jill's art history blog

[arthistoryjillian]

Gothic Art

The Gothic style is one that many are familiar with, but most do not know the origins.  Many of the great stone churches that we see in and around Western Europe are from the Gothic era.  This era lasted from the middle of the 12th century to the 16th century.  However, the geographical origins of this art style go back to France.  More specifically, Northern France and the royal families who resided there.  When I learned this and when I looked at the pictures of the huge cathedrals that are associated with the Gothic art style, I recognized that the churches are very grand and very detailed with its architecture; almost like a castle.  Politics and art almost went hand-in-hand at this point.  At the beginning of the Gothic era.  Abbot Suger was a close religious and political advisor, as well as close friends with the ruler of France at the time: Louis VI.  Suger is credited to be the creator and the orchestrator of the Gothic art style.  Perhaps this is the reason as to why the royal architecture and the architecture of the churches and cathedrals are very similar.  Soon after the Second Crusade, Suger was named abbot of Saint-Denis; the first bishop of Paris and the patron saint of France.  When he passed away, he was buried in the same ground as the royal family.  I find that this encourages my theory as to why the architecture of the cathedrals and castles are similar.  

There are many elements that make up the architecture of the Gothic era.  Rib vaults, piers, flying buttresses, and pointed arches.  Are found almost everywhere.  However, these are very basic elements.  Something that comes to mind for me is the intricately stained glass windows.  In Figure 13.6 on page 202 of the textbook, There is an image of a stained glass window in the Chartres Cathedral, early 13th century.  In looking at this image, I immediately thought of the stained glass windows that are shown at the beginning of the 1991 Disney film, Beauty, and the Beast.  To be honest, this immediately clicked with me.  The art styles were the same and Beauty and the Beast took place in France: the birthplace of Gothic art.  

Similar to other eras of art, many pieces of art depict religious stories or themes.  In later developments of Gothic architecture, the cathedrals became more detailed and intricate.  Similar to the stone sculptures discussed chapter 9: Ancient Rome, There are humanoid stone sculptures both in and out of the buildings.  An example of this is depicted in figure 13.14 on page 208 of the textbook.  It is an image of the Royal Portal of the west facade, Chartres Cathedral.  This contains figures of Old Testament kings and queens.  So, this is not a religious depiction, but rather a political one; just another piece of evidence as to how religion and politics come together within the art.

The Gothic style is very consistent throughout the years of its life.  In other areas of Western Europe such as Germany and England.  The basic elements of architecture as discussed earlier are found in those cathedrals, as well.  The Salisbury Cathedral in England and the Cologne Cathedral in Germany are excellent examples of this.

When I see the art and the architecture of the Gothic era, I think of the world elegant.  It brings my eye to the detail and the connection between religion and politics; which brings the culture and the way of the world from the 12th and 16th centuries to light.  

[lehmannt5964-blog]

Week 15 -- Ch 12

[arthistoryjillian]

I agree that there was a lot of architecture happening at this time in the sense of buildings for religious purposes.  Also, Nothern Europe was becoming more connected thanks to the economy and trading routes.  Due to this, the spread of religion and art was happening.  Thus, Romanesque art being exposed to different cultures.  Perhaps this is why Romanesque art was so versatile.  Great job!

[arthistoryjillian]

Romanesque

The time period of which Romanesque Art developed was around the eleventh and twelfth centuries.  This art style developed from a broad range of styles.  It embraced regional variants such as Western Europe.  Romanesque art is more stylish rather than historical in the sense that it related to medieval art and Roman art.  When I hear this, I imagine patchwork found in medieval works of art combined with realism often found in Roman art.  This style of art is called “Romanesque” due to the fact that it is tied to Roman styles and aspects, but it is not entirely Roman.  This style is a combination of many different art styles: medieval, Byzantine, and Roman.  Those three styles are the most prominent ingredients in Romanesque art.  However, there are notes of different cultures and styles within each piece found meanwhile this style was current.  

Much like other art styles, many pieces were made to symbolize religious stories, sacred objects, and people due to the fact that Romanesque art was brought to life by monasteries and religious pilgrimages.  I think the reason as to why a lot of art depicts religion is due to the fact that the people wanted to spread certain religions and tell stories in a way so that individuals viewing the art would be able to understand it better by putting an image in their heads.  Also, manuscripts were very popular during the time of Romanesque art.  This brings me back to the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts with art on the pages and intricate border art to amplify the text found on the page.  

During this time in history, the world was becoming more interconnected.  Trading and other forms of travel were increasing.  And with this, the spreading of art and religion was also increasing.  So, Romanesque art was the first art style to be spread all across Catholic Europe.  I think that this art style was very versatile.  It was able to be applied to a lot of different cultures and people, so this style was not only used by all of Catholic Europe, but it was also loved and appreciated by all of Catholic Europe because it could be molded to fit any culture.  

Art at this point in history, art was an educational tool in the sense that art could depict religious stories and figures while most people were illiterate and could not read the stories.  I find it very interesting how art and religion are connected in the form of storytelling and it aides people in having a better understanding of stories and figures.  I also find it interesting how each art style is connected in some way and there are always aspects and pieces of different styles are found within each other.  For example, the Anglo-Saxon manuscript and patchwork, as well as Roman realism, is found within the Romanesque art.

