OCTOBER 15, 2011

ANCIENT ARTS PART 2

AncientEgyptian Art

AncientEgyptian Art

5000 BC to 300 ADHighly stylized and very symbolicSurviving art comes from tombs and monumentsStrong belief in a “future state” or the afterlifeArt is mostly for religious purposes

Imperfect art upsets the godsCreated to provide solace for the deceased in the

afterlifeDeath and the afterlife is the most common themePharaohs, Gods, Nature

Quick Facts

Geography

• Located in the Nile river valley• Civilization developed by about 3,000 BC

Geography

Protected from invaders by:• mountains to the south• vast deserts on both sides• Mediterranean Sea to the north

Geography

This location kept Egypt separate from the rest of the world, so the Egyptians had a unique and enduring style of life and art for about 3,000 years.

People

Communities were made up of:• Hunters and fishermen• Soldiers• Slaves• Priests• Scribes• Artists and craftsmen• Farmers and herdsmen

PeopleArtists, craftsmen and scribes were honored and admired.

A scribe is a scholar who could read and write.

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PeopleScribes wrote on papyrus.

Papyrus is a reed pounded to make a heavy type of paper.

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PeopleThe leader was called a pharaoh.

The pharaoh was believed to be half man, half god.

The afterlife of the pharaoh is an important theme in ancient Egyptian art.

Famous Pharaohs

• Tutankhamun (King Tut)

• Seti I

• Ramesses II

• Cleopatra

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ContributionsThe ancient Egyptians:

• Made bricks• Used sails on the water• Used wheels on land• Harnessed animals for work• Trained donkeys to carry

people• Combined copper and tin to

make bronze• Forged tools from copper.

Contributions

They also used hieroglyphics.• an early form of picture writing.• pictures and symbols stand for

sounds and words• More than 700 symbols

Architecture

The greatest architectural achievements of the Ancient Egyptians were the pyramids.

• Pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs.• They contained the items that the Egyptians believed that the Pharaoh would

need in the afterlife.• Much of the art that remains was preserved in the pyramids.

Architecture

•The first pyramid was built for King Zoser. It was a “step pyramid”. It was designed and built by an artist and architect named Imhotep.•Imhotep is the first artist whose name is recorded in history.•This pyramid was built about 2600 BC.

Architecture

•The Three “great pyramids” are located at Giza.

Architecture

They are guarded by the Great Sphinx.

• body of a lion, wings of a bird and face of a human

• The sphinx is carved from a rocky ledge.

• It was damaged by sand and wind.

Architecture

The ancient Egyptians also built beautiful temples.• The post and lintel system was used to build this temple• Most famous is the Luxor Temple

MummiesThe pyramids and tombs contained the mummified remains of the pharaohs.

The ancient Egyptians believed that the soul (called the Ka) would need to use the body in the afterlife, so the bodies were carefully preserved. Many items in the tombs were left there to be used by the Ka in the afterlife.

Mummies

Mummies

These are the mummified remains of a pharaoh named Ramses II.

MummiesAfter embalming, mummies were carefully wrapped in yards of linen bandages.

MummiesThe ancient Egyptians even mummified animals.

Sculpture

Painted relief sculpture lined the walls of pyramids.

This is called a stele.• A stele is a carved upright stone slab used as a monument.

Male statues are darker than the femaile

Hands usually on the knees

Sculpture

This stele shows Ramses II slaying his enemies.

Sculpture

Notice that the sculptures are stiff, formal, and stylized.

SculptureFaces face forward, and the left foot is slightly ahead of the right. There are no open spaces in the stone that the figures are carved from.

SculptureArtists used materials found in the Nile river valley. They were:

• Gold• Turquoise• Lapis Lazuli• Red coral• Glass

Sculpture

SculptureThis gold mask rested on the head of the mummy of King Tutankhaman.

SculptureNotice how Ramses II faces forward. He appears to be very rigid. This is typical of ancient Egyptian sculpture.

