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PREHISTORY
It includes details of the earliest civilization and features countless examples of Stone Age art, such as petroglyphs (rock engravings), cupules (cup-shaped scourings), cave painting and famous venus figurines. Also includes dates of ancient art from Egyptian (c.2500 BCE), Minoan (c.2000 BCE) and Mycenean (c.1000 BCE) civilizations, and charts the rise in religious art. For a synopsis of the earliest painting and sculpture, see: Oldest Stone Age Art: Earliest 100 Artworks. -
Oils (walnut, linseed) first used for oil-resin varnishes, and for painting on stone & glass.
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High point of Greek black-figure style of ceramic pottery. Soon followed by red-figure.
Democracy in Athens. Celtic La Tène art style begins. Roman Republic starts. -
Beginning of Medieval art (c.450-1450). Also the start of Byzantine art. Panel painting, Orthodox icon painting and mosaic art flourish.
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Famous Greek bronze sculpture: Discus Thrower (by Myron).
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Construction of the Parthenon begins. Finished 432.
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Death of Alexander the Great. Beginning of Hellenistic art (c.323-30 BCE)
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Start of Chinese Han Dynasty art which produced the first Chinese porcelain. Beginning of the cave art at Ajanta, India - see Classical Indian Painting (up to 1150 CE).
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Era of Romanticism in art, encouraged by the heroic ideals of the French Revolution. French Romantics led by Eugene Delacroix. Other leading artists included William Blake, Caspar David Friedrich, JMW Turner, Thomas Cole and John Constable.
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Michelangelo paints the Genesis Old Testament Sistine Chapel frescoes.