[artdahlk-blog]

Blog Post 14

The Early Middle Ages covers the time from the 7th to the end of the 10th century. German tribes overran Western Europe. By this, the art development changed. A powerful new influence from the Middle East entered this time period- Islam. Islamic religious paintings contained abstract geometric and floral patterns. The Islamic rulers were starting to build structures. They were building mosques where they were needed. I really liked learning about The Great Mosque. They used double arches that represented original architect. I really like how the mosque had striped arches in it. I couldn’t believe how detailed the dome of this mosque was. It was very unique from anything thing I have saw.

Northern European Art was not influenced by Islamic art.  It became a new focus of political and artistic activity. Northern European Art was influenced more by the Germanic tribes. The most interesting part of this chapter was reading about the Anglo-Saxon Metalwork. It reminded me of a certain artist. I work at a boutique and we have a bunch of different jewelry. We have one person from Rochester, Minnesota that brings us homemade jewelry. She makes her jewelry out of stainless steel and copper. She makes very unique geometric designs on her jewelry. Another one of my favorite art in this chapter was The Carolingian Period. The Book of Kells was interesting to learn about. I liked the inserted picture of the Book of Kells. It was very different than the other art mentioned in this chapter. I thought it was interesting that all of the designs were different. There were geometric and abstract designs throughout this. Even though I can’t read any of the words written in the picture, it seems like these words would be spiritual. I liked how the first letter on the page is designed to really stand out.

I believe that this chapter had many religious aspects to it. There was the mosque where Islam’s worship. The Palace Chapel was a place was offices, workshops and other buildings. There was also a personal chapel and a place of worship. The chapel feels like it would be for the middle to upper class people. Since is was built by a ruler, I figure he would only let certain people in. Manuscripts are also a religious part of this chapter. The Four Evangelists was one of the religious books mentioned. It had the saint’s symbol on the cover. The monastery also has some religious aspects. The monastery included a school where artists could communicate with the kids in the school. It is also described as a religious and administrative center. In the monasteries, they teach literature, science, philosophy and also some religious texts. Overall I think this chapter has many religious aspect in it. This chapter was actually more interesting than I thought it would be. I liked learning about the mosque and The Book of Kells. I found this art more unique and more detailed than most throughout this book. I believe that the abstract and geometric aspects showed how the artists differed from past chapters.

[arthistoryjillian]

I agree that the mosques were unique - they were unlike any other “church” you would find associated with a different religion.  I also thought it was interesting that the Islamic art styles and the Northern European art styles weren’t in any way related; they just happened to be similar during the same time period.

[arthistoryjillian]

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages lasted almost three centuries; however, it peaked during the decline of the Roman Empire.  A different region began to influence art - Islam.  Most of the Islamic art that can be found from this time period consisted of abstract paintings with floral or botanical elements.  Sculptures were seen to be the work of Satan, so they were nearly nonexistent at this time and place.  Not having sculptures seems bizarre to me - 3D works of art give more insight into the values and beliefs of the people during this time.  However, architecture flourished.  My mind goes straight to churches worshipping Muhammad (the prophet who founded the Islamic religion).  An example of religious architecture discussed at the beginning of chapter 11 discusses mosques.  A mosque is a place where a worshipper of Allah (God) would go to pray in front of Mecca (the place where Muhammad was born).  Before mosques were created, any believer would find a place in their home to pray that was oriented toward Mecca.  The Islamic religion did not believe in any sort of hierarchy, so any person was able to use a public mosque no matter his or her title.  In my opinion, no person should seem lesser than any other within a religious group.  Yes, there are teachers who educate others on the religion; but I do not believe that any person should be given the title of being closer to God or Allah than any other person.  The lack of hierarchy in this religion interests me.  

Mosques are basically Islamic churches.  A mosque is a place of worship and art.  The Great Mosque found in Cordoba, Spain is a wonderful example of the art found in Islamic religion.

Chapter 11 also talks about Northern European artwork, including Anglo-Saxon work.  Northern European artwork was heavily inspired by Islamic work, as well as Hellenistic Roman work.  When I think of Northern European work and Anglo-Saxon work, I think of Beowulf.  Beowulf is a German epic novel about Christian morality.  This epic novel uses metaphors and other literary tools to convey God and morals to the readers.  Literature pieces are important in art due to the words telling the readers about the people of the time and their ideas.  Hiberno-Saxon art is very similar to Anglo-Saxon work; however, it has more of an Irish influence.  Hiberno-Saxons used manuscript illumination as a method of creating art.  Figure 11.6 on page 175 of the textbook is an example of this method.  In my opinion, the knot border of the work of art has a very “Northern” look to it, differing it from Anglo-Saxon work.  In a nutshell, manuscript illumination is a way of decorating pages of literature.  So, this art style was usually found in books.  In Northern Europe, chapels were used as places of worship (usually Christian).  Chapels held places for prayer, workshops, offices, and other buildings.