SculptureThis sculpture of Queen Nefertiti is much more relaxed and graceful than most ancient Egyptian sculpture.

Painting

Ancient Egyptians followed a very strict set of rules in their art. One of these rules was to show the human body from the most familiar or visible angle.

PaintingAgain, the figures appear to be rigid and stylized. Notice the left foot and body posture.

PaintingPaintings tell us about the daily lives of the ancient Egyptians.

Painting

The gods are often depicted in the tomb paintings.

Influence on Popular Culture

• Obelisk• tall, four sided narrow tapering monument• symbolized the Sun God Ra

Influence on Popular Culture

• Ankh• Hieroglyphic symbol for eternal life• Goths, World of Warcraft,

Influence on Popular Culture

IndianArt

Names of IndiaSouth AsiaThe Sub-ContinentHindustanBharat

History and CultureIndus River ValleyDravidians and AryansHinduism and the Caste systemDynastiesBritish ColonizationIndia Today

Indus Valley Civilization2600-1900 BCE

Indus Valley CivilizationCity of Harappa

Dravidians and Aryans

India Today2nd largest population (after China)Great ethnic diversityLargest English-speaking nation in the worldPoverty-stricken

Focus on Hinduism

Rise of Hinduism

Gupta Dynasty (320 – 500 CE)Sponsored a lot of the finest surviving Hindu artworks

Interior of cave 19Ajanta, India2nd half of 5th century

Bodhisattva (mural), detail of a wall in Cave I, Ajanta, Maharashtra India.

Gupta period, c. 475 CE

Hinduism Reincarnation into higher “positions” and escape

from cycle of lifeHas millions of gods and godessesImportant deities

Vishnu – Benevolent God of Order and Well-being of the world, often depicted with a goddess Lakshmi or Radha.

Shiva – Lord of Existence. Lord of the Dance (creation and destruction of the world)

Devi – the Great Goddess of Material Wealth and Fertility; represents positive (beauty, wealth, auspiciousness) and negative aspects (wrath, pestilence, violent power); provides the vital force to all male gods.

Vishnu

Often depicted lying in a trance or sleeping on Cosmic Waters.Associated with the symbols: Wheel, Conch Shell, usually has four arms, lavish jewelry.

Shiva

Shiva is often represented as dancing within a ring of fire; a linggam, the symbol of creative energy, holding fire, a drum, and gesturing to worshippers.5-fold nature (five heads/faces): creator, protector, destroyer, obscurer, releaser.

Devi

General term form for mother goddess, reincarnations in the form of numerous other goddesses that represent life-giving power of the universe as identified with women, fruitfulness of the land; rites of the dead.

Other Important Contributions of India to the World of ArtMandalaTaj MahalSwastikaIndian MusicBollywood

MandalaSanskrit for

“circle” or “wholeness”

diagram that reminds of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.

Diagrams of cosmic realms; representing order and meaning within the spiritual universe; may be simple of complex, three- or two-dimensional and in different shapes

The Taj Mahal

The Swastika

Indian MusicSitar, wooden flutes, little bellsGeorge Harrison of the Beatles

BollywoodFilmmakingLargest movie-making industry in the worldSlum Dog Millionaire

East AsianArt

Countries in East AsiaChinaKoreaJapan

Early CivilizationHuang-Ho River ValleyCradle of Chinese civilizationFirst Chinese kingdoms – Bronze age, before

1600 BCE

Huang Ho orYellow River

“China’s Sorrow”Because of itsDisastrous floods.

Yang Tze River

Chinese Art

Shi Huang Di• First emperor of China• United the warring states• Common language, system of writing• First version of The Great Wall of China• Burning of the books and burying of the scholars• Hero and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Army of Emperor Shi HuangdiShaanxi Province, China210 B.C.E.painted terracotta

During his life, Qin Shi Huangdi’s empire was defended by an army of 300,000.

