-
30,000 BCE
Prehistoric Art: Stone Age (30,000 b.c.–2500 b.c.)
Characteristics of the Stone Age:
- Cave paintings were created to share and tell stories. Example: Lascaux Cave Painting.
- Fertility goddesses were mainly stone sculptures of nude women representing pregnancy and shows that women are similar to goddesses. Example: Woman of Willendorf.
- Megalithic or a large stone, was used to construct a monument combined with other stones. Example: Stonehenge.
Historical events:
- Ice Age ended
- New Stone Age
- First permanent settlements. -
3500 BCE
Mesopotamian (3500 b.c.–539 b.c.)
Mesopotamia ancient art includes Sumeria, Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria. Some characteristics of the Mesopotamian Era was Warrior art and narration in stone relief. An example of Warrior Art is the Standard of Ur. An example of narration in stone relief is the Gate of Ishtar, and Stele of Hammurabi’s Code. Some historical events that had occurred during this time period was Sumerians invented writing, Hammurabi writes his law code, and Abraham found monotheism. -
3100 BCE
Egyptian (3100 b.c.–30 b.c.)
Egyptian art was known was known for their achievement of high level sculpture and painting, and was very symbolic and stylized. Some characteristics of Art with an afterlife focus are pyramids and tomb paintings. An important artist during this time was Imhotep. Some major works during this time were Step Pyramid, Great Pyramids, and Bust of Nefertiti. Some historical events that took place were Narmer unites Upper/Lower Egypt, Rameses II battles the Hittites, and Cleopatra dies. -
850 BCE
Greek and Hellenistic (850 b.c.–31 b.c.)
Characteristics:
-Greek idealism: balance, perfect proportions, architectural
-Architectural orders orders:
-Doric: Most simple
-Ionic: More complicated
-Corinthian: Very complicated Important Artists:
-Myron: Sculptor
-Phidias: Sculptor, painter, architect
-Polykleitos: Sculptor
- Praxiteles: Sculptor Important Works:
-Parthenon: Temple Historical Events:
-Athens defeats Persia at Marathon
-Peloponnesian Wars
-Alexander the Great’s conquests -
600 BCE
The Period of The Dark Ages: Illuminated Gospel Manuscripts (Early Christian Art)
During Early Christian Art, they were known for their beautiful illuminated manuscripts. Manuscripts were hand made religious calligraphy, and were illustrated in the Bible by anonymous medieval artists. Manuscripts would manly be worked on by a group of monks, while under the supervision of chief scribe. These were produced in Ireland and Northern Britain during The Dark Ages. Some of the well known Illuminated Manuscripts are located in The Book of Durrow and The Book of Kells. -
500 BCE
Roman (500 b.c.– a.d. 476)
Roman art is known for their famous architecture, painting, sculpture and mosaic work. Some characteristics of this period is Roman realism. For example, practical and down to earth and the arch. A well-known artist during this time was Augustus of Primaporta. Some famous works were the Colosseum, Trajan’s Column, and the Pantheon. Some important historical events during the Roman period were Julius Caesar assassinated, Augustus proclaimed Emperor, Diocletian splits Empire, and Rome falls -
500
Middle Ages (500–1400)
The Middle Ages is often known as the Dark Ages, and is known for Celtic art, Carolingian Renaissance, Romanesque, and Gothic. Some important artists during this time were Cimabue, Duccio, and Giotto. Some famous works of art were St. Sernin, Durham Cathedral, Notre Dame, and Chartres. Some important historical events that occurred during this time frame were Viking Raids, Battle of Hastings, Crusades I–IV, Black Death, and Hundred Years’ War. -
Jan 1, 1400
Early and High Renaissance (1400–1550)
The Early and High Renaissance, was a style of art developed in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries and was the rebirth of classical culture. Significant artwork during this time was Ghiberti’s Doors, and Michelangelo. Important artists during this period were Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo, and Raphael. The historical events that took place were Gutenberg invents movable type, Turks conquer Constantinople, Columbus lands in New World, and Martin Luther starts Reformation. -
Baroque (1600–1750)