Symbolism for different religions was still prominent during the Middle Ages.  I really like how chapter 11 compared and contrasted Islamic/Middle East artwork with Christian/Northern Europe.  It made me realize that the world was all on the same page with artwork and worship, but they were doing their own things and creating their ideas in different ways.   

[blognicholeaclemen-blog]

Week 13:Chapter 10

Early Christianity is a popular break into the art world, majority of the population (location based) are Christians and expressions of art are highly common. The start of the religions fame was based off written word. Majority of religious art work at first thought are angles, churches and the bible.

Basilicas were designed to hold a growing population, large churches that were thought to be the pillar of all churches designs. Along with churches, cemeteries were thought to be religious ground. Most of today’s religious beliefs of Christianity are still practices with minor adjustments. The Hagia Sophia is now a museum in Istanbul but was formerly a church with archways and new archetypal designs created under the reign of Justinian. One of the first dome ceiling creations was the center of the church with its large size was truly an advance. The interior of the building was spacious and grand to represent the faith to one’s religion. Parchment was founded and used as early sheets of paper for written holy works. The Codex was the first “book” to house miniature forms of art.

The first thing that comes to my mind when talking religion and art are the glass windows of a church but on the inside of the church, are the paintings on the walls or ceilings. All of the churches appear to have the same texture type from being painted directly onto the wall. It has a rough texture look and all use the basic same colors and positions the people are in. The color white appears a lot due to the belief that it is a symbol of purity, in religion, sins are presented as dark colors for some for a “evil” and white refers to the clouds and the heavens and its holiness. Mosaics were the popular choice of art form to represent figures of Christianity. The popular early mosaics are of the Court of Justinian and his wife Theodora, this art forms depicts the color purple drapes and robes to represent royalty and the halo figure overhead to present heavenly. This are is trying to represent religion and ruling power. Mosaics continued to become popular when they expanded into the Hagia Sophia.

During this time, Rome played a large part in power of western Europe. Romans were persecuting people, but the Jewish and Christians were safe from Roman destruction. In the Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, during this time feared the Roman Empire like the other majority of Europe did that were not Christians. Rome held a large power and tried to take the power of Europe. The Scandinavians found gold and had riches which started a trade with Rome for a peaceful agreement in early AD, but in later AD, tribes begin to migrate to other territories and Rome becomes threated that the Scandinavians are expanding their land and power so Rome ends the trade and tries to interfere and dividing Scandinavia among itself were they discussed little amongst the tribes. Later in 1000AD Christianity starts to spread into Scandinavia and Easter Europe.

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/05/eue.html

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/06/eue.html

[arthistoryjillian]

I like how you said that today’s Christianity is basically the same as it was then but with minor adjustments.  Of course, it had to be adjusted not only with modern technology but also in the art scene; there are many different materials and mediums that we have today that was not available during this era.  I also agree with you when you said that the color white appears a lot in churches due to its pure meaning, as well as the stained glass and paintings.  I never considered the similarities between churches and the art styles found inside them.

[arthistoryjillian]

Week 13; Early Christian and Byzantine Empire

Early Christian and Byzantine art are exactly what it sounds like.  Christian religion -- a religion that most Americans are familiar with -- find its way into the artistic world.  An increase in popularity of Christian religion in the first century A.D. dominated Western art, and it would for centuries to follow.  

Rome served as a hub for Christian-themed art and architecture.  The emperor Constantine became a prominent figure in the popularity of Christianity in Rome, so this time is often referenced to as the “Constantinian period”.  When I think of this period, I imagine the births of marvelous churches and realistic oil paintings of Christ and His many followers.  I also imagine marble statues of strong, religious figures representing things that may have taken place within the Christian religion.  A popular technique in Christian art was to use the Christ figure in series of different expressions and poses to convey different elements of the religion.  

One thing I notice in studying Christian religion is that after it became legal to practice, it flourished like nothing the world has ever seen before.  It was accepted almost everywhere.  Most of Christian and Byzantine art is much like Greek and Roman art in the sense that it depicts religious stories such as tales about “Jonah and the Whale” as well as “John the Baptist”.  

The Justinian and Byzantine style emerged during the fifth century when the western part of the Roman Empire was overrun by Germanic tribes from northern Europe.  The Ostrogoths overtook the Italian city of Ravenna until it was recaptured by Byzantine emperor Justinian in A.D. 540.  Eastern Europe then rose to political and artistic prominence.  The art style during this time was very similar to that of Christian art.  There is a pattern in painting depictions of religious figures and tales in order to communicate the religion.  Also, churches and other architectural points were erected for religious reasons.  In Justinian and Byzantine art, mosaics were very popular.  In this practice, artists would arrange colored pebbles on the floor in order to create images.

The Justinian and Byzantine Empire was situated in most of the land surrounding the Mediterranean, so it is safe to say that this was a popular religion at the time of A.D. 550.  Similar to how the United States has portraits of each president the country has had, the Justinian and Byzantine Empire has had painted portraits of important members of the church such as Saint Peter.  

The Balkan Peninsula was the southernmost peninsula of Europe.  This area included most of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, continental Greece, Bulgaria, European Turkey, and southeast Romania.  These “states” were all a part of the Ottoman Empire.  There were great differences between religion and races, which created an interesting combination of art styles.  The art styles that derived from the Ottoman Empire relate closely to Ancient Greece and the Byzantine Empire.  

