ART APPRECIATION MIDTERM SUMMARY
PRINCIPLES OF ART:
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Balance
○ it could either be symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial.
○ Symmetrical balance- refers to the exact mirroring of objects across an axis.
○ Asymmetrical balance- it involves shifting the balance to the other side of the axis.
Harmony
○ is the concept of achieving visual equilibrium and balance in a composition.
○ it involves the reconciliation of opposing elements or forces within an artwork to create
a sense of visual stability.
Rhythm
○ Regular Repetition
○ Alternating Rhythm
○ Progressive Rhythm- can add interest to a composition.
Emphasis
○ contrast, placement size color or other features are used to highlight one object, or
other elements in artwork.
Proportion
○ refers to the relative size and scale of the various elements in a design.
○ relates to the realistic size of the visual elements in the artwork.
○ the relationship between objects, or parts, of a whole.
○ this means that it is necessary to discuss proportions in terms of the context or standard
used to determine proportions.
Repetition
○ lines, shapes, colors, and other elements may appear in artwork in a recurring manner.
Unity
○ is the overall cohesion of the work and it should not be confused with harmony.
○ can be achieved through any kind of grouping of objects.
Contrast
○ an object may be made stronger compared to other objects using this.
○ disparity between the elements that figure into the composition.
ARTISTS/GODS:
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Dan Flavin- used light from standard fluorescent tubes as a sculptural medium.
Pablo Picasso- created The Family of Saltimbanques painting that shows the Principle of
Emphasis by isolation.
Dionysus- god of fertility that started the Greek theater.
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Young male Greek statues in the Archaic period are known as Kouros while young female statues
are called Kore.
Paul Cézanne- the most influential artist in the history of modern painting.
Donatello- middle Ages sculptor known for his statues of David, Mary Magdalene and the
Madonna.
Donald Judd- “Stacks”
Filippo Tomasso Mannetti- artist from Futurism Movement.
Henri Matisse is an artist from the Fauvism Movement.
El Greco is an artist from the Renaissance Period.
Arcangelo Corelli: "Brandenburg Concerto”
Italian composers: Vivaldi, Corelli, and Monteverdi.
Michelangelo is often associated with the Renaissance period. His artworks are: Baccus, David,
The Creation of Adam.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini is often associated with reviving elements of Hellenistic art during the
Renaissance.
Giotto di Bondone is well renowned for his explorations of perspective and pictorial space. His
works carry an intensity that is not common in great art.
ARTS:
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Hieroglyphics- earliest form of writing.
Vitruvian Man- an artwork shows a perfectly proportioned human body.
Trajan’s Column- greatest relief sculpture of Ancient Rome.
Colosseum- named after a colossal statue of Nero and was built by Emperor Vespasian to
appease the masses.
Baths of Trajan- a huge bathing and leisure complex l and it was south side of the Oppian Hill
designed by Apollodorus of Damascus.
Arch of Titus- is the oldest surviving Roman triumphal arch that was built after the young
Emperor's death.
Plain of Auvers- Vincent Van Gogh
Fallen Monarchs- William Baker
Well and grinding wheel in the forest of the chateau- Paul Cezanne
The Water Lily Pond- Claude Monet
Discoplus Structure - Classical Art
Impression Sunrise - Modern Art
The Pantheon and the Parthenon are both ancient temples. While the Pantheon was built in
Rome to celebrate all the Roman gods, the Parthenon was built in Ancient Greece for the
goddess Athena.
School of Athens- Italian Art
Great Sphinx- Egyptian Art
PLACES:
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Lascaux, France- large low relief sculpture, engravings, clay modeling, and big compositions
including many animals are characteristic of the discovery.
Moai of Easter Island and Stonehenge in England are examples of monolith
Halls of Bulls, Lascaux France, Cave drawings in South Sahara, Africa Spain and Galloping Wild
Boars Altamira Spain are examples of pictograph.
