Western Art History Timeline

El Castillo Cave Paintings : Prehistoric (40800 - 37000 BCE)

37,000 BCE

Figurative art was found in the cave of El Castillo, Spain. The rock paintings consist of figurative paintings of animals such as the red mammoth and abstract art including about 40 red ochre hand stencils grouped in an area on the rock.

Women of Willendorf : Prehistoric, Upper Paleolithic (28000 - 25000 BCE)

30,000 BCE

The Women of Willendorf sculpture is one of the earliest images of humans, she is a female figure and was found in the present day town of Willendorf, Austia. This mobiliary art piece is also significant because it shows evidence that nomatic societies likely practiced religion, politics, had set beliefs, etc.

Apollo 11 Cave : Prehistoric (27500 - 25500 BCE)

27,500 BCE

In the Apollo 11 Cave, Namibia Africa, archaeologist uncovered seven quartzite slabs with images of animals drawn with charcoal. They are the oldest dated rock art in Africa. Out of the seven drawings some consist of a feline cat with human hind legs, a zebra with unusually long legs and a possible a rhinoceros.

'Ain Ghazal Statues : Ancient Mesopotamia (7200 - 6500 BCE)

6000 BCE

Found in Ayn Ghazal in Jordan, the 'Ain Ghazal Statues are believed to represent the ancestors of those in the neolithic village, but their purpose remains uncertain. Some of the busts are two-headed and all of the heads are modeled with wide-open eyes using bitumen-outlined white irises.

Western Art History

Period: 4400 BCE to 1700

Western Art History

Palette Of Narmer : Ancient Egypt (3200 - 3000 BCE)

3000 BCE

The Palette of Narmer was a valued piece at its time in Egypt and was used as a ritual object with cerimonial purposes. It depicts king of Egypt, Narmer who is wearing the crown of upper and the crown of lower Egypt on opposite sides of the palette. The registers depict unification of Egypt under one ruler. This representation of unification between upper and lower Egypt is unique to this piece as this is the only found example of one king sporting both crowns.

Tell Asmar Hoard Statues : Ancient Mesopotamia (2900 - 2350 BCE)

2350 BCE

Tell Asmar Hoard Statues consist of twelve statues created for temples and religious purposes in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq). The statues are believed to embody the worshipper and their spirit would be present at the temple when their physical body was not. The sculptures were styled in a geometric way with abstract shapes forming their bodies

Stonehenge : Prehistoric (3000 - 2000 BCE)

2000 BCE

The Stonehenge is a megalithic monument located on a grassy plain in England still standing where it was first constructed. At it's time of creation, Stonehenge has always been a burial site for many neolithic people as some of the buried individuals were from other regions as far as the Mediterranean Sea. It is believed that Stonehenge was a multifunctional site where rituals were performed, a place where people congregated, and used for ancestory worship as well.

Egyptian Painted Wooden Tomb Models : Ancient Egypt (2130 - 1784 BCE)

1600 BCE

Egyptian painted wooden models of elite deceased figures and other figures overseeing the counting of cattle were found in and around tomb sites. Made of wood and metal statuary, the models required skilled artistry as the arms could be extended and hold separate objects creating a more realistic appearance. Statuettes of lower status people displayed a wide range of possible actions that always benefited the elite model in the scene.

Bull-Leaping Fresco from the palace at Knossos : Ancient Greek (1450 - 1400 BCE)

1400 BCE

Created out of painted stucco relief, this scene depicts a subject holding and jumping over a bull as two other figures are on either side of the bull.

Head of a daughter of Akhenaten : Ancient Egypt (1350 BCE)

1350 BCE

This is a sculpture of the female Egyptian pharaoh, Akhenaten. The elongated head, neck, and face are common features seen when depicting males in Egyptian art, but Akhenaten is an exception as she was a respected powerful ruler.

Sculpture of a Fallen Trojan Warrior From the West Pediment of the Temple of Aphaia II : Ancient Greek (510 - 500 BCE)

500 BCE

The sculpture set together depict the war of Troy. This soldier in particular wears the archaic smile.

The Riace Warriors : Ancient Greek (460 - 450 AD)

450 BCE

Created to represent a highly exaturated depictions of male Greeks, the Riace Warriors are made from casting bronze.

