Art 201- Timeline

Art History

Period: 40,000 BCE to 1700

Lion-Man Statuette Hohlenstein- Stadel Cave, Germany.

35,000 BCE

The Lion-Man Statuette was part of the mobiliary art, because of its size, height 12-1/4' width 2-7/8', it was easy to move around, therefore it became mobile. These mobile art statues were significant in prehistoric times because as pictures, a human has the head of a lion, which is theorized to be because of the beliefs in reincarnation or that animals have a sort of power. Other theories would also be that the lion head was just a mask and a human wore a mask in order to perform a ritual.

Spotted Horses and Human Hands; Peche-Merle Cave, Lot, France.

24,000 BCE

This historic art work was said to be made in different years. The horses on the right were from 25,000-24,000 BCE and the hands were made in 15,000. The medium used is paint on a limestone. This art piece is said to be a scene from something that happened or has happened it could also be used as a tactic to teach and help people learn what life was like back then. It could have also been a dream, there were a lot of beliefs that it was not a horse but some type of leopard because of the design.

Venus of Moravany, Slovakia

22,800 BCE

Venus of Moravany is depicted as a large (or sometimes pregnant) woman with no head, large breasts, and a curvier figure. One theory about the use of this object is to symbolize the fertility of a woman. As well as fertility, this figurine also symbolized attractiveness or a beauty standard that woman in the upper paleolithic era faced. It was difficult for women to look like this, however it is believed that these figurines symbolized hope and longevity with nourishment and reproductivity.

Horseman from Old Jenné, Mali. 14000 CE; Terra cotta.

14,000 BCE

The horseman from Old Jenne, Mali's measurement is height 27-3/4” (70.5 cm) which is now located The National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution in the Washington, D.C. Museum. This portrayed a very skinny man and horse, with gear as if they were soldiers going into battle, or if they were traveling. The proportions are a bit out of the ordinary and need unrealistic. The bodies and face and certain features were extremely elongated.

Crowned Head of a Ruler from Ife; Yoruba culture; African Art

13,000 BCE

This sculpture is a crowned Ruler, the features on their face is extremely detailed such as the lips, ears, and eyes. Except there are many details missing, however the lines going down all over her face are suppose to stand for some type of political power or strength. We are also exposed to a Ruler's crown and how different they could be to other crowns such as to a Pharaoh.

Sherd; Tell Brak, Syria

5000 BCE

The Sherd is part of the Halaf culture pottery ceramic and paint. Its artist is unknown and has dimensions of 2.83 x 1.65 in. (7.19 x 4.19 cm) The Sherd use to be a vessel however with time it was found broken off of the vessel. These pottery deigns are usually made with one or two colors and contained an animal with a round head, and long neck, as if it is some type of animal. It also is believed to be a part of a layered vessel and traditional patterns.

Cylinder Seal; Ancient Mesopotamia

3500 BCE

These cylinder seals were used by the Sumerian, Akkadian, and all Mesopotamian Empires. These cylinder seals were used as signatures, receipts, or to mark building blocks. Cylinder seals are extremely important because they were used as significant story tellers, teach future generations, or even to upkeep their culture and traditions. The seal showed depicts a scene from combat between a man/beast fighting with an animal, which is believed to show a religious aspect.

The Great Sphinx of Giza; Ancient Egypt

2575 BCE

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a very famous Egyptian landmark, it represents the face of an Egyptian King and the body of a lion. The Great sphinx seems to be a symbol of love, devotion, and overcoming for the people of Egypt. It is believed that this structure was for adoration of a King, and by depicting the body of a lion, it represents strength of an empire and of the King, therefore idolized by the people of Egypt and used as a worshipping object.

Figure of a Woman; Cyclades

2500 BCE

This mobile art piece was made from marble and its height is 24-1/4 inches. This piece can now be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. When this piece was being made, there was clear evidence of a forming scheme and original painting, however it is now a bit rusty. The face had several eyes and mouths all over, the form was a bit out of the normal, as well as the eye placed on her inner thigh. There were also two circles placed by her shoulders, which seem out of place.

Great Pyramids, Giza; Menkaure, Khafre, and Khufu

2450 BCE

The Great Pyramids were made of granite and limestone, and made by other citizens of Ancient Egypt. It was originally made to honor the gods Menkaure, Khafre, and Khufu; mostly served as tombs for Kings and Queens, Pharoahs. This was a tradition that was always used, and they continued to use for many years.

Ziggarut of Ur; Tell el- Mukayyar, Iraq

2100 BCE

Although largely reconstructed, Ziggarut of Ur, originally was made from mud brick and baked brick. There are multiple Ziggaruts all over Iran and Iraq and is suppose to stand for power and skill of the ancient cultures. Ziggaruts are also thought to influence biblical stories and work for religion, and gods to be worshipped and praised for individuals who were polytheistic.

Young Girl Gathering Saffron Crocus Flowers; Thera

1630 BCE

Young Girl Gathering Saffron Crocus Flowers explains exactly what is going on in the picture, however it is believed that there is a lot of detail and symbolism in the color scheme of brightness and vibrancy. It shows how women would have dressed and even the accessories that were available to them, such as those hoop earrings and bracelets. There is also so many small details on the flowers and plants on the wall behind the woman.

