Week 9

Landscapes and the World We Live In

The lecture this week is on landscapes and their depiction in art we covered various periods
and styles, showcasing the evolution of landscape painting throughout history. Some art
pieces cover arre:

1. Çatal Hüyük Mural (c. 6150 BCE): Found in a shrine at the Neolithic settlement of
Çatal Hüyük in modern-day Turkey, this mural is possibly the earliest known
landscape painting. It offers insights into early human interactions with the natural
world.
2. Spring Fresco, Akrotiri, Thera (Santorini) (c. 1550-1500 BCE): This fresco depicts a
vibrant landscape from the Minoan civilization, showcasing their artistic
sophistication and connection to nature.
3. Hunting in the Papyrus Thicket (Before 1350 BCE): A fragment from a mural in the
Tomb of Nebamun in Thebes-West, this artwork illustrates scenes of hunting within a
natural landscape, reflecting ancient Egyptian beliefs and daily life.
4. Odyssey Landscape (c. 60–40 BCE): A fresco from the Vatican Museums in Rome,
this artwork depicts scenes from Homer's Odyssey, providing glimpses into ancient
Greek perceptions of landscapes and adventure.
5. Garden Room, Villa of Livia (30-20 B.C.E.): A fresco from the Museo Nazionale
Romano in Rome, this artwork showcases the Roman appreciation for lush, garden
landscapes as depicted in domestic settings.
6. Aedicula with Small Landscape (Late 1st cent. BCE): A wall painting from the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, this artwork reflects the Roman fascination
with incorporating landscape elements into architectural designs.
7. Sacred Landscape from Pompeii (63–79 CE): This wall painting from the Museo
Archeologico Nazionale in Naples depicts a serene, idyllic landscape, showcasing
Roman artistic conventions and religious symbolism.
8. Little Garden of Paradise by Upper Rhenish Master (c. 1410-1420): A painting from
the Städel Museum in Germany, this work exemplifies medieval European depictions
of paradise gardens, often featuring lush landscapes as symbols of spiritual
abundance.
9. The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1472-1476): This painting from the Uffizi
Gallery in Florence includes a background landscape, demonstrating how
Renaissance artists incorporated natural settings into religious narratives.
10. The Harvesters by Pieter Brueghel the Elder (c. 1565): From the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York, this artwork represents a pivotal moment in landscape
painting during the Dutch Golden Age, where landscapes became subjects in their
own right rather than mere backgrounds.
11. The Monk by the Sea by Caspar David Friedrich (c. 1808-1810): This painting from
the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford epitomizes the Romantic landscape tradition,
portraying the sublime power of nature and evoking contemplation in viewers.

These artworks collectively demonstrate the diverse ways in which landscapes have been
depicted throughout history, reflecting the cultural, religious, and artistic trends of their
respective periods.