Art History and Development

Art History and Development

⮚ also called art historiography
⮚ is the historical study of the visual arts, being concerned with identifying, classifying, describing,
evaluating, interpreting and understanding the art products and historic development of the
fields of painting, sculpture, architecture and decorative arts, drawing, printmaking,
photography, interior design, etc.

Cave paintings
⮚ are also known as “parietal art”
⮚ they are painted drawings on cave walls or ceilings, mainly of prehistoric origin
⮚ the earliest known cave paintings/drawings of animals are at least 35,000 years old and were
found in caves in the district of Maros, located in Bantimurung district, South Sulawesi,
Indonesia, according to datings announced in 2014
⮚ the oldest known cave painting is a red hand stencil in Maltravieso cave, Caceres, Spain and
was said to be made by a Neanderthal
⮚ the oldest date given to an animal cave painting is now a pig that has a minimum age of 35,400
years old at Timpuseng cave in Sulawesi, an Indonesian island
⮚ Several cave paintings were also seen in Asia, Europe, North and South America. The Padah-Lin
Caves of Buma cotain 11,000 years old paintings and many rock tools. In the Philippines at
Tabon Caves the oldest artwork may be a relief of a shark above the cave entrance. It was
partially disfigured by a later jar burial scene.

Ancient Civilization Art

⮚ ancient civilization first started in Mesopotamia
⮚ famous of which is the Sumerian city – state
⮚ religious building and temples were established and their cultural arts flourished

The Egyptian Art

⮚ The first ruler was King Menes also called King Narmer, who united Egypt under one
government and founded the capital city of Memphis. In the Narmer palette the human form is
portrayed in a way that became standard in Egyptian art. The head and legs are shown from the
side, while the eye and shoulders are shown the front.
⮚ The first great period of Egyptian civilization, called the Old Kingdom, began during the rule of
King Joser. The advances of the period were due mainly to Imhotep, the king’s first minister. He
was a skilled architect, statesman, and scholar. He was probably the architect of the famous
Step pyramid at Saqqara. The Step Pyramid was first stone building in history and the first of the
many pyramids to appear during the next during the next 1,000 years.
⮚ The Great Pyramid of Giza also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops is the
oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering what is now El
Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to
remain largely intact. The pyramids were meant to house the pharaoh’s bodies and serve as
reminders of their almighty power.
⮚ The most beautiful of these is the temple of Deir el-Bahari. It was built about 1470 by the
famous Queen Hatshepsut. A series of terraces was surrounded by colonnades and connected
by ramps. This temple was built entirely of fine limestone. In contrast, the nearby temple of
 Ramses II was built (about 1250) entirely of sandstone – a coarse material that is easy to work
with.
⮚ The gods, too, needed proper care. Their temples were built as great palaces, with stables,
orchards and farmlands, and staff of attendants. Daily rituals and seasonal festivals were
pictured on the temple walls. Rulers prided themselves on what they had done to improve the
shrines of the gods. There are fifteen major ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses.

The Ancient Greek Art

⮚ In around 450 B.C., the Athenian general Pericles tried to consolidate his power by using public
money, the dues paid to Athens by its allies in the Delian League coalition, to support the city-
state’s artists and thinkers
⮚ Pericles paid artisans to build temples and other public buildings in the city of Athens. He
reasoned that this way he could win the support of the Athenian people by doling out plenty of
construction jobs; at the same time, by building public monuments so grand that people would
come from far and wide to see them, he could increase Athen’s prestige as well as his own

The Architecture of Classical Greece

⮚ The most noteworthy result of Pericles’ public-works campaign was the magnificent Parthenon,
a temple in honor of the city’s patron goddess Athena. The Parthenon was built atop the
Acropolis, a natural pedestal made of rock that was the site of the earliest settlements in
Athens, and Pericles invited other people to build there as well.
⮚ In 437 B.C., for example, the architect Mnesikles started to build a grand gateway known as the
Propylaia at its western end, and at the end of the country, artisans added a smaller temple of
Athena – this one in honor of her role as the goddess of victory, Athena Nile – along with one for
Athena and Erechtheus, an Athenian king.