Mud Brick Apartment Buildings; Sumeria

1500 BCE

This is a model of Mud Brick Apartments in Sumeria during Ancient Mesopotamia, these apartments were usually built inside a courtyard. Usually each family had one room, and all of the families did their cooking and washing in the courtyards together. Sometimes they would even have to step onto each others homes to get around to their own area of living. Sometimes people who did not have land or were farmers would keep goat or sheep in their homes, which were single rooms, in the same place.

Bull Leaping; Knossos, Crete

1500 BCE

The Bull Leaping is a reconstructed wall painting from a complex that is was a palace in Crete. The painting contains three people, two people with lighter, fair skin, and one person with reddish, brown skin tone. However the main attraction tot he painting is the strong, huge, overpowering bull in the middle. The person who is on top of the bull, riding it is the reddish- brown skin toned person, and the lighter- fair skin individuals are watching as if mediating or for entertainment.

Head from Nigeria. Nok Culture; 500 BCE–200 CE.

350 BCE

The head from Nigeria is a carved face from BCE. It is acceptable to believe that this is a replica of someone, however statues or mobility pieces are a bit different because a body if formed, however the bodies are not realistic at all, they seem more as if they are just a holding stick. The artist focused on bigger features such as the eyes, pupils, nose, and the mouth.

Novios Plautios. Ficorno Cista 300-350 BCE

300 BCE

This art piece is 2'6-1/4 inches, and is made with bronze. No information is given if it is painted with white or carved. This piece is extremely beautiful, and there are many alike it that give off the same central theme, which is to tell a story as you turn the object. The three men standing above the object, seem to be the main focus, as they are standing over as if owning power above everything and everyone.

The Unswept Floor; Herkalitos; 101-200 BCE

150 BCE

The Unswept Floor is a Mosaic Painting of a second century artist that goes by the name of Sososof Pergamon and now located in Rome. The painting contains many things, such as lobster claw, shells grapes, mice, and small trash that is scattered across a carpet design floor. It seems to have objects that the rich could afford, therefore it is believed it is fallen items from a dinner table that many upperclass individuals attended to.

Augustus of Primaporta; Ancient Rome

20 BCE

the original statue was made of marble and had a height of 6'8 inches. It can now be found in Braccio Nuovo, Rome. The statue is dedicated to Augustus, and it shows Augustus mighty and tall and at his right side there is a small child hanging. It is believed to be him as a child, or a cupid hanging and watching over him. However, there is no positive understanding. The gear and clothes he is wearing make it seem as if he is some sort of royalty or can afford better clothing as if he has power.

Spoils from the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem; Rome

82

This art piece is a relief, taken from the passageway of the Arch of Titus, Rome. It is made from Marble and is a height 6'8". It depicts multiple men in 'action' Some seem to be carrying objects and others seem to be just forcing some to walk. A dynamic of power and strength as well as dominance is being shown. In every detail there is a small message, from how detailed the clothing and gear they are wearing.

Wall with a Torah Niche; Syria

244

A niche is usually found in Jewish temples and is about 40', which are usually always faced towards Jerusalem, for significance in prayer. This niche is made out of Tempera on Plaster. Some niches have beautiful designs and architecture, however this specific one and all have more significance meaning than everything since all temples have one that is used to look at or face to during prayer or adoration.

Good Sheperd; Ravenna, Italy

425

The good shepherd is a mosaic in the lunette, over the west entrance of the oratory of Galla Placidia, in Italy. The art work consists of a shepherd probably herding his sheep and taking care of them. This piece seems a bit more Religious, it is considered Christian art, especially with the staff that has a cross form above, and the halo above the Shepherds head, symbolizing holiness and someone being divine.

Prayer hall, Great Mosque, Cordoba, Spain. Begun 785-786

785

The Prayer halls are usually use to having extreme design and a lot of filled areas. They also show a lot of arches, these are used for the structure to hold up the building however also for the design individuals also use the arches as sitting grounds under as if claiming space for them to perform rituals such as prayer, adoration, or even praising of their god or gods. Just like all of the different religious sectors, each have churches, mosques, all have different places to practice religion.

Reconstruction drawing of the Cathedral of St. James; Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. 1078–1122,

1078

This is one of the reconstructions of a Cathedral during the Romanesque era. These cathedrals were not only made extremely extravagant on the inside, but they were extremely extravagant on the outside. Big buildings that called out and got a lot of attention were needed from the Christian Churches because they believed it asserted a type of power from everyone else. They were also the more dominant religion at the time, therefore they have money and people that could help build the cathedrals.

The Bury Bible; 1130-1135; Bury St Edmunds, England, Corpus Christi College

1130

The Bury Bible, is made an era where religious art is starting to be a bit more competitive and out there. This painting depicts god with horns and a halo, which can make people believe in another form of depicting heaven and hell or afterlife. The people looking at him also are staring at the main focus god, as if he is telling them something, or wide open eyes as devotions, love, and trust. The bright colors give a sense of happiness and charisma as well as the mannerism of elongated aspects.

