The Earliest Art Objects Prehistory and the Ancient Middle East

Main Areas Prehistory –Paleolithic –Neolithic Ancient Egypt Ancient Mesopotamia (Middle East) Styles and themes unique and recognizable

Paleolithic or “Old Stone Age” Prior to 8000 B.C. Early humans trying to establish control over the elements (like the Aborigines) Two primary kinds of artifacts: Cave paintings –Mystical “creative” powers –Hunting rituals Carved objects - like caveman snapshots –Fertility figures

Cave Painting Sleeping Bison Alta Mira, Spain

Lascaux, France discovered in the 1940s

Lascaux, France

Carved Objects Venus of Laussel Venus of Willendorf

Carved Objects Bison carved from reindeer antler LaMadeleine, France

Began with the dev’t of written language New, more civilized groups of people –Animal husbandry –City, or at least tribal living –Spiritual ideas, primitive religions Similar to today’s tribal living (Amazon, bushmen, etc.) Neolithic or “New Stone Age” Around 8000 B.C.

Neolithic Carvings “Jericho Spirit Trap” 7000 BC

Stonehenge Around 2000 B.C. Post and lintel system

“Long Meg and her Sisters” Cumbria, England Stone Circles

Dolmens “Spinster’s Rock” (Dolmen) Cumbria, England

Ancient Egypt ( )

Neolithic groups assemble to form organized societies Government based on religion First written Egyptian language – hieroglyphics –604 characters –Combines phonetic sounds and pictures

Where are we?

Papyrus - the first “paper” “Style” - from Roman word “stylus”

The oldest work of art recording a historic event (3000 BC) Narmer conquered and united all of what is now Egypt Loaded with symbolic images First recognizable style in art history “Law” of Frontality Palette of King Narmer

The Step Pyramid “Divine Kingship” Imhotep - the first recorded architect in history Funerary district and step pyramid of King Zozer

The Great Pyramids at Giza The world’s largest tombstonesThe world’s largest tombstones –Cheops (2530 BC) - the biggest –Chefren (2500) - w/limestone top –Mycerinus (2470) All geometrically perfect and aligned at the same angleAll geometrically perfect and aligned at the same angle

The Great Sphinx 2500 BC Depicts “Ra,” the sun-god “Animism”

“Cubic” Portrait Sculpture Prince Rahotep and Nofret Limestone BC “Seated Scribe” BC

Around 1600 BC Relaxation of some artistic standards –New, fluid, life-like forms Portrait Bust of Queen Nefrotete BC

King Tut Pharoah by age 9 Married at 12 Dead at 18 (1340 BC) Tomb discovered in 1922 All tombs filled with gold, riches

Coffin lid, King Tut

Tomb Contents Vulture = “Nekhbet” (local god of upper Egypt)

The Ancient Middle East

Where are we?

Firsts in History First real cities First written language (cuneiform) around 3000 BC Invented the wheel - around 3300 BC Led to potter’s wheel - Pottery Democracy... descended into military/divine kingship Organized warfare - continued ever since Pantheism - a “pantheon” of gods Bill of Rights - Law Code of Hammurabi

Cuneiform The first written language A reed stylus pressed into wet clay

The Ziggurat Man-made “mountains” for their gods Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) Glazed brick, no stone nearby

“The White Ziggurat” BC

Early Sculpture Eyes were the window to the soul Everything else is simplified Sumerian statuettes BC

Later on... More flexible than Egyptians Built, rather than carved Gold shows trade with Egypt Gold Incense burner from Ur 2600 BC

Typical Style Attempt at genuine likeness Headdress Beard Curls Themes –Lion Hunt –Warfare –Animism Head of Akkadian Ruler BC

Inlay from Harp 2600 BC

Egyptian vs. Mesopotamian Styles Egyptian - Palette of King Narmer Mesopotamian - Victory Stele of Naram-Sin 2300 BC

Persepolis – Capitol of Persian Empire

Guardian Figures Human head Body of animal

Walled Cities Glazed brick Protection from nearly constant warfare

Terms about Sculpture that YOU want to know!

Sculpture Terms to Know Low relief sculpture

High relief sculpture Sculpture Terms to Know

Low relief sculpture High relief sculpture Sculpture “in the round” Sculpture Terms to Know

More about Drawing!!

3 Tricks that Indicate 3D Depth Overlapping shapes Modeling (shading) Linear perspective

Overlapping Shapes If one thing blocks your view of another, it must be closer to you

Overlapping Shapes If one thing blocks your view of another, it must be closer to you

Modeling (shading) A light source is implied that casts shadows around the object

Modeling (shading) A light source is implied that casts shadows around the object

Linear Perspective Objects appear to get smaller as they get further away Horizon Line (eye level)

Linear Perspective Receding straight lines meet at a vanishing point on the horizon line One-point perspective Horizon Line (eye level)

Vanishing Point One-point perspective Horizon Line (eye level) Linear Perspective Receding straight lines meet at a vanishing point on the horizon line

Linear Perspective Receding straight lines meet at a vanishing point on the horizon line Two-point perspective Horizon Line (eye level)

Linear Perspective Receding straight lines meet at a vanishing point on the horizon line Two-point perspective Horizon Line (eye level) Vanishing Point