1.

Introduction to Art History

● Definition: Art history is the study of visual art and its development over time, including
its cultural, social, political, and historical contexts.
● What is Art?: Defining art and the changing perceptions of what constitutes art through
history.
● Methods of Art History:
○ Formal Analysis: Examining visual elements like color, line, composition, and
technique.
○ Contextual Analysis: Exploring the cultural, historical, and social contexts in
which art was created.
○ Iconography: The study of symbols and themes in artworks.

2. Prehistoric Art

● Paleolithic Art:
○ Cave Paintings: Examples like the Lascaux Caves (France) and Altamira
(Spain).
○ Venus Figurines: Small fertility statues such as the Venus of Willendorf.
● Neolithic Art:
○ Stonehenge: Megalithic structures and the development of permanent
settlements.
○ Pottery and Early Sculpture: Functional and ceremonial objects.

3. Art of the Ancient Near East

● Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian Art:

○ Ziggurats: Religious temple complexes (e.g., Ziggurat of Ur).
○ Stele of Hammurabi: Early laws engraved in stone, with an emphasis on relief
sculpture.
● Assyrian Art:
○ Palace Reliefs: Depictions of kings, battles, and divine protection (e.g., the Lion
Hunt of Ashurbanipal).
● Persian Art:
○ Persepolis: Ceremonial capital, monumental architecture, and decorative reliefs.

4. Ancient Egyptian Art

● Architecture:
○ Pyramids of Giza: Tombs for pharaohs, representing religious beliefs in the
afterlife.
○ Temples: Temples dedicated to gods (e.g., Temple of Karnak).
● Sculpture:
○ Statues of Pharaohs: Idealized, rigid forms representing divine rulers.
○ Bust of Nefertiti: An example of portraiture in ancient Egypt.
● Painting and Reliefs: Hieroglyphics, tomb paintings, and depiction of gods, humans,
and daily life in a rigid, stylized manner.

5. Ancient Greek Art

● Geometric and Archaic Periods:

○ Geometric Pottery: Characterized by abstract motifs and patterns.
○ Kouros and Kore Statues: Rigid, frontal sculptures of young men and women.
● Classical Period:
○ Idealized Human Form: Sculptures like the Doryphoros by Polykleitos, with
emphasis on proportion and balance.
○ Architecture: The Parthenon, an example of Doric architecture.
● Hellenistic Period:
○ Emotional Expression: More dynamic and dramatic sculptures, such as the
Laocoön Group and Nike of Samothrace.

6. Ancient Roman Art

● Architecture:
○ The Colosseum and Pantheon: Examples of Roman engineering and use of
arches, domes, and concrete.
● Sculpture:
○ Portraiture: Busts of emperors and realistic depictions of individuals.
○ Reliefs: Triumphal arches like the Arch of Titus depicting military victories.
● Mosaics and Frescoes:
○ Pompeii: Preservation of Roman wall paintings and domestic art.

7. Early Christian and Byzantine Art

● Early Christian Art:

○ Catacombs: Underground burial chambers with Christian symbols and frescoes.
○ Basilicas: Early Christian church architecture (e.g., Old St. Peter’s Basilica in
Rome).
● Byzantine Art:
○ Mosaics: Iconic religious images in churches like the Hagia Sophia.
○ Icons: Religious panel paintings, highly stylized and symbolic.

8. Medieval Art

● Romanesque Art:
 ○ Architecture: Rounded arches, barrel vaults, thick walls, and small windows
(e.g., Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy).
○ Sculpture: Relief sculptures on church portals, often depicting biblical scenes.
● Gothic Art:
○ Architecture: Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and large stained-
glass windows (e.g., Notre Dame Cathedral).
○ Illuminated Manuscripts: Religious texts with intricate designs, gold leaf, and
illustrations (e.g., the Book of Kells).
○ Sculpture: More naturalistic, elongated figures on church façades.

9. Renaissance Art

● Early Renaissance (14th-15th Century):

○ Linear Perspective: Introduced by artists like Filippo Brunelleschi and
Masaccio to create depth in painting.
○ Humanism: Emphasis on the human figure, anatomy, and naturalism (e.g.,
Donatello’s David).
● High Renaissance (16th Century):
○ Leonardo da Vinci: Master of composition and sfumato technique (e.g., The
Last Supper, Mona Lisa).
○ Michelangelo: Known for his mastery in sculpture and fresco (e.g., David,
Sistine Chapel Ceiling).
○ Raphael: Renowned for his clarity and balanced compositions (e.g., The School
of Athens).
● Northern Renaissance:
○ Jan van Eyck: Innovator of oil painting with detailed works like the Arnolfini
Portrait.
○ Albrecht Dürer: A master of engraving and printmaking.

10. Baroque Art

● Characteristics: Dynamic movement, dramatic lighting, emotional intensity, and

grandiose scale.
● Caravaggio: Use of chiaroscuro and intense realism (e.g., The Calling of St. Matthew).
● Bernini: Sculptor and architect who brought theatricality to Baroque sculpture (e.g., The
Ecstasy of Saint Teresa).
● Rembrandt: Dutch Baroque painter known for his portraits and use of light and shadow
(e.g., The Night Watch).
● Peter Paul Rubens: Known for his dynamic compositions and vibrant use of color (e.g.,
The Descent from the Cross).

11. Rococo and Neoclassicism

● Rococo:
 ○ Characterized by playful, ornate, and pastel-colored works (e.g., Fragonard’s
The Swing).
○ Focus on aristocratic leisure and love.
● Neoclassicism:
○ Inspired by the art and culture of classical antiquity.
○ Artists like Jacques-Louis David emphasized simplicity, order, and political
themes (e.g., The Oath of the Horatii).

12. Romanticism and Realism

● Romanticism:
○ Emphasis on emotion, individualism, and nature’s sublime power (e.g.,
Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People).
○ Landscapes by artists like J.M.W. Turner evoked the awe of nature.
● Realism:
○ Reaction against Romanticism, focused on everyday life and social realities.
○ Gustave Courbet: Leading Realist painter (e.g., The Stone Breakers).
○ Édouard Manet: Bridged Realism and Impressionism (e.g., Olympia).

13. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

● Impressionism:
○ Focus on capturing the effects of light and atmosphere with quick, loose
brushstrokes.
○ Key artists: Claude Monet (e.g., Impression, Sunrise), Edgar Degas, Pierre-
Auguste Renoir.
● Post-Impressionism:
○ More emphasis on structure, form, and emotion than the fleeting moments of
Impressionism.
○ Key artists: Vincent van Gogh (e.g., Starry Night), Paul Cézanne, Georges
Seurat (Pointillism), and Paul Gauguin.

14. Modern Art (20th Century)

● Fauvism:
○ Bright, non-naturalistic colors and bold brushwork (e.g., Henri Matisse).
● Cubism:
○ Fragmentation of objects into geometric shapes (e.g., Pablo Picasso’s Les
Demoiselles d'Avignon and Georges Braque).
● Surrealism:
○ Exploration of the unconscious mind and dreamlike imagery (e.g., Salvador
Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory).
● Abstract Expressionism:
○ Emphasis on spontaneous, abstract forms and emotional expression (e.g.,
Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings).
 15. Contemporary Art

● Pop Art:
○ Celebrating and critiquing consumer culture and