Originating in Rome, this era was known for not only being gaudy, but for it's painting, and sculpture as well as architecture. Some characteristics during this time were Splendor and flourish for God, and art as a weapon in the religious wars. Some well known artists during this era were Reubens, Rembrandt, and especially Caravaggio. Significant artwork from this time was the Palace of Versailles. The historical event that took place was the Thirty Years’ War between Catholics and Protestants. -
Romanticism (1780–1850)
Romanticism was a movement in the arts and literature which emphasized inspiration to others. Some common characteristics were the triumph of imagination and individuality. Some important artists during this time were Caspar Friedrich, Gericault, Delacroix, Turner, and Benjamin West. Some major works were The Lady of Shalott, and liberty leading the people. The historical events that occurred were American Revolution, the French Revolution, and Napoleon crowned emperor of France. -
Realism (1848–1900)
Realism was the attempt to represent artwork truthfully, without any supernatural aspects. Some characteristics during this time was they celebrated working class and peasants, and the en plein air rustic painting. Some important artists during this time were Corot, Courbet, Daumier, and Millet. Some major works of art during this time were The Stone Breakers, The Gleaners, and Olympia. The historical event that occurred during this time was European democratic revolutions of 1848. -
Impressionism (1865–1885)
Impressionism artwork is known for capturing fleeting effects of natural light. Some famous paintings during this time were The Luncheon on the Grass, A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, and Water Lilies. Significant artists during this time were Monet, Manet, Renoir, Pissarro, Cassatt, Morisot, and Degas. The historical events that took place during this time were the Franco-Prussian War, and Unification of Germany. -
Post-Impressionism (1885–1910)
Post-Impressionism was known to explore color, line, and form. Post-Impressionism was a soft revolt against Impressionism. During this time Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne, and Seurat, were inspiring artists. Famous artwork during this period included Bathers at Asnieres, Jug, Curtain and Fruit Bowl, Sunflowers, A Sunday Afternoon on the island of La Grande-Jatte, and the most well-known, The Starry Night. Important historical event that took place were the Belle Époque, and Japan defeats Russia. -
Fauvism and Expressionism (1900–1935)
Fauvism and Expressionism was known for harsh colors and flat surfaces (Fauvism), and for emotion distorting form. Some famous works of art during this period were La Joie de Vivre, Still Life with Oranges, The River Seine at Chatou, and Woman with a Hat. Inspiring artists during Fauvism and Expressionism were Matisse, Kirchner, Kandinsky, and Marc. the historical events that took place during this time were the Boxer Rebellion in China, and the World War. -
Cubism, Futurism, Supremativism, Constructivism, De Stijl (1905–1920)
This period was known for Pre– and Post–World War 1 art experiments, which were new forms to express modern life. Major works of art included Ambroise Vollard(Cubism), The Rhythm of the Violinist(Futurism),KAZIMIR MALEVICH (Suprematism), The Red Wedge(Constructivism), and Composition with White and Yellow(De Stijl). Important artists during this time were Picasso, Braque, Leger, Boccioni, Severini, and Malevich. The historical events were Russian Revolution, and American women franchised. -
Dada and Surrealism (1917–1950)
During the period, ridiculous art was created. Artists would paint dreams and explore the unconscious. Some of the famous artists were Duchamp, Dalí, Ernst, Magritte, de Chirico, and Kahlo. Some major artwork during this time was The Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali, Aquis Submersus, Cabaret Scene, and Fountain. The historical events that occured were Disillusionment after World War I; The Great Depression, World War II and Nazi horrors, and atomic bombs dropped on Japan. -
Abstract Expressionism (1940s–1950s) and Pop Art (1960s)
During this time artwork was based off of Post–World War II, pure abstraction and expression without form, and popular art absorbs consumerism. Some well-known artists were Gorky, Pollock, de Kooning, Rothko, Warhol, and Lichtenstein. Major works of art during this time were One: Number 31, Vir Heroicus Sublimis, and Orange Marilyn. The historical events that had gone on during this time were Cold War and Vietnam War, U.S.S.R. suppresses Hungarian revolt, and Czechoslovakian revolt.
