1. HUMAN FIGURE IN ART HISTORY

2. The figure in art changes as human needs and artistic expression progressed. Early figure images served only communication and religious purposes. Later, portraits captured images of the living. After the invention of the camera, figure art became highly creative and expressive.

3. Throughout history, figures are represented as drawings, paintings, and sculpture. Sculpture achieved a realistic appearance before drawings and paintings of figures. However, drawing and painting used modern art styles to illustrate the figure before sculpture.

4. PREHISTORIC FIGURES Line drawings of figures, similar to “stick figures.” Told stories and communicated before written language.

7. PRE-COLUMBIAN FIGURES Figures were mostly stylized sculptures. Represented gods and other deities for worship and ceremonies.

10. Figure Drawings on a Codex

11. ANCIENT EGYPTIAN FIGURES Figure drawings were flat looking, with heads and feet in profile, while the body faced forward. Most important figures were shown larger than others.

12. Profile head Forward facing torso Profile legs & feet

14. ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN FIGURES Figures were often used in storytelling, especially mythology. Drawings were still flat looking, but sculptures were very realistic. Figure sculptures showed the classical pose and realistic looking drapery.

15. Storytelling on Ceramic Vases & Urns

16. Figures from Mythology

17. Very realistic figure sculpture

18. Eyes were blank or hollow “Windows to the Soul”

19. “Contrapposto” Pose Realistic looking drapery

20. MIDDLE AGES FIGURES Figures were beginning to develop a little more in form. Used in picturing religious and medieval scenes.

21. Lack of Perspective

22. Old looking children

23. Mosaics & Tapestries

24. Illuminated Manuscripts

25. RENAISSANCE FIGURES With the discovery of perspective, figures had more realistic form. Figures continued in religious depictions, but also became popular as portraits of the clergy and wealthy patrons. Proportions were written down by Da Vinci

26. Vitruvian Man Human figure proportions create a perfect circle

27. Using the Head as measurement

30. Albert VII, Archduke of Austria and Marie de Medici

31. Children became younger looking

32. 18 TH CENTURY FIGURES Portraiture continued to be popular, sometimes including land, house, pet, or other prized possession. Figure painting also provided entertainment or delivered a message.

33. “Robert Andrews and His Wife” by Thomas Gainsborough

34. Children now looked like their appropriate young age

37. 19 TH CENTURY FIGURES The invention of the camera had a profound effect on figures in art, especially portraiture. Artists began painting figures in everyday life situations. Figure painting and sculpture changed from realistic to more impressionistic styles.

42. “The Doves” by Richard MacDonald

43. 20 TH CENTURY FIGURES Monuments were made to immortalize prominent figures in history. A wide variety of art styles create figures that are abstract, expressionistic, or realistic. Expensive portraits are usually only painted because of prestige.

44. “Statue of Liberty” by Frederic Bartholdi

45. “Lincoln Memorial” by Daniel Chester French

46. “Iwo Jima” Memorial by Felix de Weldon

50. Student ___________________________________ Period_____Points Possible 200pts Figure Drawing Rubric 2. The figure drawing has value= 50pts 3. Drawing is turned in with photograph used for composition= 25pts 4. Skeleton drawing and costume is neatly finished= 25pts 1. Student used gesture sketch to plan out proportions = 100pts 180pts = A160pts = B 140pts = C120pt = D0pts = F Total Points Earned= _____ Letter Grade = _____ Work assessed by: Name ______________________ Room _______ Date ____________ Rubric