"Balkan Peninsula." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed... Encyclopedia.com. (April 3, 2018). http://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/balkan-peninsula

[blognicholeaclemen-blog]

Week 12

Rome, the eternal city, is one of the most travel, populated, and historically known for its history, art, and advances of civilization. One of the architectural advances from Rome were the arches for coliseums and tunnels. The smooth edges and curves advancing building and appearance.

Most of Rome is based on history rather than myth even though we are familiar with most of Rome’s myths. The downfall of Troy helped further the advance of Rome and each story helped contribute to the art and city of Rome. One of the first kings or emperor became named Augustus, which became the meaning for supreme, started the economical lead of Emperors in Italy for 300 years.

One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of Italy and Rome are the statues like the statue of David, the coliseum, the leaning tower of Pisa. The stories and ways they came to be are less though of. Other less known locations like the agora, or the forum were typical meeting places that were large areas. Other locations that were very crowded with people were the public baths, similar to Greece, the Romans valued hygiene and socializing. Similar to Greece, bathrooms were public with not stalls or barriers to the next person and usually a hole in the ground. The start of running water can be attributed to the aqueducts of Rome. These “bridges” housed water carrying water from one location to another set location. The use of arches helped with pressure and force to push water in the right area.

The Colosseum was the main theater for fights, chariot races, and to settle arguments. The amphitheater was crafted with and open top, multiple levels, and a special area for seating for the Emperor of the time.

One of the most common materials used to create sculptures were marble. Nudity was one of the most often depicts of human kind. The raw and bold art of using nudity to express human kind in its most vulnerable time. Their depiction of the human body is closely related that of Greece and our current relation to our views on human traits of attraction. The curly hair in the statutes gives it liveliness and a raw natural edge. In early Greece, sex was a natural and everyday life conversation, it was always an open dialog. Similar to Greece, Italy expresses its sexuality through sculptures like the statue of David and other statutes. Paintings portraying woman such as that on page 150 show loose garments and robes subtly draped to cover enough but show enough to catch the eye.  Human are attracted to beauty; our eyes fixate towards it. Men are attracted to woman, which is why their eyes are drawn to images of women such like that of 9.36 and woman with the statue of David.

I have always wanted to go to Italy with it is long running history and architecture in Rome itself. Like the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, there is so much more to it.

[arthistoryjillian]

I agree that Rome primarily used curves and smooth edges rather than harsh geometrical shapes.  Perhaps that was to give the architecture a softer overall look.  I feel as if a lot of the changes in Rome -- not only architecture and power-related -- but a lot of art-related changes were a result of political power.  An example you discussed being the economic lead of Emperors in Italy.  I feel as if nudity in the perspective of Roman people and artists was a thing of beauty -- the natural human body was a beautiful piece of art.  

[arthistoryjillian]

Ancient Rome

In reading about Ancient Roman art at the beginning of chapter nine, it sounded as if the people began to create art right from the beginning.  It was almost as if they were establishing their own culture and aesthetic before anything else.  Of course, certain aspects of the art style had changed with each king, but the overall look of it remained the same.  Architecture was a focal point of Rome’s art.  Glorifying the empire as a whole as well as accommodating a growing population was something of a challenge; however, the Romans had architectural techniques that killed two birds with one stone.  Arched roofs doubled as passageways in some cases and the domes atop of some buildings allowed more space inside.  By the end of the first century B.C., there was a common housing format that was used among most (wealthy) Roman citizens.  There were multiple bedrooms, slave accommodations, wine cellars, and storage space surrounding a foyer or entrance hall of sorts.  In the middle class, the housing was held above shops and other facilities.  Multiple families lived above the facilities in separate areas, but they shared some accommodations like kitchens.  Other public buildings, like the Basilica Ulipa were treated as public art in a sense.  The Basilica was a huge roofed building used for law.  The building has different areas for different purposes and it was also adorned with marble and bronze, which brought beauty to the building.   The Coliseum is one of the most recognized architectural pieces within Rome.  It may appear as a giant arena for games and other competitions.  But what most people don’t see are the passageways within the arena and the maze-like structures underneath the center playing field (referencing to figure 9.13 on p. 135 of textbook).  The unseen intricacy in Roman architecture is an art in itself and the Coliseum is a great example of that

Painting and sculpting are the two other forms of art most associated with Ancient Rome.  Most sculptures are derived from myths, religion, and other commemorative purposes.  The Ara Pacis is one of the most symbolic marble monuments found in Rome during Augustus’s reign.  This piece celebrates the Peace of Augustus after the emperor had made peace with the Gauls and returned back to Rome.  So, it is appropriate to say that this art piece celebrates and commemorates a political change in Rome.  Although it is common to say that Greek and Roman art at the time were very similar, this Roman works depicts Greek motifs, but the subjects are Roman.  Subjects of Roman art were usually using humanism.  Busts, sculptures, and paintings were created to depict a realistic picture of human kind.  The humanistic work done in Ancient Rome and Greece were accurate and very detailed.  If a person were to look close enough at a sculpture of a man, they would be able to see the curls in his hair, the wrinkles on his face and the veins in his arms and hands.  The part that catches my eye, though, is the clothing worn by the people within the art pieces.  The robes and togas drape over the bodies with each wrinkle and each fold in the material hanging just as it would in real life.  Depth played a large role in humanism, I believe and Rome did a fantastic job at capturing detail and realism.

