, Mosan artists, Romanesque, c. 1156-1158 CE
Made of gold and enamel, the Stavelot Triptych was considered one of the most highly valued works of art during the Romanesque Period due to its metal construction. The triptych was believed to contain in the center fragments of Jesus' cross, which were obtained by a pilgrim named Wibald, who also commissioned this piece of art. -
1194
Chartres Cathedral, Gothic, c. 1194-1220 CE
The Chartres Cathedral features elements from Gothic Art such as ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and the presence of windows made of stained glass. Ribbed vaults allowed roofs to be have a more rounded appearance yet be stable, and it gave them more depth. Flying buttresses were a new design that gave more stability to cathedrals, which allowed them to be greater in height. -
1220
Salisbury Cathedral, Gothic, 1220-1258 CE
The Salisbury Cathedral is known for the height of its tower, which required strainer arches on the exterior to support the weight. It also has the oldest working clock in Europe (since 1386). Its use of pointed arches along with pointed towers are common elements from Gothic architecture. Its construction span of 38 years is considered short for the size of the building and the weight of the material (stone). -
1306
Virgin and Child, Giotto di Bondone, Gothic, 1306-1310 CE
In this painting, depth can be observed in the throne the Virgin is sitting at through the use of lines that have a visual resemblance to open windows; and the presence of a domed interior, which gives the sensation of a three-dimensional enclosed space. The black robe of the virgin stands out in the painting, contrasting the red, green and white palette observed in the saints and angels in the pictures. The Virgin and her child are shown big in size, implying a high status. -
1310
Anastasis, Byzantine, c. 1310-1320 CE
This fresco portrays Jesus pulling on both arms God and the Devil. The representation of this image can be interpreted as the personification of Jesus, whom after becoming human he was exposed to the Devil. Another interpretation can be the separation of Christianity into eastern and western, which can be interpreted by Jesus choosing between two opposites, one that is good and one that is evil. -
1420
Dome of the Cathedral of Florence, Filippo Brunelleschi, Renaissance, 1420-1436 CE
Brunelleschi is recognized for being an amateur, yet he was able to design a dome for the Florence Cathedral that still stands up in the present. The dome features long arches that were built without the support of temporary wood frames, instead it used chains to support the shape, probably the first time this was done in history. -
1498
The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance, c.1495-1498 CE
The Last supper of Leonardo Da Vinci is probably the most famous painting of the Renaissance, and it is known to feature linear perspective. Linear perspective uses geometry that causes a sense of depth by creating a vanishing point in the middle. All the characters in the picture have their eyes at the same line as Jesus' eyes, and the shapes in the background are totally symmetrical, with straight lines pointing towards Jesus. -
1501
David, Michelangelo, Renaissance, 1501-1504 CE
Michelangelo's David exhibits self-confident Renaissance humanism, which is observed in the depiction of David in the nude with defined body properties. The sculpture draws its attention mostly to the front, where David can be seen looking in serenity at his left, emphasized by contrapposto, with his right foot serving as the center of balance. This is sculpture is known to be the most famous of Ancient Greece. -
The Crowning with Thorns, Caravaggio, Baroque, 1602-1604 CE
The picture depicts Jesus Christ being put on a crown of thorns, and Jesus seems in pain. At the left, a human similar to a conquistador is observed looking down on Jesus. In the context of the Baroque, it is possible that Jesus was represented in a more human way, being vulnerable to pain and suffering, and showing his emotions through facial expressions that add realism to his character. -
David, Bernini, Baroque, 1623-1624 CE
The David of Bernini wears a robe, departing from the humanist tendency to portray humans in the nude. In contrast to Michelangelo's David, Bernini's David can be appreciated in different angles, partially due to the layout of his arms and legs, which point to different directions and give a deeper three dimensional sense that allows the viewer to be immersed with the sculpture. Realism can be observed in the facial expression of David, which seems angered, as a warrior would be portrayed. -
Self-Portrait, Judith Leyster, Baroque, c. 1630 CE
The painting of self-portrait has been influential in Western Art for the development of independent artists. During the baroque, independent artists started to surge without receiving commissions, as art usually used to be financed. The approach of independent art allowed anyone to be an artist, and it wasn't strictly a position of high prestige. During the Baroque period, the power of Catholicism started to be questioned, and so did the artists that were supported by it. -
Linguist Staff (Okyamepoma), Akan peoples, African, 19th-early 20th century CE
The linguist staff shows two proverbs from African culture, symbolized by the presence of a spider, which is said that it can't be tamed in its own web, and the eggs held by the human figures. It is said, that in order to be king, an egg can't be held either too softly or too hard, else it will fall or it will break. -
Great Mosque of Djenné, African, 1907 CE
The Great Mosque of Djenné is the greatest mud-built structure in the world. This mosque has been reconstructed three times, and it is thought to first have been built in the 13th century. People from the community tend to be involved in mixing construction material for the mosque, usually entertained by musicians during the process while women bring water for the mixture. The design in its construction allows the community to actively participate in its preservation. -
The King has Boarded The Ship (Asante Kente cloth), African, c. 1985 CE
In Ghana, the Kente cloth is considered of high social status and sophistication. Kentes are known to have patterns, and each of them has a name, as also each cloth does. Warp and weft patterns are used in this cloth. Each pattern is associated with a proverb; the warp pattern states the head of the family has a difficult task, and the weft patterns represent household artifacts that can't be used or are broken.