After his death, an underground army of thousands of terracotta men and horses guarded his tomb, disciplined and alert for all eternity.

Army of Emperor Shi HuangdiShaanxi Province, China210 B.C.E.painted terracotta

•1,000 potters molded and carved the clay, fired and painted•85 artists signed the figures•Standardized figures by using molds of arms, torsos, legs, fingers, heads•Real weapons of wood and bronze

•Such feat predates European industrial societies (1700s) by many centuries!

Funeral Banner from Tomb 1Mawangdui, Chinaca.168 B.C.E.painted silk

The Silk Route5,000-mile long caravan & sea trade route from western end of the Great Wall to Rome.

Silk was greatly treasured in ancient Greece and Rome.

Silk, spices and other foodstuff, horses, metals, gems and ceramics were traded along this silk route as early as 2640 BCE. Silk had been greatly valued in ancient Greece and Rome. China had monopoly of silk cultivation and art until 2 christian missionaries smuggled a few silkworm larvae to Constantinople.

Fan KuanTravelers Among Mountains and Streamsearly 11th centuryhanging scroll, ink, and colors on silk6 ft. 7 1/4 in. x 3 ft. 4 1/4 in.

Zhou JichangArhats Giving Alms to Beggars1178 C.E.ink and colors on silk44 x 21 in.

Shakyamuni Buddha338gilded bronze1 ft. 3 1/2 in. high

Vairocana Buddha, Longmen CavesLuoyang, Chinaca. 670-680 C.E.central figure 50 feet high

Vairocana Buddha, Longmen CavesLuoyang, Chinaca. 670-680 C.E.50 feet high

Most impressive surviving works of Buddhist art are hundreds of caves carved from solid rock

Paradise of AmitabhaCave 172Dunhuang, Chinamid 8th centurywall paintingwall approximately 10 feet high

Horse8th to 9th century C.E.20 in. highglazed earthenware

The abundance of raw material necessary for ceramics has made China the cradle of ceramic—porcelain and earthenware art.

Glazing—the art of fastening color unto ceramics—was also perfected by ancient Chinese.

Neighing Horse8th to 9th century C.E.20 in. highglazed earthenware

Meiping vase960-1127 C.E.Stoneware, Cizhou type with sgraffito decoration

Foguang Si PagodaYingxian, China1056 C.E.

Pagodas are closely associated with East Asian Buddhist temples, particularly the stupas

Influenced early Han Dynasty watchtowers

Foguang Si PagodaYingxian, China1056 C.E.

Multi-storied buildings with upward-curving roofs supported by elaborate bracketing.

Architectural principles of simplicity, symmetry, proportions and grace.

Korean Art

Shakyamuni Buddhaat entrance to cave templefrom Sokkuram, Korea751-744graniteapproximately 11 ft. high

Emperor Wu Ti of China (2nd cent BCE) brought the northern part Korea into his empire; introduced Buddhism, which in turn Koreans brought to Japanese culture in 552 CE.

Korean people: skilled ceramists and metal workers.

Seated Matreya. Korea. Three Kingdoms Period, early 7th Cent.Gilt bronze, 35 ¾ in.

The Matreya, or “Buddha of the Future” is the otherwise known as the early Korean representation of Buddhist deities.

Slender figures, sophisticated, linear patterns.Statues with downcast eyes and fingers touching the chin indicating a person lost in deep thought.

Usually seen as a conduit from China to Japan

Assimilated Chinese art but created a unique culture of its own

Sophisticated style spread to Japanese islands and became an aesthetic basis for arts in China, Korea and Japan.

Japanese Art

• Painting is one of the oldest of the Japanese arts • Synthesis and competition between native/original aesthetics and adaptation of imported ideas

Ise ShrineIse, Mie Prefecture, Japanoriginally 5th century C.E.rebuilt 1973

Horyuji kondoNara, Japanca. 680 C.E.

