What is Art History?

Group 2
Art History is the study of human expression, visual, but also tactile,
spatial and sometimes aural through history. Art Historians develop ways
to translate from the visual to the verbal, through analysis and
interpretation, using a number of different approaches and
methodologies.
 40,000 B.C – 2300 B.C
Prehistoric Era
• Prehistoric art refers to artifacts from
ancient civilizations such as
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and
Rome.
• Resources are from natural
environments such as clay, rocks,
minerals, animal hair, bones, wood, fat
and blood to create images.
• Subject matter included animals and
people and often told stories.
 Mesopotamia
• 9000 BCE – 300 BCE
• An ancient empire in what is known as
modern day Iraq
• Generally art was made by carving
stone relief used to decorate imperial
monuments.
• Reliefs royal affairs and hunting and
war.
• It is represented by animals like horses,
and lions. Lamassu
 Egypt
• 5,500 – 500 BCE
• Egyptian art was expressed through
painting , sculpture, and jewelry.
• It embodies a unique style and makes
use of an ancient form of symbolic
writing.
• It comes from tombs and monuments

Mask of Tutankhamun
 Greece
• 1000 BCE – 250 BCE
• Sculpture and architecture forms.
• Known for their architectural
monuments as well as sculptural
masterpieces
• They crafted beautiful vessels used for
everyday life.

Siren Vase
 Rome
• 509 BCE – 400 BCE
• Greatly influenced by Greek Culture,
the Ancient Romans excelled in
painting, sculpting, and architectural
design
• Mythological subject matter
predominated art at this time

Arch of Constantine
 Medieval
• Medieval art which includes a wide variety of
art and architecture refers to a period also
known as the Middle Ages, which roughly
spanned from the fall of the Roman Empire in
476 A.D. to the early stages of the
Renaissance in the 14th century.
• More on glass works, illuminated manuscripts,
paintings, sculptures, metal works, mosaics
and even textiles

Santa Trinita Maestà

 Renaissance
• Known as a period of “Rebirth” this was a
time when artist looked back to ancient
traditions while applying new scientific
knowledge.
• Renaissance
art, painting, sculpture, architecture, music,
and literature produced during the 14th,
15th, and 16th centuries in Europe under the
combined influences of an increased
awareness of nature, a revival of classical
learning, and a more individualistic view of
man.
Mona Lisa by Leonard Da Vinci
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