[lovebrookota-blog]

Etruscan

Etruscan civilization took place during the Villanovan period between c. 1000 and 100 B.C. The land occupied is modern Tuscany, on the west-central part of the Italian peninsula.  They established commercial trade routes through the Aegean, the Near East and North Africa. The Etruscan’s language origin is unknown, but they adapted the Greek alphabet as part of their own. There is not much literature left for anyone to study because most of it has disappeared. What is left are names and inscriptions written on graves. Much of what we know about the Etruscans is from the art from the tombs. Even their buildings did not withstand the environment because the materials they used were mud, tufa and wood.

Reading this chapter, it is apparent that the Etruscans adopted much of the Greeks art and construction. There are still some differences as well that can be seen in their temples, sculptures and other items. Architecture of late temples are different then the Greek because they used wattle-and-daub. This was the reinforcement of the temple by using branches with clay and mud. Podiums consisted of stone and the roofs were tiled. They also used the Greek wooden roof and pronaos. This placed emphasis on the front of the temple. Although there were some ideas used from the Greeks, the temples were built heavier and a more massive quality.

Sculptures and pottery were also adapted from the Greeks. The Wounded Chimera and the Capitoline Wolf are examples of the use of Bronze in their sculptures. The Greeks used bronze as well and both used the lost-wax method. I personally find the Capitoline Wolf interesting. The twin boys are nursing from the wolf. It seems odd to first see it, but it makes sense that the wolf is thought of as a guardian. Not only was bronze used in sculptures, but it was also used to make mirrors. The back of the mirrors were artistic scenes and made us aware that Etruscan women were literate. The Volterra is a bronze mirror with a mythical story on the back that recounts Zeus deceiving Hera into nursing. Many women in this era’s art show women dominating men by being more powerful, older, or hold a higher status. I find it remarkable that women held higher positions in this period. That was a major difference from the Greeks. Women participated in public with their husbands, and paid attention to fashion.

The Apollo of Veii is a great example of similarities and differences between the Etruscans and the Greeks. The hair in locks, smile, curvier features and the fanning of the calf muscles are of the Greek Archaic work. The difference we see is that there is more clarity and a forcefulness characterization that sets them apart from the Greeks.

This chapter discusses many differences and similarities with the Greeks but then it talks about similarities with the Egyptians. I found the most interesting part of this chapter is that the dead were cremated. Like the Egyptians, the dead were placed in tombs, or vessels. Obviously, the Etruscans placed the ashes in them instead of a body. Sometimes the vessels had markings that indicated if the remains were a female or male. I found it creepy that the lids of these urns were sometimes made to resemble a human head. Some urns were created to look like houses or even couches with the couple sitting on them. To me, the couple look happy, despite having ashes inside. Like other cultures, paintings were also found in underground tombs. Bright colors can be seen in some of these paintings. An example of this is the Mourners at the Door of the Other World.

It’s unfortunate that we were unable to research the Entruscans further because so much was destroyed. They seemed literate and wise. Women of this time also held more power then the era’s we have seen in the past.

[arthistoryjillian]

I feel as if the Etruscan culture was a mixture of Greece and Italy during this period (hence the fact that it is today’s Tuscany).  Perhaps the cremation was used to create a vessel or decorated urn to give art and to celebrate that person’s life, as well.  The remembrance of a person’s life is almost an art in its very own sense.  The Etruscan culture is hard for people to understand because it is no longer a part of this world, so people compare and contrast it to different cultures to understand it better.

[arthistoryjillian]

Week 11 - Etruscan

After reading Chapter 11, Etruscan art struck me as intelligence-based and very detailed. Greet, Ancient Roman and Italian Renaissance art were inspired by this period of creation.  Many works during this period were based on myths and tales depicted by different cultures around the world.  Also, the art created during this time was not specific to one place; however, it did differ depending on each culture.  However, it can be agreed upon that Etruscan art was influencing artists all over the world to incorporate deeper meaning and detail into his or her work.  For example, there are many statues that display this attention to detail and mythological tales.  The chimera of Arezzo is a detailed bronze depiction coming from Greek mythology.  Another example if Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Vatican.  His work in the Sistine Chapel connects to religion and the image of God and the Heavens.  Most work during the Etruscan period showing the connection to stories, myths, and tales allows people to have a better understanding of either the meaning of the story or the story itself.  I, myself am familiar with the story that goes with Chimera of Arezzo, but when I am told about a creature comprised of a snake, a lion, and a ram; there are endless possibilities of how the creature looks.  Detail within paintings, statues, and sculptures is what stands out to me the most when I see art from the Etruscan era.  In humans and animals, bones, tendons, muscles, and hair tend to be emphasized and similar to real-life examples.  Using Chimera of Arezzo as an example once again; the ribcage of the lion’s body, as well as the lower spine and hip bones, are visible, so are stretched and flexed tendons based on the position of the lion’s body and the head of the ram, the face of the lion has an open mouth and wrinkled nose as if it is in mid-roar.  Details within art brings the piece(s) to life.  In the Vatican, Michelangelo used specific methods of applying the frescoes to emphasize different textures.  The clouds upon the Heavens are light and fluffy, the skin of the cherub angels looks soft and smooth, the men with their arms extended towards one-another have sharper angels to highlight chiseled muscles and masculinity.