The Architecture of Classical Greece – Sculpture

⮚ Not many classical statues or sculptures survive today. (Stone statues broke easily, and metal
ones were often melted for re-use). However, we know that sculptors such as Phidias and
Polykleitos in the 5th century and Praxiteles, Skopas and Lysippos in the 4 th century had figured
out how to apply the rules of anatomy and perspective to the human form just as their
counterparts applied them to buildings.

The Architecture of Classical Greece – Pottery

⮚ People offered small terra cotta figurines as gifts to gods and goddesses, buried them with the
dead and gave them to their children as toys. They also used clay pots, jars and vases for almost
everything. These were painted with religious or mythological scenes that, like the era’s statues,
grew more sophisticated and realistic over time.

The Roman Arts and Architecture

⮚ The Romans put the lessons of the Etruscans to practical use. The baths and arenas are tributes
to the skill of Rome’s great builders. Because of the use of the ach, the Romans could build on a
greater scale than the Greeks, who used the post and lintel (a beam supported by two
columns). The arch can support much more weight than the post and lintel. Roman aqueducts
were often three levels of arches piled one on top of another.
⮚ The Tomb of Caecilia Metella is an ancient Roman structure that was constructed at the end of
the Roman republican period. It is basically cylindrical in shape and is faced with travertine that
has an entablature frieze surrounded with skulls of bulls and garlands.
 ⮚ Roman sculptors were greatly influenced by the Greeks. But the Romans showed their skill and
originality in their portraits. They portrayed their emperors, generals, and senators with a
degree of realism unknown to the Greeks. Thinning hair, double chins, crooked noses – all the
physical traits that make one person look different from another – can be found in Roman
sculpture.
⮚ Painting was usually done as a form of decoration. In Pompeii, for example, paintings were
executed on the inside walls of the houses in fresco (painting on wet plaster). Often these
murals were used to make the room seem larger, by giving the illusion of depth, or to create a
pastoral landscape where there was no window or view.

Chinese Art and Painting

⮚ Earliest Chinese painting was ornamental, not representational. That is, it consisted of patterns
or designs, not pictures. Stone Age pottery was painted with spirals, zigzags, dots and lines. Very
rarely was pottery was painted with human figures or animals. It was only during the Warring
States period (403-221 B.C.) that artist began to represent the world around them.
⮚ Artists from the Han (202 B.C. – A.D. 220) to the Tang (618-906) dynasties mainly painted the
human figure. Much of what we know of early Chinese figure painting comes from burial sites,
where paintings were preserved on silk banners, lacquered objects, and tomb walls. Many early
tomb paintings were meant to protect the dead or help their souls get to paradise. Others
illustrated the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius or showed scenes of daily life.
⮚ The time from the Five Dynasties period to the Northern Song period (907-1127) is known as the
Great Age of Chinese Landscape. In the north, artists such as Jing Hau, Fan Kuan, and Guo Xi
painted pictures of towering mountains. They used strong black lines, ink wash, and sharp,
dotted brushstrokes to suggest rough stone. In the south, Dong Yuan, Ju Ran and other artist
painted the rolling hills and rivers of their native countryside in peaceful scenes done with
softer, rubbed brushwork. These two kinds of scenes and techniques became the classical styles
of Chinese landscape painting.
⮚ In the late 1800’s and 1900’s, Chinese painters were increasingly exposed to the art of Western
cultures. Some artists who studied in Europe rejected Chinese painting. Other artists tried to
combine the best of both traditions. Perhaps the most beloved modern painter was Qi Baishi.
He began life as a poor peasant and become a great master. His most famous works depict
flowers and small animals.
⮚ The Chinese were masters of bronze, jade, and ceramics. Decorative objects made of these
materials are among China’s greatest contributions to world art. Bronze metalwork is the
greatest art form of ancient China. The Great Bronze Age of China lasted from the Shang (1523-
1000’s B.C.) to the Han dynasty. During the Shang dynasty, bronzes were used for ritual
purposes. Bronze shapes and designs became more and more elaborate, especially those
produced at the northern city of Anyang, the last Shang capital.
⮚ Jade is hard, beautiful stone that was highly valued by the Chinese. Jade ornaments and
sculptures are found at many early burial sites. Because jade is brittle and difficult to work with,
the earliest jades are very simply carved. During the Eastern Zhou period (770-221 B.C.)
improved tools allowed artists to produce exquisite jades with complicated shapes and curved,
complex patterns. Jade working continues to be one of the main handicraft traditions of modern
China.
⮚ Over many centuries, Chinese potters learned to control the temperatures of their kilns (special
ovens for firing pottery), to refine clays and to perfect glazes. (A glaze is a glassy coat that helps
make ceramics waterproof and enhance their appearance). These techniques enabled them to
produce ceramics that were admired worldwide. Among the most valued ceramics are a group
 glazed in different shades of green. These are known in the West as celadons. The blue and
white wares of the Ming dynasty are also widely admired.
⮚ Many critics believe the Tang dynasty was the golden age of Buddhist sculpture. Later sculptors
continued to follow the traditions of both Buddhist and non religious sculpture. During the
1900’s, Western realistic styles were used in sculptures honouring important persons and
events.