Stele of Naram-Sin : Ancient Mesopotamia (254 - 218 BCE)

218 BCE

This piece commemorates the ruler Naram-Sin in a more dynamic depiction then previous human art. The ruler Naram-Sin is depicted wearing a big helmet that has animal bull horns on the sides, this represents how he is seen as a god with just as much power. He is the tallest depicted figure in the scene showing hierarchy scale, signifying power. Some figures are looking up to him as a god, another is running away in composite view as his head and body are facing opposite directions.

Blacas Cameo : Ancient Roman (20 - 50 AD)

50

This cameo, an engraved gem, was a piece of jewelry depicting the profile of the Roman emperor Augustus. This piece is believed to have been made shortly after his death. This is an important piece as it was meant to be seen by only a small selected group as it contains political and sensual aspects.

Trajan's Column by Apollodorus of Damascus : Ancient Roman (107 - 113 AD)

113

The Trajan's Column was built in commemoration of the Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. This column continuously depicts a variety of scenes, some showing different angles of the scene, that unfold throughout the 115 foot high marble column.

Nok Terracottas : African (500 BC - 200 AD)

200

The Nok Terracotta figures are apart of a series of small iron-wroked sculptchers. They are believed to represent spiritual and religious beings used in traditional cerimoies.

Basilica of San Vitale by the Roman Catholic Church : Byzantine (526 - 547 AD)

547

The church Basilica of San Vitale, Italy, is one of the most important examples of early Christian Byzantine art and architecture in Europe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Vitale

Basilica of St Denis by Abbot Suger : Gothic (1144 CE)

1144

The north transept rose features the Tree of Jesse and on the opposite wall of the church is the south transept rose depicting the Creation. Reared as the birth of Gothic art, the renaceance archatech, Abbot Suger was the first to place a great importance on light, a religiouse symbol of divinity.

The Last Judgment by Gislebertus : Romanesque (1130 -1145 CE)

1145

Located above the main entrance of the Cathedral of Saint-Lazare, this tympanum serves as the main portal. Framed in this divine sphere is Christ in the center held up by angels, the Virgin Mary and the devil. This piece graphicly shows the weighing of souls, the seperation between the saved and the damned beings, good and evil

Bronze Head from Ife : African (11th - 15th CE)

1300

Originating from Nigeria, these bronze casted heads are busts of political rulers. Their detailed line work, holes, and accessories represent high class, value, and religious ranking.

Ognissanti Madonna (Madonna in Maestà) by Giotto di Bondone : Romanesque (1314 - 1327 AD)

1310

Located on an alter in the first room of the Uffizi church, this formal portal painting depicts the subject matters Virgin Mary (Madonna), holding Child Christ with saints and angels surrounding them. This style of depicting Virgin Mary is called a Maestà. Although this painting is reminiscent of the Byzantine style, Giotto painted with light and contrast, creating a sense of volume. Giotto was the first artist out of the Western European art style to depict three dimensional figures.

The Tribute Money by Masaccio : Renaissance (1425 CE)

1425

Located in the Brancacci chapel this painting tells a story of St. Peter in a continuous narrative.

Dome of Florence Cathedral by Filippo Brunelleschi : (1420 - 1436 CE)

1470

Last Supper by Leonarda da Vinci : Renaissance (1495 - 1498 CE)

1498

The Last Supper depicts Christ and his followers eating. This piece sets out to unite the earthly, represented by the 12 apostils, and the divine, Christ. This scene captures the twelve apostles’ reactions the moment after Christ says, “One of you will betray me.”. In this painting we see human emotions depicted in the 12 figure’s with an energy of fear and worry in the figures surround Christ who is dead center with a glowing window and a sphere of empty space that frames him.

David, Michelangelo : Renaissance (1501–1504)

1504

This massive 17' suculpture represents David during the biblical battle with Goliath. Michelangelo capturing his expression to seeing Goliath, before he reacts to him in a contrapposto pose. He exaggerated the Renaissance architectural style of geometric design and symmetry ad created a more intellectual pose with not muscular or "fleshy" look to his nude body.

Queen Mother Pendant Mask : African (16th CE)

1600

This mask depicts a women's face who was the mother of the king of Benin. The detailed line work and the white color symbolize ritual purity and high political status. This mask was used in spiritual ceremonies among the Benin.

Self-Portrait, Judith Leyster : Southern Baroque (1630 CE)

1630

Taj Mahal by Shah Jahan : Islamic (1632 - 1653 AD)

1653