Perhaps the attention to detail and mythical tales/religion correlates with the Renaissance.  During the Renaissance, people began to question the church and its leadership and values.  Maybe artists like Michelangelo created work dealing with God and Heaven to bring light and positivity back to the minds of those who were doubting.  Also, the scientific method and literature came to light, as well.  Shakespeare began writing in a style so the common folk could read and understand his works.   When I think of the Renaissance and the Etruscan period, I think of society, intelligence, and art taking a leap forward.  Mankind begins to have a better understanding of literature, art, and science.  To put it simply, mankind was at the very beginning of the modern world.  Art just happened to show the beauty of it.

[arthistoryjillian]

Week 7 - Aegan

“How do these essays make you think about the discipline of art history?”

I believe that art around the world is inspired by different pieces.  Each place in the world may have different styles of art and different cultural adaptations; however, inspiration is a massive aspect of art.  Each art style is inspired.  For example, Buddha was a piece of Chinese culture before India adapted to the ideas of Buddhism.  Western and Eastern art differ, but there are similarities between the two styles no matter how different that may appear to be.  The essays also made me realize that the discipline of art history is slowly dying.  There are fewer schools, instructors, and students studying this topic.  If there is less appreciation for art history, then there are fewer questions being asked/answered.  Art and expression bring different countries and people together from the beginning of mankind.  Humans have always found ways to express themselves and art is the outlet to be used.  The study of the “why” and “how” is more important than people realize.  The study needs to continue to be studied and appreciated.

“What issues does Cotter raise that you were previously unaware of?”

According to his article, I gathered that museums may not have as much diversity as individuals may think.  Less funding equals less diversity in artwork origins.  In the article, Cotter used Africa as an example and the scarcity of African work in western art museums.  I had also once thought that art-based museums were “rolling in the dough” in the sense that they had an excess of funding in all areas.  Apparently, there is much less funding than I had anticipated.

“How will this impact how you view art or museums in the future?”

I had always been selfish in the sense that I do not usually donate to different organizations and corporations.  Cotter’s article opened my eyes to the reality of funding and finances for large corporations/people such as museums and artists.  Also, if I attend an art museum in the future, I will make an effort to observe the origins of different pieces (if given), as well as research the artist and read into his or her social standings, as well as their progression into the art industry.

“What do you think your role of responsibility is, as it relates to the study of art history?”

As an individual who loves looking at art as well as making it, I will attempt to be more kind and have more empathy toward artists and art museums.  It is not easy to obtain art, nor is it to create.  I choose not to ignore the study of art history, but rather delve into the study and ask more questions, do more research, and become satisfied with my knowledge on the topic.  With asking questions comes answering them and I plan to do that as well.  Instead of judging different art styles, I will have an appreciation for all art; modern and historic.

[nathanbildstein-blog]

Week 6

Chapter 5 was a very interesting chapter in my opinion. I was familiar with a lot of the information throughout this chapter. I like seeing these great pieces of architecture such as: temples, sculptures, mummification, pyramids, etc. It’s all so amazing how they are designed perfectly, and how they all look beautiful. Pyramids are a popular piece of architecture that many people can identify but don’t necessarily know the meaning of them. “The most monumental architectural expression of the Egyptian pharaoh’s power was the pyramid, his burial place and zone of passage into the afterlife” (pg. 53). Pyramids were a resting place for the king’s body, and there was also built in burial chambers within the pyramids. 

I really enjoyed learning about the temples and sculptures. The sculptures look as if it would have taken years to finally finish. There was over life sized statues of kings and other monumental figures. I read that the artists start with a block of stone and chip away very precisely to create these magnificent sculptures. Those artists truly have an incredible talent. To be able to create something so majestic out of stone is amazing. Temples are also something that I find unique about Ancient Egypt. To me, temples are similar to chapels or some place to relax and talk to God. The temples symbolized both earthly and celestial figures. The thing that I really liked about the temples is just simply how they look. They are built so perfectly, and to me it symbolizes power and excellence. They just look like a king, or god of some sort should be living there. They are similar to the white house or a big beautiful church. I feel like they are similar to those because there is a sense of power held within those 2 buildings I listed above. Obviously in the white house, the president is the decision maker for our country. In churches, the priest makes me feel so close to God, the most powerful icon in the world. 

Everything about chapter 5 was interesting and very unique. I liked how the sculptures, temples, pyramids, and everything else have such significance to Ancient Egypt. They are either places for worship, burial sites for people of power, or show worship towards people of power. There are so many things within Egypt that relate to certain things here in America. Not only did I like how they symbolize something, but they were all architecturally beautiful. The temples, pyramids, and sculptures looked very cool. I enjoyed learning about them, as well as just simply admiring their true beauty. Learning about other cultures and their statues/monuments has always amazed me. It also surprised me how many things are so different, but yet so similar to things in America. Chapter 5 was a very fun learning experience. 

