Western Classical Art
Tradition
ARTS - 9
LESSON 1:
Ancient Paintings
(Pre-Historic ERA and EGYPTIAN)
LESSON 2:
Classical Paintings
(GREEK ERA and ROMANTIC ERA)
LESSON 3:
Medieval Paintings
(BYZANTINE ROMANESQUE AND GOTHIC
Timeline of the different
Art Periods
“ART” is derived from the Latin word “ARS”
which means “skill”. It is also known as the
totality of human activities
Importance of ARTS to HUMANS
• Express feelings of love.
• Gives satisfaction to talented people
• Develops character, proper attitudes and
values.
LESSON 1: ANCIENT PAINTINGS (PREHISTORIC ERA and EGYPTIAN
(1,500,000 BC to 2,000 BC)
Pre-Historic Era
Pre-historic includes all human existence
before the emergence of writing.
A type of art that dominated in this era is
the Cave Paintings that served as the
people’s way of communication.
EGYPTIAN ART
• The purpose of Egyptian paintings is
to make the deceased afterlife place
pleasant.
• It emphasizes the importance of life
after death and the preservation of
the knowledge of the past
• Another characteristic of Egyptian
arts is based on perfect balance
because it reflects the ideal worlds
of the gods
ARTWORKS
from the
Egyptian and
Pre-Historic ERA
“Sarcophagus of Tutankhamen”
“Sarcophagus of Tutankhamen”
It was
discovered on
12 September
1940 and
given
statutory
historic
monument
protection.
“HALL of BULLS”
(from the Cave of Lascaux)
“MAAT and ISIS”
(EGYPTIAN)
LESSON 2: CLASSICAL PAINTINGS
(GREEK ERA AND ROMANTIC ERA)
(2,000 BC TO 400 BC)
Greek Era
Paintings during the classical era were
commonly found in vases, panels and tomb. It
depicts natural figures with dynamic
compositions. Most of the subjects were battle,
scenes, mythological figures and everyday
scenes.
Romantic Era
Most of the paintings in this era were
copied or imitated from Hellenic Greek
paintings. Fresco technique was used in
brightly colored backgrounds; division of
the wall into a multiple rectangular areas
(tic-tac-toe design); and multipoint
perspective
MOST COMMON METHODS OF GREEK
PAINTINGS AND ROMANTIC ART
FRESCO
Method of painting water-based pigments
on a freshly applied plaster usually on a wall
surfaces. Colors are made with grind
powder pigments in pure water, dry and set
with a plaster to become a permanent part
of the wall. Ideal for murals, durable and
has a matte style.
FRESCO ARTWORK
Fresco from the Villa of Mysteries
Pompeii, 80 BC
This fresco painting
was believed to depict
ceremonial rites, either
marriage or an
initiation of a woman
in a mystery cult.
ENCAUSTIC
Developed the use by Greek ship builders,
who used the hot wax to fill the cracks of
the ship. It is paint consists of pigment
mixed with beeswax and fixed with heat
after its application
PANEL PAINTING
These are paintings on flat panels of wood.
It can be either a small, single piece or
several panels joined together.
KERCH STYLE (Vase Painting)
Kerch Style also referred to as Kerch Vase are red.
Figured pottery named after the place where it was
found.
Shapes Commonly found are:
• Pelike (Wine Container)
• Lekanis (a low bowl with two horizontal handles
and low broad foot)
• Lebes gamikos (with high handles and lid use to
carry bridal bath)
• Krater (bowl use for mixing wine and water)
TOMB / WALL PAINTING
It has a sharp, flatly outlined style of
painting and because it uses water-bases
materials, very few samples survived. In
tomb paintings, artist rely on the shade and
hues of paint to create depth and life-like
feeling.
“Tomb of the diver”
MOSAIC
It is an art process where
an image is created using
an assemblage of small
pieces of colored glass,
stones, or other materials.
This technique use for
decorative art or interior
decorations.
LESSON 3: MEDIEVAL PAINTINGS
(BYZANTINE, ROMANESQUE
AND
GOTHIC)
(400 BC to 1,400 AD)
BYZANTINE PAINTINGS
The lively styles of paintings which had been
invented in Greek and Rome lived in
Byzantium, but this time for Christian Subjects.
th
By the 11 century, the Greek and oriental
styles seem to blend in magnificent, imposing
images, which adorned the churches in large
and small forms.
Romanesque Paintings
This style first evolved in the first third of the 12th
century. It is a complete realization of religious and
social functions. These are largely placed mosaics
on the walls of the churches that follows a strict
frontal pose.
3 main function of Romanesque Paintings:
• Entertaining
• Moralising
• Educational
Gothic Paintings
Gothic style originated in northern, France.
The basic characteristics of Gothic art styles
reinforce symbolic meanings. The church
symbolizes the transcendence of the soul,
and the underlying philosophy is to create
buildings of height and light.
Questions & answers
Invite questions from the audience
“THE SHEPERD, DAVID”
“Lady and the Unicorn Tapestry”
“Christ in Majesty”
QUIZ
1. Art is derived from the latin word ARS. The term ARS means ________.
A. Imagine
B. Skill C. Creative
D. Active
2. Art is also known as the totality of human activities. The following are importance of art to
humans EXCEPT
a. Express feelings of love
b. Give satisfaction to talented people
c. Develop Character, proper attitudes and values.
d. Encourage budding sportsmen.
3. Your group was tasked to do a mural painting in your school using the colors made with grind
powder pigments in pure water to make the painting become an integral part of the wall. What
technique of painting is ideal for mural painting using the above mentioned materials?
a. Fresco
b. encaustic
c. acrylic
d. chiaroscuro
4. You were asked by your art teacher to paint using melted beeswax and mineral pigment to
varnish your work of art. What medium of painting are you going to apply?
a. Fresco
b. encaustic
c. acrylic
d. chiaroscuro
5. Cave paintings encompass any parietal art which involves the application of color pigments on
the walls. In what era when these types of arts dominated as the people’s means of
communication.
a. Ancient Egypt
b. Classical Greek Era
c. Prehistoric Era
d. Romanesque Era
Learner’s Module
Pages 137 - 153