Western and Classical

Ancient and Classical Art

People who live thousands and thousands of years ago used picture instead of words to tell stories
or send messages. The early men drew picture before they developed written communication. They
draw how they hunted bison, rhinoceros, and the mammoth. They used sharp flint points to cut line
into the rock walls.
Cave of Lascaux 15,000-10,000 B.C. – Stone age
It was discovered n 12th September 1940 and given statuary historic monument protection. The
painting has nearly 2,000 figures composed mainly of animals human figures and abstract design.

What is Art during Classical period

The term “classical‟ refers to work of art that appear traditional because of the control in the
handling of themes and strong observation of order and proportion.

Egyptian classical Art

Egyptian paintings and sculpture were traditionally placed in tombs because of the ancient belief
that these assist the soul in the afterlife. Existing examples of Egyptian art primarily associated with
tombs.

Egyptian Art

Elements and Principles used in Egyptian art

1. Architecture

The Egyptian Pyramid

The ancient Egyptian pyramid are the world’s largest and oldest tombs or burial places. They
server as the most popular symbol of Egyptian art and Architecture.

Artistic Elements
Materials: Mud-bricked cased in limestone and granite
Color: Originally polished
Architecture design: there is an entrance hall, a court that has columns spaces to fit a Pharaoh’s
stature, storage chambers, and an inner sanctuary.

2. Painting
Egyptian paintings show mythological representation and scenes of the everyday social
activities of the Egyptian such as hunting, fishing, farming, or banqueting. These kinds of
painting were first found on the walls of the Pharaoh’s tombs created more than 500 years ago.
 The purpose of the Egyptian paintings is to make the deceased afterlife place pleasant.
 It emphasizes the importance of life after death and the preservation of the knowledge of the
past.
 Highly stylize, symbolic and shows profile view of an animals or a person. The main colors
used were red, black, blue, gold, and green.

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Western and Classical Art Traditions
Art can function as an artifact, as a political or social weapon, as entertainment, and as therapy. A
single artwork can function as any or all of them. Studies or art traditions in the past help in
understanding how art functioned in the past and how art can function in the present. Ancient art
could still be considered important even in this digital age because they show us where prototypes
came from. Prototypes are the original ideas of forms on which later ideas and forms are based. The
National Museum of the Philippines located in Manila is one example of public building whose
façade is a constant reminder of the structures during the time of our great grandparents.

What is Art during the classical period?

The term ‘‘classical’’ may be applied to art and music from a specific period in history (1750-
1820).
In the strictest sense, this is the term used to characterize the art, literature, and aesthetics created by
the ancient Greeks and Romans. In the visual arts, the term ‘‘classical’’ refers to work of art that
appear traditional because of the control in the handling of themes and strong observation of order and
proportion.

Egyptian Classical Art

Egyptian paintings and sculptures were traditionally placed in tombs because of ancient belief that
these assist the soul in the afterlife. Existing examples of Egyptian art are primarily associated with
tombs.

Egyptian Art
Egyptian art and architecture are the buildings, sculptures, paintings and decorative arts of ancient
Egypt from about 500 B.C. up to the subjugation of Egypt by Rome in 30 B.C.

Elements and Principles used in Egyptian Art

1. Architecture
The Egyptian Pyramids
 The ancient Egyptian pyramids are the world’s largest and oldest tombs or burial place. They
serve as the most popular symbol of Egyptian art and architecture.
Artistic Elements
Materials: Mud-bricked cased in limestone and granite.
Color: Originally polished, which gives a brilliant, reflected appearance when viewed from a
distance.

Architecture Design: The vast interior is part of a funeral complex where there is an entrance hall, a
court that has columns, spaces to fit a Pharaoh’s statue, storage chambers, and an inner sanctuary.

2. Painting
Egyptian painting show mythological representations and scenes of the everyday social activities
of the Egyptian such as hunting, fishing, farming, of banqueting. These kinds of paintings were first
found on the walls of the Pharaoh’s tombs created more then 500 years ago.

Artistic Elements
 Egyptian painting tends to be linear with very little concern for matters of perspective of
depth.
 Egyptian sense of line and color is excellent.

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 3. Sculpture
Egyptian sculpture includes statues or figures representing kings (Pharaohs), armies, servants, and
various animals.

4. Folk Art

a. Amulets and Jewelry in Ancient Egypt, both the living and the dead wore jewelry. Egyptian
folk art for both men and women includes bracelets, necklaces, armlets (bands around the
upper arm), and rings. Egyptians created amulets and jewelry because they believed in these
objects ability to protect them.

Artistic Elements
Materials: Gold, representing the flesh of the Gods and the color of the sun; non-clay ceramic
material,
glaze made from quartz.
Color: Deep blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and red carnelian, associated with the sun and the color of
the blood.
Shapes: based on the shapes of hieroglyphs or a system of writing that uses pictures instead of words,
shapes that were considered lucky by the ancient Egyptians. Examples are the dyed pillar,
which the Egyptians considered a symbol of stability.

b. Egyptian Pectoral
This pectoral or a type of large necklace, which is worn on the chest, is found in the tomb of an
18th Dynasty Pharaoh, Tutankhamun.

Materials: Gold, resin, and semi-precious stones.

Design: A large necklace
It is a pectoral, a type of large necklace worn on the chest, and represents a culture.

c. Pottery
It is one of the ancient Egyptians Earliest art forms.

Artistic Elements
Materials: Reddish brown clay from the Nile River.
Color: red, brown, and black color is due to exposing the post to smoke.
Design: various geometrical designs, shapes like boats and ostriches.

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