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Period: Jan 1, 1400 to Jan 1, 1530
Renaissance
This era witnessed the rebirth of classical culture. It experienced the discovery and exploration of new continents and technological advances after a period of stagnation. It placed human beings in the center of life's stage and combined thought and art with humanistic values. Famous artists of this time include Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Major works include Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. Art was centered around human beings, reflecting the society's focus on human beings. -
Jan 1, 1463
L'homme armé (Renaissance)
This was a French secular song. Set in Dorian mode, it was the most popular tune used for musical settings of the Ordinary of the Mass. Over 40 compositions entitled Missa L'homme armé survive from the period. -
Jan 1, 1504
David (Renaissance)
This statue displays the biblical hero, David, completely nude, proudly displaying all details of a body, including veins and the right thigh muscles flexing. It was considered as the world's greatest sculpture, as this still attracts millions of visitors. -
Period: Jan 1, 1530 to
Mannerism
Art during this time was often asymmetrical or unnaturally elegant. It was known for its intellectual sophistication and its artificial qualities. Mannerism in literature and music was famous for its florid style and intellectual sophistication. Well-known artists include El Greco and Parmigianino. Famous works include Saint Martin and the Beggar and Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions. Art focused on style and technique, as it was coincided with the Reformation. -
Jan 1, 1540
Madonna with the Long Neck (Mannerism)
Parmigianino's painting possesses flaws, but he distorted nature for his own artistic purposes, creating a typical Mannerist figura serpentinata. -
Period: to
Baroque
Works reflected religious status in the century, specifically the desire of the Catholic Church in Rome to reassert itself in the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Catholic monarchs and emperors relied on the Catholic Church to stay in power, hence the numerous art works, glorifying the faith and strengthening their political position. Notable artists were Velázquez and Caravaggio. Distinguished works were Vatel and The Girl with a Pearl Earring. -
Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions (Mannerism)
John Donne's book covers death, rebirth and the Elizabethan concept of sickness as a visit from God, reflecting internal sinfulness. -
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (Baroque)
Dr. Nicolaes Tulp is pictured explaining the musculature of the arm to medical professionals. Anatomy lessons were social events in the 17th century that occurred in lecture rooms that were actual theatres, with students, colleagues, and the general public being permitted to attend on payment of an entrance fee. -
The Girl with a Pearl Earring (Baroque)
The painting depicts a European girl wearing an exotic dress, an oriental turban, and a pearl earring. Vermeer focuses on the girl's gaze at the viewer. -
Period: to
Rococo
Rococo art embodied humorous, florid, and graceful aspects. It displayed bright colors, asymmetrical designs, curves, and gold. Artists used playful and witty themes. Furniture during this time was elegant. Rococo art has been praised for its aesthetic qualities. The Palace of Versailles and Candied were famous works by popular figures, like Voltaire and Antoine Watteau. Art during this time reflected Louis XV's reign, as it was delicate and playful during this time. -
Palace of Versailles (Rococo)
The court of Versailles was the center of political power in France from 1682-1789. Versailles is famous not only as a building, but as well as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. -
Period: to
Neoclassicism
Inspired by Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, this art focuses on simplicity and symmetry. The art witnessed a revival of the styles of classic antiquity inspired from the classical period, which coincided and reflected the developments in philosophy and other areas of the Age of Enlightenment. Jacques-Louis David and Winckelmann were among the most influential icons of the time. Thoughts on the Imitation of Greek Works in Painting and Sculpture and Oath of the Horatii were well-known. -
Judgement of Paris (Neoclassicism)
The painting reflects the revival of classical aspects from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. -
Candide (Rococo)
Voltaire ridicules religion, theologians, governments, armies, philosophies, and philosophers through his allegory. He is not afraid to reveal the poor reality of life. Today, Candide is recognized as Voltaire's magnum opus. It is among the most frequently taught works of French literature. Candide is regarded as one of the 100 most influential books ever written. -
Oath of the Horatii (Neoclassicism)