[arthistoryjillian]

I too was familiar with the material in Chapter 5 before reading.  However, I was not aware of the specific details and methods of art used in Ancient Egypt.  The works of architecture within Ancient Egypt are very interesting.  It is incredible to think that these pristine works were made with years of hard labor and intense eye for detail.  One of my favorite things about this chapter was the symbolism in each and every work of art.  Their belief in gods and goddesses is very intriguing.  I feel as if Ancient Egyptian art is very different than any other style of art out there.

[arthistoryjillian]

Chapter 5: Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt has many different components to the culture and its art style.  One of the factors going into these two topics were the Pharos.  Pharos was Egypt’s version of a king, and this king had absolute power over everything the Egyptian government, said, did, and even the personal values of the current Pharaoh would be implemented.  Each Pharaoh that served would be respected highly because, in the Egyptian culture, the Pharaoh was seen as godlike -- similar to a Pope.  When the Pharaoh had a queen, her art style and personal preference were taken into consideration and this eventually led to a more artistic element within the hierarchy.  However, throughout history, Egypt has fallen under different rulers.  The change in authority also meant a change in culture, lifestyle, and art style.  For example, Egypt fell under Persian rule twice throughout history.  When it was under Persian rule, the art style resembled that of Persia.  

An example of Egyptian art depicting the importance of Pharos is seen in The Palette of Narmer.  This piece links between divine and earthly power.  This piece dates back to the beginning of pharaonic rule.  On one side of The Palette of Narmer, King Narmer (thought to be the Menes, the first pharaoh) is the biggest figure pictured.  His size is to identify his importance.  His pose, in which the head and legs are in profile view and the view of his eye and torso in frontal view, is an Egyptian convention.  The entire figure is flat.  Narmer wears a tall white conical crown of Upper Egypt and threatens a kneeling enemy with a mace.  He holds the enemy by the hair, symbolizing conquest and domination.  There are also two additional enemies who appear to already be dead in the lowest register of the palette.  Behind Narmer on a suspended horizontal strip is a servant whose small size identifies a lesser importance.  The servant holds Narmer’s sandals indicating that he is on holy ground.  In front of Narmer is Horus, the falcon god of the sky at the end of a rope.  From the back of the figure stands six papyrus plants, which represent Lower Egypt.  The image of Horus dominating these symbols parallels Narmer, crowned as the king of Upper Egypt and subduing an enemy.  At the top corner of each side of the palette is a serekh containing the king’s name in hieroglyphs as a flattened representation of the royal palace.  There are also frontal heads of the horned cow goddess, Hathor, who guards the king.

On the other side of the palette stands Narmer wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt.  His sandal-bearer is behind him and he is preceded by standard-bearers.  At the right, ten decapitated enemies lie with their heads between their feet.  Two felines, roped by bearded men, are found in the central register.  Their necks frame a circle similar to those that held liquid for mixing eye makeup.  This one, however, is larger than the ones used in everyday life.  This is most likely ceremonial.  In the lowest register, a bull, a manifestation of Narmer, dominate the enemy.  

From my understanding of The Palette of Narmer, as well as other works during the period of Ancient Egypt, the art within this culture was very symbolic.  One cannot simply look at a piece of art from Ancient Egypt and know exactly what it is about -- they must study it and read into the pieces a bit deeper and put the meanings together like puzzle pieces.  Also, Ancient Egyptian art is one of the easiest styles to identify.  It is very different to the others in the sense of shifting perspectives, as well as how human bodies are depicted.

[blognicholeaclemen-blog]

Chapter 4: The Ancient Near East

              I remember learning about Mesopotamia in 7th grade geology class. There were four temples made which helped contribute to their choice form of religion. I feel religion plays a very large roll in early art due to the fact they thought of it as a tribute to the Gods, or worship toward their choice of Gods. Later in history some towns or cities devoted themselves to one God like in Athens Greece, and built most of the buildings to resemble the large monuments of their town’s God.

               In 3500-3000 BC, cuneiform plays a strong roll in the advancement of civilizations. I feel this was the step to get the ball rolling for written history, a way to show evidence. This could have lead to the Egyptian’s hieroglyphics or even to the works of Homer. These clay tablets could have been forms of their records or stories, or anything they felt the need of importance to document like that. Whatever was written was important to them.

               Other art that holds a strong connection with creation of new things are the ziggurats with the temples like the one pictured on page 42. The detail of the stairs and angles of the building all and to show how symbolic these building mean to their culture to honor their choice of religion. This also got me thinking of where would they have seen stairs before or how did they come up with the idea to use stairs? Why not ramps or slopes? I find this so intriguing over the little details. At some point in life, everything is new, who could think of something like that.

               Babylon soon over took Mesopotamia and was ruled by Hammurabi. He is most famous for the Hammurabi Code which was scribed onto basalt stele which was about as strong as his rules were. Everyone knows the saying, an eye for an eye, which was one of the scary punishment he enforced.