Royal Portal, West façade, Chartres Cathedral; 1145–1155; France

1145

During the Gothic period there were a lot of darker themed artworks. For instance, this specific building is a darker shade of gray, with people used as sticks. It is theorized that the people carved into the outside of this cathedral are Saints, however they could also be apostles or disciples. The detail carved and built in have characteristics of the gothic period because of how the characters in it are posed, and how very detailed but simple the pieces are constructed.

Chasse with the Crucifixion and Christ in Majesty; 1180–90; Made in Limoges, France.

1180

This historical art work with painting on it has many elements to it. The items used are copper which is engraved, chiseled, stippled, and gilt; as well as enamel, a dark, medium, and light blue; turquoise, dark and light green, yellow, red, and white; wood core,
painted red on exterior. This box like figure includes a Crucifixion in the middle as well as multiple men around, some theories are that they are his apostles, but others assume those around are witnesses.

Interior view looking East, Chartres Cathedral; 1194–1220.

1194

This cathedral accentuates the gothic theme with the inclusion of many windows. As well as the inclusion of the arches. The arches are especially important because they are pointed instead of being round in replica of other Cathedrals that were built in different eras, such as one that was built and designed in the Romanesque period. You also see how the thick pillars aren't rounded, however have a different shape, which shows the gothic period traits.

Rose window and lancets, north transept, Chartres Cathedral; 1230–1235.

1230

These beautifully tinted and carved windows are definitely part of the gothic period because a lot of the Cathedrals didn't have as many carved and mosaic windows that allowed the light to come into the Cathedral and added color into a darkened room. These windows would sometimes include stories of when god was alive, and of apostles and saints that had specific stories that affected the story of god.

Yahya Ibn al-Wasiti. Abu Zayd Preaching in a Mosque; Baghdad, Iraq.

1237

This art work comes from a manuscript, which is like a small book that includes multiple illustrations of stories that can all be extremely different, however speak of similar things. This specific piece was made with ink, pigments, and gold on paper. The piece depicts one man standing up, while the rest are sitting down as if listening to a teacher or someone with higher guidance and power. This could typically be taken in a religious form or just in a societal aspectual form.

Sacrifice of Isaac; Lorenzo Ghiberti; 1401-1402

1401

The material used to make the Sacrifice of Issac was bronze with gilding and its measurement are 21" × 17-1/2" (53 × 44 cm) inside
molding. This art piece was compared to another artist, however this one won because of its extreme detail and a more action filled features. As well as the great detail in telling a story with movement, instead of just placing items to tell a story.

Dome of Florence Cathedral; Filippo Brunelleschi.

1420

These domes were created for a Cathedral. During the Renaissance period it was important for Religions, especially Christians to establish wealth and power, that is why a lot their art is large, extravagant, and include gold. The domes are an architectural disturbance, however the way the domes are still held up is because they have multiple sticks going vertical all around as well as some horizontal leading down to keep the dome sturdy.

Gates of Paradise baptistery of San Giovanni, Florence; Lorenzo Ghiberti.

1425

This piece is made with bronze and its height is 15' (4.57 m) and currently can be found at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence. This art work on the palace doors are extremely famous, noticeable, and remarkable. They tell multiple stories in each small spot. With limited space, the artist manages to work with the space to tell stories of Christians or even stories or followers or history in general that will work to teach a lesson or make an impact.

Caravaggio. Bacchus; 1595-1596

1595

This art work was made by oil on canvas. It had measurements of 37" × 33-1/2" (94 × 85 cm). This oil on canvas work shows a man but in a very feminine setting, beginning with the pose, the clothing, and very light features. It also shows very true and natural form, such as the farmers tan, showing off a paler body that the hands, neck, and face that would have typically been in the sun all day if they were a farmer.

The Crowning with Thorns; Carvaggio; 1602-1604

1604

The crowning of Thorns exemplifies the time that Christ was mocked for saying he was the King of the Jews and was the son of God. Carvaggio added very neutral facial expression however, he added a lot of emotion to the way that he places the Roman soldiers crowning Jesus, as well as the lighting emphasizes the focal and vanishing point of the painting. There is a lot of detail added to the main person and focus of the painting, by the colors and detail used.

Statue of David; Gian Lorenzo Bernini

1623

There are many variations of the Statue of David, however this one is very different because of its pose, and the diagonals that are included. There is also more of a sense of action and movement. The other statues are not clothed and this one is, as well as holding something preparing to throw at Goliath. The amazing thing about this statue is that it can be seen from many different angles and perspectives, whereas others cannot.

Scramble for Africa; Yinka Shonibare; Dallas

2003

This art piece called my attention a lot because it consisted of 14 life-size fiberglass mannequins, 14 chairs, table, wax printed cotton. The patterns seemed all over the place, however from doing more research, these patterns were patterns that are part of African culture and art that is still used. It was a deeper sense of power and liveliness, how they are all positioned on the table as if discussing something important, as well as representing their culture loudly and proudly.