Paleolithic
Old Stone"
30,000-9,000 BCE
Neolithic
around 7,000-3,000 BCE
Sumerians
4,000-2,300BCE
Akkadians
2,300-1,800 BCE
Babylonians
1,800-1,600 BCE
Two Bison, reliefs in the cave at Le Tuc d'Audoubert
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Venus of Willendorf
-Paleolithic
-Female Fertility figure. Note the exaggeration of the sex organs. First piece where we see evidence of the human obsession with exaggerating the human form.
Two Bison, reliefs in the cave at Le Tuc d'Audoubert
-Paleolithic
-relief sculptures of two bison, among the largest Paleolithic sculptures known, built out of clay by the artist's hands.
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Spotted Horse and negative hand imprints, Pech-Merle, France
-Paleolithic
-meaning remains a mystery
-remote locations...fn might be magical? or to train young hunters?
Hand prints and markings that may have been a primitive form of writing.
Hall of Bulls
-Paleolithic
-common ground line (horizontal base of compostion) for all animals
-twisted perspective (can see both of bulls horns)
-many different artists created
-one of the largest/most spectacular examples of cave art
Rhinoceros, wounded man, and disemboweled bison
-Paleolithic
-earliest depiction of man
-earliest example of narrative art using human and animal forms discovered
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Deer Hunt, Catal Hoyuk
-Neolithic
-most descriptive picture of the shape of the human body
-this format will continue for a millenia
-human figures regularly appear
-narrative pictures
Human Figure
-Neolithic
-marks beginning of monumental sculpture in the history of art
-made of plaster and reeds
Stonehenge
-Neolithic
-testimony to the rapidly developing intellectual powers of Neolithic humans; also amazing physical achievement.
-post and lintel structure
White Temple and Ziggurat at Uruk
-Sumerian
-demonstrates sumerians desire to provide monumental setting for the worship of their deities
-also the center of gov't and economy as well as being a religious temple
ziggurat at ur
-Sumerian
-best preserved zigg in mesopotamia
-testament to the prosperity of sumerian society
Warka Vase
-Sumerian
-first example of narrative art in sumerian culture
- use a "ground line" to create narrative story with linear chronology
-divided into three registers or freizes (style still used today)
-employs hierarchy of scale
-depcits festival
Standard of Ur
-Sumerian
-one side depicts peace; other side war
-indication of the incredible wealth of the sumerian state
Victory Stele of Naram-Sin
-Akkadian
-first time king appears with god-attributes
-tiered composition suggesting foreground and background; revolutionary in terms of composition
COMPARE TO WARKA VASE.
Stele with Law Code of Hammurabi
-Babylonian
-god, shamash is optically presented (not twisted perspective)
-foreshortening
-using imagery to associate king with gods
Ishtar Gate
-Babylonian
-indication of babylonian's great wealth
-babylon=one of the 7 wonders of the world
-great buildings were covered in glazed brick
Persepolis
-Persian
-symbol of persia's imperial power
-gate of all lands--indicates harmony amongst peoples
-testifies to the active exchange of ideas and artists among Med and near east civilizations
palette of king narmer
-Predynastic
-blueprint for egyptian figure representation that would endure for the next 3,000 years
-earliest example of labeled work
Imhotep Stepped Pyramid
-Old Kingdom
-one of the oldest stone structures in egypt
-represents rulers absolute and godlike power
Great Sphinx
-Old Kingdom
-face of pharoh; combines human intelligence with the king of the beasts
-largest statue in the near east
Khafre enthroned
-Old kingdom
-ideal proportions; not realistic
-manifests purpose: to last for eternity
-typical egyptian depiction; emphasizes want for stable culture
Menkaure and Khamerernebty
-Old kingdom
-basic forumlaic type of statue
-indicates marital status in egypt; no affections, purely business
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
-New Kingdom
-temple in honor of Hatshepsut, the first recorded female monarch in history
Temple of Ramses II
-New Kingdom
-vast in scale
-monument of egyptian greatness
Temple of Amen-Re
-New Kingdom
-first place created the clerestory, revolutionary in architecture
Akhenaton
-New Kingdom
-goes against 2,000 years of egyptian tradition in terms of representing the human figure
-artists rebel against tradition
Nerfertiti
-New Kingdom
-during the rule of akenaton; contrary to traditional egyptian method of portraying the human form
Tutankhamen
-New Kingdom
-found in one of the few unplundered graves; indication of the massive wealth buried with mummies