Yakushi triad, Yakushiji kondoNara, Japanlate seventh or early eighth century C.E.bronze

Taizokai (Womb World)Ryokai Mandara Kyoto, Japan9th centurycolor on silk 6 ft. x 5 ft. 5/8 in.

Phoenix HallByodoin, Uji, Japan1053 C.E.

Flying StorehouseThe Legends of Mount ShigiChogosonshiji, Naralate 12th centuryhandscroll ink and color on paper1 1/2 ft. high

Detail of Burning of the Sanjo Palace13th century C.E.handscroll, ink and colors on paper16 1/4 in. high

Detail of Burning of the Sanjo Palace13th century C.E.handscroll, ink and colors on paper16 1/4 in. high

Amida Descending over the Mountain13th century C.E.hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk51 1/8 in. high

Amida TriadHoryuji Kondo, Nara, Japanca. 710ink and colors10 ft. 3 in. x 8 ft. 6 in.

Crown from tomb 98Hwangnamdong, Korea5-6th centurygold10 3/4 in. high

Kano MotonobuXiangyen Zhixian Sweeping with a BroomMuramachi Period, ca. 1513hanging scroll, ink and color on paper5 ft. 7 3/8 in. x 2 ft. 10 3/4 in.

Hasegawa TohakuPine ForestMonoyama Period, late 16th C.one of a pair of six-panel screensink on paper5 ft. 1 3/8 in. x 11 ft. 4 in.

Katsushika HokusaiThe Great Wave off Kanagawa, from Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji seriesEdo Period, ca. 1826-33woodblock print oban, ink and colors on paper9 7/8 in. x 1 ft. 2 3/4 in.

Ancient GreeceFoundation of Western CivilizationBreeding ground of the great philosophers

(Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)Influenced Roman civilization, which is the

foundation of democratic societiesGreek language is the foundation of many

modern English terms.New Testament written in Greek language

HistoryBegan with small sea-faring communities in

the Aegean SeaDeveloped to city-states (polis)Became an empire that conquered the known

world east of Greece (Alexander the Great) circa 350 BCE

Replaced by the Roman Empire

Ancient Greeks sought perfection of the body and mind

Greeks believed in Humanism – idea that humans should look to themselves when establishing standards

Ancient Greeks greatly influenced Western culture – government / democracy, systems of education, athletics, developed philosophy, math, literature

MythologyStories of gods and goddessesTheme of many sculptures

SculptureHighly realisticLife-sizeSemi-nudeTheme: mythologyTheme: the perfect human body

Anavysos Kouros

Sculpture (Marble)

530 BCE

1.93 M Tall

Anavysos Kouros

Kouros means “young man” in Greek

Represents the ideal “perfect” young man (strong, athletic, smooth skin, classic features)

Classic pose (one foot forward, hands at the sides)

Pose is similar to Egyptian figures

Peplos Kore

Peplos Kore

Peplos Kore, 530 BCE, Marble, height 121 cm

Kore - “young woman”

Peplos – style of dress that she is wearing

Originally wore a metal crown and jewelry

Originally painted with patterns of animals

Missing left forearm – arm once held an object that would have identified her role

Discus Thrower

Sculpture (Marble / Roman Copy)

450 BCE

1.54 M Tall

Discus Thrower

Sculpture is a copy by the Romans (who loved Greek art)

Discus Throwing is an Olympic sport

Greeks started the original Olympic Games in 776 BCE

Anatomy of the human figure

Movement of the figure

Venus de Milo (Aphrodite of Melos)

Sculpture (Marble)

150 BCE

2.1 M Tall

Venus de Milo

(Aphrodite of Melos)Classic Beauty of the Female Form

Elongated Body with S-curve (shape of letter S)

“Erotic” tension of her drapery falling off her body

Arms broken off – originally holding an apple?

