ART

APPRECIATION
JONATHAN A. BITOY, CMF
 ARCHITECTURE
The art and science of building
and erecting buildings.
History of Architecture
When did man start building houses?
From caves, to branches, to wigwarms,
huts, concrete houses, etc.
The Stonehenge
• Stonehenge, a circular arrangement of large stones located near Salisbury,
England, was a ritual monument for prehistoric peoples. It was built
between 3000 and 1000 BC. Little is known about Stonehenge’s function,
but many scholars believe that its structure allowed its builders to predict
solstices, equinoxes, eclipses, and other events of the solar calendar.
The Roman Colosseum
• Colosseum, largest and most famous ancient
Roman amphitheater. The structure was
originally called Flavian Amphitheater.
Modifications and restorations necessitated by
fires and earthquakes were made to the
Colosseum until the early 6th century. In
succeeding centuries the Colosseum suffered
from neglect, earthquakes, and damage done
by builders. Still, slightly more than one-third
of the outer arcades, comprising a number of
the arches on the north side, remain standing.
The seating capacity of the Colosseum is
believed by modern scholars to have been
about 50,000.
 The Pyramids of Giza
• The ancient Egyptians built more than 90 royal pyramids, from
about 2630BC until about 1530 BC. During that time, the pyramid
form evolved from a series of stepped terraces that resembled the
layers of a wedding cake to the better known, sloped pyramidal
shaped. The first pyramid, the Step Pyramid at Saqqarah, was
constructed during the reign of King Djoser (2630 BC-2611 BC).
The largest pyramid is the one built for King Khufu, at the site of
modern Giza. Khufu’s pyramid, known as the Great Pyramid, is the
only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that still survives.
• Egyptian pyramids served as tombs for king and queens, but they
were also places of ongoing religious activity. After a ruler died, his
or her body was carefully treated and wrapped to preserve it as a
mummy. According to ancient Egyptian belief, the pyramid, where
the mummy was placed, provided a place for the monarch to pass
into the afterlife.
The Parthenon
Stands at the very
heart of the Acropolis
of Athens, Greece. It
was built in honor of
the Goddess of
Wisdom, Athena.
 The Greek
Architecture
The Greek Orders
 The Doric Order
• The Doric order originated on the mainland and western Greece. It is the simplest of the
orders, characterized by short, faceted, heavy columns with plain, round capitals (tops) and
no base. With only four to eight diameters in height, the columns are the most squat of all
orders. The shaft of the Doric order is channeled with 20 flutes. The Ionic order came from
eastern Greece, where its origins are entwined with the similar but little known Aeolic order.
It is distinguished by slender, fluted pillars with a large base and two opposed volutes (also
called scrolls) in the echinus of the capital. The echinus itself is decorated with an egg-and-
dart motif. The Ionic shaft comes with four more flutes than the Doric counterpart (totaling
24). The Ionic base has two convex moldings called tori which are separated by a scotia.
The Corinthian order
• Is the most ornate of the Greek orders, characterized by a slender
fluted column having an ornate capital decorated with acanthus
leaves. It is commonly regarded as the most elegant of the five
orders. The most distinct characteristics is the striking capital. The
capital of the Corinthian order is carved with two rows of leaves and
four scrolls.
The Composite order
• Is a mixed order, combining the volutes of the Ionic
order with the leaves of the Corinthian order.
The Architecture Design
Byzantine
• The Golden Age of Byzantine Architecture was under the rule of Justinian in 527-565. It
was during the period that the most famous examples of all Byzantine Architecture was
built, the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia was rebuilt from 532 to 537 after the previous
church was destroyed by riots. This church has some unique features which became the
patterns for Byzantine Architecture for years after.
• The style of the Hagia Sophia or Church of Divine Wisdom was to have a large dome in
the middle of the structure. The dome has a unique form in that it rest on 4 massive
pillars which are arranged in a square. The dome remained the main focus of the
Byzantine.
The Romanesque
Romanesque Art and
Architecture, arts and
architecture of western Europe
from about AD 1000 to the rise
of the Gothic style, in most
regions by the latter half of the
12th century, in certain regions
somewhat later.
 Gothic
• Gothic Architecture is a style of architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and
other churches, which flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period.
Beginning in twelfth century France, it was known as “ the French Style” (Opus
Francigenum) during the period, with the term Gothic first appearing in the Reformation
era as a stylistic insult.
• The Gothic style emphasizes verticality and features almost skeletal stone structures with
great expanses of glass, ribbed vaults, clustered columns, sharply pointed spires, flying
buttresses. In Gothic Architecture the pointed arch is utilized in every location where a
vaulted shape is called for, both structural and decorative. Gothic openings such as
doorways, windows, arcades and galleries have pointed arches.
• Another distinctive feature of Gothic Architecture especially in churches and cathedrals is
the Rose Window (Notre dame). The North Rose Window of the Notre Dame Cathedral in
Paris (1240-1250) was built by Jean de Chelles. It is designed in the Rayonnant style,
named for the radiating spokes in this type of window. The center circle depicts the
Virgin and Child, surrounded by the figures of prophets. The second circle shows 32 Old
Testament kings, and the outer circle depicts 32 high priests and patriarchs.
Baroque
• Baroque churches were larger in scale that their predecessors and their interiors
more richly decorated with sculpture and paintings.
• Long narrow naves are replaced by broader, occasionally circular forms. Dramatic
use of light, either strong light-and-shade contrasts, chiaroscuro effects or uniform
lighting by means of several windows.
• Opulent use of ornaments (puttos made of wood (often glided), plaster or stucco,
marble of faux finishing).
• Large-scale ceiling frescoes the interior is often no more than a shell for painting
and sculpture (especially in the late baroque).
 ROCOCO
• Rococo Style, style of 18th-century painting and
decoration characterized by lightness, delicacy, and
elaborate ornamentation.
• The word “rococo” is derived from “rocaille”,
meaning “rock work” or “shell work,” a favorite
motif of the time. It stresses purely ornamental,
light, casual, irregular design.
• The Rococo style is characterized by pastel colors,
gracefully delicate curving forms, fanciful figures,
and a lighthearted mood (visually and physically).
The essence of Rococo art is light. Extreme
highlights are placed on the subject matter and the
overall work is light in color, effect, and emotion.
Artists paid special attention to fine detail. Form is
characterized by delicacy of color, dynamic
compositions, and atmospheric effects.
ART
APPRECIATION
JONATHAN A. BITOY, CMF