3 PERIOD OF STONE AGE:
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Paleolithic
○ Pictographs on cave walls and ceilings were composed of animal images
○ In Patagonia, the southernmost region of South America, the “Toldense” people covered
their cave and shelters with handprints.
○ Petroglyphs- cave art made up of arrows, sues, tree shapes, parallel lines, series of dots.
Mesolithic
Neolithic- Vase decoration started in this period.
CIVILIZATIONS:
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Prehistoric- early human societies that existed before the advent of written history and recorded
civilization.
○ Stone Age: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic.
○ Stone Age Art: Venus of Willendorf, Hall of Bulls, Stonehenge
○ Features of Venus of Willendorf: Large hips, breast and belly.
○ Egyptian Period: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom
○ Egyptian art & structures: Great Pyramid of Giza, Queen Nefertiti, Narmers’ Palette.
○ Great Pyramid of Giza: served as tombs and provided resting place for the pharaohs.
○ Queen Nefertiti used naturalism in depicting the artwork.
○ Namer's palette- commemoration of the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under
the rule of King Narmer. Symbols of King Narmers’ Palette: Horus, Hathor, and Slain
enemies.
○ Tomb of King Tutankhamun is a sarcophagus covered in a golden mask and was
discovered by Howard Carter in 1922.
Ancient Greek/Rome- two ancient civilizations had a profound and lasting impact on Western
culture, shaping the foundations of democracy, law, art, and architecture, among other fields.
○ Periods of Greek Art: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic.
○ Geometric Period- example: Dipylon Amphora Vase
○ Archaic Period- example: Kouros and Kore
○ Classical Period- example: Parthenon
○ Hellenistic Period- example: Laocoon and his sons
○ Types of Columns in Greek Architecture: Ionic, Doric, Corinthian
○ Famous Roman Structures: Bath of Trajans, Column of Marcus Aurellius, Arch of Titus
○ Aqueducts- this is a remarkable engineering achievement in ancient Rome.
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Middle Ages- this was the period of art development where the Church was the central figure
and authority.
○ Most European art during the Middle Ages was religious with Catholic themes.
○ Including the stained glass windows.
○ Middle Age Arts: Romanesque, Byzantine and Gothic.
○ Medieval Art: Mosaic stained glass.
Renaissance
○ The birth of Venus
○ School of Athens by Raphael
○ Monalisa
ARTISTIC MOVEMENTS:
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Mannerism
○ most artworks during this period displayed distorted figures, two dimensional spaces,
discordant hues and colors, and lack of defined focal point.
○ artists would observe nature and try their best to emulate it based on their observation.
Baroque
○ motion and space were taken into consideration by artists like the use of dramatic
lighting and the concept of time.
Neoclassicism- Age of Enlightenment
○ a dominant art movement that aimed to revive and rekindle the influences of Greek and
Roman into art and architecture.
○ Neoclassical Architecture: Palladian Style, Temple Style, Classical Block Style.
Romanticism
○ known as the romantic era.
Realism
○ artistic begins to depict real-like events
○ Example Art: The Gleaners
Naturalism
○ type of art that pays attention to very accurate and precise details and portrays things as
they are.
Impressionism
○ artists incorporated scientific principles to achieve a more distinct representation of
color.
Post-Impressionism
○ Post Impressionism Artists: Cezanne, Seurat, and Van Gogh.
Neo-Impressionism
○ is considered as a response to empirical realism of impressionism.
Art Nouveau
○ the ornamental style of art was a break from the conservative historicism.
○ Prevalent in this style of art are female silhouettes adorned with ornamental themes.
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Fauvism
○ artists used pure and vibrant colors by applying straight from the paint tubes directly to
the canvas.
○ Defined by the movement and explosion of colors.
○ Example Art: Woman with a Hat, Interior with a young girl
Cubism
○ highlighted the two dimensional surface of the picture plane
○ an artistic movement created by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
Futurism○ highlighted the speed, energy dynamism, and power of machines.
○ Focuses on restlessness of modern life and disregards traditional methods of arts.
○ Futurism Artists: Balla, Severini, Boccioni