               This chapter felt more like a history book talking about the architecture which is its own form of art.  This chapter to me, if I am being honest, was dull.  Most of the art was the building and statues for the shrines to the Gods. I thought cuneiform would have been talked about more because it to me, plays a large roll in history itself and in the art. There is always a meaning or a message through art. The clay or mud-brick pottery that was to honor Gods, to hold water, or to be tribute. A lot of wars fighting for land altered the style of the art. Whenever someone would win, art was created to honor the leader who won, and sadly, if it was ever thought about, how much art or artifacts were destroyed?

              If America was overruled, the people overtaking it would demolish Washington D.C.’s monuments depending on who it was, they could feel the need to demolish museums. Whenever there is a war, art is the strongest emotional remembrance. Like 9-11 monument, who isn’t going to walk past it and not feel heart struck.  The art of George Washington crossing the Delaware River is also a strong attachment to emotions.

             Art through the Ancient Near East was mostly its extravagant buildings and shrines to their Gods, even some ties to writing and the connection of what those people thought was important that the felt the need to write it down or scribe and their ties to what life was like for them. History plays an important role in art, and so does war.

[arthistoryjillian]

During this time in history and in this region, there was a lot of art and other figures that was dedicated to religion.  Now, temples and statues -- even church can be found all around the world.  I agree with you saying that this chapter was a bit dull -- nothing really blew my mind whilst reading.  Although, it is interesting to relate the peoples’ behavior back then with some behavior today.  I like how you compared the art and monuments back then with the 9-11 monument and the other monuments in Washington D.C.  It is clear that people still make physical reminders of things that have happened in the past or even things like religious values and laws.

[arthistoryjillian]

Chapter 4

In chapter four, The Ancient Near East, it describes the “Cradle of Civilization”.  Around this time in history, writing came upon the world thanks to the Sumerians.  The development of writing sets the difference between “history” and “prehistory”.  While I am a lover of history, knowing that the development of writing sets a difference helps me understand the difference between the two time periods.  When the chapter describes that the study of “prehistory” is full of guesswork, it is due to the fact that there was no written work, just images and other pieces of art that the people studying “prehistory” were required to attempt to deduce the meanings of the art and the values and behavior of the people who created it.  Trying to figure out the exact meaning of a piece of art without any words behind it is a difficult task to complete.

Not only was writing a major development at this point in time, but there were also cultural advancements.  One of these advancements included the making of laws.  The first laws made known to mankind at this point in time is Hammurabi’s Code.  The Code of Hammurabi is a well-preserved Babylonian code of law of ancient Mesopotamia.  This code exists on a 7.5 foot stone stele and consists of 282 laws.  One of the punishments includes “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”  Even now, in the 21st century, this punishment/law is believed to be something that people either follow or believe that our governments today should follow.  There are also some economic-type laws inscribed on the stele such as wages for different jobs people may have had.  

Other than Hammurabi’s Code, there were a number of architectural advancements.  One main example is the urban center of Uruk.  This city was most influential between 4100 and 3000 BCE.  It was not only the hub of trade and administration, but numerous artifacts from Uruk can be found at almost every excavated site throughout Mesopotamia.  This means that these artifacts were being traded in an out of Uruk and Mesopotamia for a very long time.  Due to the information found, it can be deduced that Uruk had 50,000 - 80,000 residents living in the walled city.  This means that it was the largest city in the world at the time it was around.

Humankind was also developing in the sense that they now had religion.  Religion was mostly used to answer scientific questions like how people came into existence, why the Earth is the way it is, why there are lush grass and livestock, as well as how the sky came to be, as well as the wind blowing in the air.  Not only did religion contain stories and tales; but they also had pieces of art such as statues depicting what they believe their gods looked like as well as entire temples dedicated to religion.  This practice of religion began at this time period, but it never stopped.  Even today, a majority of the world’s population practices some type of religion.

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“Hammurabi's Code: An Eye for an Eye.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/civ/4c.asp.

“Uruk.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, www.ancient.eu/uruk/.

[arthistoryjillian]

“Venus” of Willendorf

Woman of Willendorf, possibly the earliest depiction of the human body in art, and referred to as the “Venus of Wilendorf”.  This piece of art dates back to around 24,000 - 22,000 BCE.  The statue may appear to be large; however, it stands a mere 4 3/8 inches high.  This piece was found by Josef Szombathy in an Aurignacian loess deposit near the town of Willendorf, Austria (hence the name).  Thie piece is carved out of limestone, which is not found in the Willendorf region.  Thus, it can be deduced that this piece was not made where it was found.  

Venus of Willendorf was most-likely carved out of tools made of flint around the same time as the cave paintings found in France.  At the time, the art made was primarily patriarchal.  The statue is a woman and it is now perceived as derogatory.  The form of the woman is bulging and grotesque and also comes off as if the woman is the embodiment of fertility.  Woman of Willendorf is seen as the woman from which all women descend; an Ur-Eve identity.

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Venus de Willendorf, www.asu.edu/cfa/wwwcourses/art/SOACore/Willendorf_portfolio.htm.