Japanese Art
⮚ In traditional Japan, no distinction was made between the fine arts of painting and sculpture and
the decorative arts – ceramics, lacquer, textiles and the like. All were thought to be equally valid
forms of artistic expression. Even an everyday object, it finely designed and crafted, was
considered a work of art.

Japanese Art – Sculpture

⮚ The earliest sculptures were made of clay. Small clay figurines resembling humans and animals
have been found in Neolithic sites (dating from 10,000-3,000 B.C.) throughout the country.
From the 300’s to the 500’s A.D. large clay figures were placed around the great mounded
tombs of powerful rulers. These figures were of men, women, animals and even boats and
houses.
⮚ The introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 500’s influenced sculpture techniques, styles and
subjects. The 500’s to the 700’s are known as the classical era of Buddhist sculpture. During this
time, temple sculptures of the Buddha and other gods were often made of gilt (gold-covered)
bronze because of its value and awe-inspiring appearance. One of the most impressive gilt
bronze statues from this period is a 52-foot (16-meter) seated Buddha in the Todaiji, a temple in
the city of Nara. It was made in a lifelike style typical of the arts of the 700’s.
⮚ Most statues of the 800’s were carved of wood, a material that could be readily obtained
throughout Japan. At first, statues were carved from solid blocks of wood. But they were heavy
and tended to crack over time. Gradually, sculptors developed a better method. Many small
pieces of wood were joined together like a jigsaw puzzle. They were then covered with thin
layers of lacquer, gold leaf and paint. The sculptor Jocho is thought to have perfected this
technique in the 1000’s. His masterpiece is a graceful figure of the Buddha Amida. It is the main
object of worship in the Byodoin, a temple near Kyoto. The joined wood block technique
developed by Jocho continued to be used by sculptors until the 1800’s.

Japanese Art – Painting

⮚ Beginning in the 900’s, paintings with nonreligious themes were increasingly collected by
wealthy aristocrats. Especially popular were handscrolls. These were long narrative scrolls that
contained both text and paintings. Sections of text, written in calligraphy (beautiful writing),
were alternated with pictures illustrating the story. Handscrolls were about 12 inches (30 cm)
high and up to 50 feet (15 meters) long. They were held horizontally in the hands and unrolled
to reveal the story little by little. The subject matter of hndscrolls ranged from moving romantic
tales to historical battles stories.
⮚ Screen painting is often thought of as one of the most characteristic forms of Japanese art.
Painted screens were a feature of Japanese residential architecture as early as the 700’s.
Traditional Japanese houses do not have fixed walls. Instead they have sliding doors that may be
opened or closed depending on whether a large or small piece is needed. Folding screens, made
up of several panels each, serve as additional, portable room dividers. Both sliding doors and
folding screens are used as painting surfaces.
Japanese Art - Woodblock Prints
⮚ Woodblocks were first used in Japan to reproduce religious texts and images. By the 1600’s they
were widely used to print inexpensive pictures and illustrated books that were eagerly collected
by members of all social classes. Prints showing famous actors in their favourite roles and
beautiful women dressed in luxurious kimonos (robes) were much in demand. Some
printmakers, such as those of the Tori and Kaigetsudo schools, specialized in these two
categories. The artist Hokusai and Hiroshige are acknowledge as the greatest masters of the
landscape print. Their works, generally, feature views of scenic national landmarks such as Mt.
Fuji.