One of the best known paintings in the Neoclassical style, Oath of the Horatii stresses the importance of patriotism and self-sacrifice for one's country. It returns to Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman styles. -
Period: to
Romanticism
This time period looked to medieval styles. It emphasized emotion, aesthetic, individualism, and nature. Art was somewhat a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, the aristocratic social and political norms of the Enlightenment, and the scientific rationalization of nature. Some famous artists were Wordsworth and Edgar Allan Poe. The Nightmare and The Raven are among the prominent works during this time. -
Saturn Devouring His Son (Romanticism)
The painting depicts the Greek myth of the Titan Cronus, who, fearing that he would be overthrown by one of his children, ate each one upon their birth. As a Romantic piece, it aimed to trigger emotions such as horror and awe. -
The Tell-Tale Heart (Romanticism)
Edgar Allan Poe's dark plot and descriptions give off a suspenseful, eerie feeling, embodying the characteristics of a Romantic work. -
The Stone Breakers (Realism)
The Stone Breakers depicts 2 peasants, a young man and an old man, breaking rocks, completing everyday-tasks. -
Period: to
Realism
Realism sought to portray typical contemporary people located in realistic places, including the unpleasant aspects of life. Art depicted people of all classes with an ordinary life, and often reflected the changes brought by the Industrial and Commercial Revolutions. The working class was particularly emphasized. Famous figures include Gustave Courbet and Émile Zola. The Gleamers and The Song of the Lark are among the favorites of many. -
Period: to
Impressionism
Impressionists incorporated small brushstrokes, painting outside and catching the color and light of the subject. Bright, bold, vibrant colors make up for the lack of fine detail. Art departed from historical subjects and religious themes as France experienced turmoil. Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet undoubtedly impacted the world with their works. Soleil Levant and Dancers at the Barre are known worldwide. -
La Curée (Realism)
Émile Zola's story deals with property speculation and the lives of the extremely wealthy Nouveau riche of the Second French Empire in the 1850's and 1860's. -
Soleil Levant (Impressionism)
Monet's most famous painting of the harbor was shown at the "Exhibition of the Impressionists" in 1874. His impressionist style received criticism, but it was soon appreciated. -
Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Expressionism)
Nietzsche portrays a "new" or "different" Zarathustra, one who turns traditional morality on its head. Zarathustra also contains the famous dictum "God is dead," which took a large turn from the social norms, portraying its Expressionist traits. -
The Scream (Expressionism)
A drastically-distorted painting, the subject portrayed gives the viewers an uneasy feeling, making it an epitome for Expressionist paintings. -
Period: to
Expressionism
Works were made from a subjective perspective, distorting it dramatically for emotional effect to evoke moods or ideas. The emphasis on individual perspective has been described as a reaction to positivism and other artistic styles such as Impressionism. Identified artists are Vincent van Gogh and Friedrich Nietzsche. The Scream and Large Blue Horses are considered to be renowned. -
Dancers at the Barre (Impressionism)
Degas displays an everyday image of ballerinas at the barre. The small strokes and warm colors reveal that it is an Impressionist painting. -
In C (Postmodernism)
This music was composed for an indefinite number of performers. It is a response to the abstract academic serialist techniques devised by Schoenberg that influenced Western university composers for many decades and is often cited as the first minimalist composition. In C had a great impact on public consciousness. -
The Order of Things (Postmodernism)
Foucault tries to bore the origins of the human sciences, which have their root in biology, economics, and linguistics. He summarizes that all periods of history have possessed certain underlying epistemological assumptions that determined what was acceptable as, for example, scientific discourse. Foucault develops the notion of episteme, and argues that these conditions of discussion have changed over time, from one period's episteme to another. -
Period: to
Postmodernism
This time period saw a reaction to the assumed certainty of scientific efforts to explain reality. Its focus is on the relative truths of each person. It held skepticism for explanations that claim to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races. Art reacts against modernism. Martin Heidegger and Jean-François Lyotard are one of the most influential people of this time period. The Order of Things and The Postmodern Condition are the epitomes of Postmodernism.
