The Beginnings of Western Art Traditions The Art of Greece and Rome Byzantine Art Romanesque Art Gothic Art

What areas do you think of when you study Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire?

Can you identify contributions made by these two great ancient civilizations? Philosophy Systems of government ( "democracy") Olympics Various forms of literature/culture The Justice system of Rome was very much like the system in America today. Underground aqueducts Roman contributions to architecture were the arch and the dome. Rome's primary language was Latin. Latin is an extinct language but many English words have Latin roots. French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish have all derived form latin and have many latin roots. Our Alphabet today came from the Roman Alphabet. Many of the Sports today first originated in Rome. Rome was the first republic. They built roads that are still in use today. These roads were made out of limestone and concrete.

Parthenon. Temple of Athena. Fifth century B.C. Athens, Greece. The Art of Greece Parthenon. Temple of Athena. Fifth century B.C. Athens, Greece.

Almost every city in our country has at least one building with features that resemble the architecture of the classic Greek temple. The Greeks built temples in honor of the gods. Sought perfect proportions in buildings, sculpture, and music. Idealized human body. Buildings were originally very colorful.

The Art of Rome Conquered Greece in 146 B.C., but did not conquer Greek culture. Adopted Greek culture, but modified it to suit their own needs. Unlike the Greeks, the Romans did not seek to depict idealized human forms. Rather, they created realistic portrait sculpture. Roman. Portrait Statue of Boy. Late 1st century B.C. – Early 1st century A.D. Bronze. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The Art of the Middle Ages Began with the conquest of Rome in A.D. 476 and lasted about 1,000 years. Also called the Age of Faith because: Christian religion exerted such an important influence. Churches grew in size, number, and political importance. Monks created finely decorated manuscripts.

Byzantine Art Thrived around the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). Influenced by Greek, Roman, and Asian art. Characteristics: Very rich colors. Heavily outlined figures that appeared flat and stiff. Byzantine, Constantinople. Virgin and Child. Mid-tenth-eleventh century. Ivory. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York.

Romanesque Art Similar to the style of ancient Rome Characteristics: Buildings of massive size. Solid, heavy walls. Wide use of rounded Roman arch. Many sculptural decorations. Dark and somber inside due to lack of windows. Church of San Clemente. Tahull, Spain. Twelfth century.

Chartres Cathedral. Chartres, France. Twelfth to sixteenth century. Gothic Art 12th century Europe: People moved from country to towns and organized craft guilds or unions. Led to building of huge cathedrals. Two developments in architecture: Pointed arch Flying buttress Allowed for higher walls and more windows Characteristics: Churches that seemed to soar upward. The figure was depicted more realistically. Stained glass windows. Rich, glowing color inside. Chartres Cathedral. Chartres, France. Twelfth to sixteenth century.