Found on Aegean island of Melos by French excavators in 1820)

Nike of Samothrace

Sculpture (Marble)

190 BCE

2.44 M Tall

Nike of Samothrace

Nike – Greek Goddess of Victory

Sometimes called “Winged Victory”

Monument which originally stood on a hill (Victory Monument)

Louvre Museum, Paris

ArchitectureTemplesFor the gods, not for human usepillars

3 Types of Greek Columns:

Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian

The Greek Columns became more elaborate as time advanced (the oldest column is the Doric)

Sanctuary of Apollo

Architecture6th – 3rd century

BCE

Sanctuary of Apollo

Sacred home of the Greek God Apollo (God of sun, light, truth, music, archery, and healing)

Greeks believed Apollo could communicate to humans through a human medium called the Pythia

Located at Delphi (the site of the Pythian Games – a festival and competition of music, dance, and poetry

The Greeks searched for perfect proportions (relationship between size differences) in their sculpture and temples

The Greeks used a ratio called the Golden Section in their art and architecture

Parthenon, Acropolis

Architecture447 – 438 BCE

Parthenon, AcropolisLocated in Athens, Greece

Temple built for Goddess Athena (Goddess of Athens, wisdom, war, victory, and civilization)

Acropolis - complex of buildings

Perfect Harmony and Balance (Golden Section)

Designed by Kallikrates and Iktinos (architects)

Doric Columns

The Golden Section as applied to the Parthenon

East Pediment of the Parthenon

Pediment – a triangular gable found over major architectural elements such as porticos, windows, or doors

East Pediment of the Parthenon

East Pediment of the ParthenonAKA the “Elgin Marbles” -

British Earl of Elgins bought the pediment and later gave it to British government

Originally over 90 feet long – today less than 40 feet survives (probably destroyed by Christians in the 5th Century when Parthenon was converted to a church

Figures illustrate the birth of Athena (goddess of wisdom and civilization)

East Pediment of the Parthenon, Marble Sculptures, 447 – 432 BCE

PaintingUsually found on pots and vasesFlatTheme: methology

Francois Vase

Sculpture (Painted Ceramic)

570 BCE

66 cm

Francois VaseDiscovered by a French archaeologist, Francois

Signed by the painter and the potter

Black Figure Pottery (black on red decoration)

Volute Crater Shape

Many stories, including the story of the wedding of King Peleus

200 animal and human figures

Greek Vase Shapes

TheaterAmphitheaterComedy and TragedyUse of masks

OlympicsMyth is that it was started by Hercules and

Zeus (Olympic Stadium was built after Hercules completed the 12 labors)

All wars/protests/struggles are postponed during this period

Fundamental religious importanceRunning events, pentathlon, boxing, wrestling

LiteratureMythology is the major themeIlliad and OdysseyPhilosophy – Socrates, Plato, Aristotle“All men by nature desire to know”

Impact of Greek Mythology in LanguageHerculean TaskAchilles HeelTrojan virusTrojan horseMorphineMidas touchThe face that launched a thousand shipsNarcissisticRemember the TitansYou opened a Pandora’s boxCarrying the weight of the worldOdyssey

Greek Gods and Goddesses• Zeus – king of the Gods• Hera – queen of the Gods• Hades – god of death, the underworld• Athena – goddess of wisdom and civilization• Ares – god of war• Apollo – god of sun, creativity, fine arts• Aphrodite – goddess of love and beauty• Hermes – god of commerce and messenger of the gods• Dionysos – god of wine• Poseidon – god of sea and earthquakes• Eros – god of love (son of Aphrodite)

As a modern-day artist, what are the lessons that you have learned from studying the ancient civilizations?

ASSIGNMENT # 4

Create a work of art inspired by an ancient civilization

Present to the class on October 29Talk about the creative process, why you

chose that civilization, what are some of the modern-day influences that you used

Powerpoint presentation Mode of presentation depends on art form

you will choose

GROUP PROJECT