Japanese Art – Ceramics

⮚ Japan has the one of the oldest ceramic traditions in the world. Earthenware vessels called
Jomon or “cold-marked”, after their distinctive surface decoration, are believed to have made as
early as 10,000 B.C. Until 1600’s A.D., all Japanese ceramics were either earthenware or
stoneware. Earthenware is a reddish, non-waterproof ware that is fired at low temperatures.
Stoneware is a harder ware that is fired at a high temperature and often glazed (given a glossy
finish for beauty and resistance to water).
⮚ The rise during the 1500’s of a tea-drinking ritual known as the tea ceremony stimulated the
growth of ceramic production. A wide range of shapes, sizes, and glazes developed in response
to the requirements of the tea ceremony. The centerpiece of the tea ceremony is a beautiful tea
bowl, from which guests takes turns sipping a special green tea. Other ceramic wares are used
for preparing the tea and serving the accompanying meal.

Japanese Art - The Ukiyo-e

⮚ Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese art which flourished from the 17 th through 19th centuries. Its
artists produced woodblock prints of such subjects as female beauties; kabuki actors and sumo
wrestlers; scenes from history and folk tales; travel scenes and landscapes; flora and fauna; and
erotica. The term ukiyo-e translates as “picture(s) of the floating world”. By combining “uki” for
sadness and “yo” for life, the word “ukiyo-e” originally reflected the Buddhist concept of life as
a transitory illusion, involving a cycle of birth, suffering, death, and rebirth. But ironically, during
the early Edo period, another ideograph which meant “to float”, similarly pronounced as “uki”,
came into usage, and the term became associated with wafting on life’s worldly pleasures.
⮚ The earliest prints were simple black and white prints taken from a single block. Sometimes
these prints were colored by hand, but this process was expensive. In the 1740s, additional
woodblocks were used to print the colors pink and green, but it wasn’t until 1765 that the
technique of using multiple color woodblocks was perfected. The glorious glorious full color
prints that resulted were known as nishiki-e or “brocade pictures”.

Japanese Art - Popular Themes

⮚ Prints could be produced quite cheaply and in large numbers. While on the wealthy could afford
paintings by the artists of the day, ukiyo-e prints were enjoyed by a much wider audience. The
subjects depicted in these prints reflect the interests and aspirations of the people who bought
them.
⮚ “Pictures of the Floating World”, the literal translation of the ukiyo-e, refers to the licensed
brothel and theatre districts of Japan’s major cities during the Edo period. Inhabited by
prostitutes and Kabuki actors, these were the playgrounds of the newly wealthy merchant class.
Japanese Art – Landscapes
⮚ Perhaps the most iconic of all ukiyo-e prints, Hokusai’s “Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa”
is an arresting example of a landscape print. Centuries of peace during the Edo period, and the
development of a sophisticated highway network, fostered a culture of mass travel in Japan.
⮚ Prints of famous and beautiful places served as cheap and easy souvenirs. Also, new ways of
looking at the world, imported from the West through Dutch and Chinese traders, awoke an
interest in drawing from life.
⮚ Ukiyo-e was one of the first forms of Japanese art that found its way across the seas to Europe
and America with the opening of trade between the countries. The influence that this exposure
had upon the West became known as Japonism, defined by an interest in the aesthetics of the
style that would go on to profoundly influence many Western artists and movements such as
Impressionism, Art Nouveau, and Modernism.