Art History
 Using
Art History
 Art Criticism
 Aesthetics
Learning how to use the Art History and Art Criticism
method to investigate a piece of art
How to Learn About a Picture
Using

Art Criticism:
Learning
And/Or

from works of Art
Art History:
Learning about works of
Art
A Sequence of Art-Criticism and Art-History Operations
Art
Criticism
(First)
Description
Subject
matter and/or
elements of
Art noted in
the work.
Write down
Everything that
you see in the
art
Art
History
Determine
when, where,
And by whom
the work was
done/3 books
Analysis
Interpretation
Judgment
Organization: use
the Design
Chart to see how
the principles of art
have been used to
arrange the
elements of art.
Use the Theory of
Art Chart to see
which feeling,
moods or ideas
are communicated
by the work of art
Now decide by
combining all
these steps,
whether this is a
successful piece
of art.
Identify unique
features of the
artist’s work to
determine artistic
style
Learn how time
and place
influenced the
artist.
( Ie was there a
war/hardships?)
Make a decision
about the work’s
importance in
the history of
art.
Art History
Art Criticism
Both use the same
operations, but in different ways


External cues: learn
about the artist, and
other works that they
have done. Consult
three or more books
about the artist.
Description, analysis,
interpretation,
judgment


Internal cues:learn
from the art work itself
carefully study the
work of art itself
Description,
analysis,interpretation
judgment
For this lesson use:

View of Salisbury
Cathedral
By John Constable
Always do this method first,
before you read anything
About the work of art
Description
Carefully observe the work of art, and
write down everything that you see:
include - things, colors, textures,
elements….
Description





Cathedral
Trees
Clouds
Dappled sunlight
You do lots more!
Analysis
Use the design chart to see how
the principles of art have been
used to arrange the elements of
art. Start with #1,( what do you
see first?) then #2, and so on
until you do four. Describe under
each what you see and why.
Principles of art
Balance
Emphasis
Harmony
Variety
Gradation
Movement
Rhythm
Proportion
Color/Hue
Intensity
Value
Value
(Non-color
Line
Texture
Shape/
form
Space
If you can’t remember what each thing is consult your book
These are a few of my Choices for “View of Salisbury Cathedral”
Principles of art
Balance
Emphasis
Harmony
Variety
Gradation
Movement
Rhythm
Proportion
Color/Hue
Intensity
Value
Value
(Non-color
Line
Texture
Shape/
form
Space
X #1
X #2
X #3
Descriptions of my Analysis
#1: there are a variety of textures. Look at
the trees, the church, the dappled sunlight.
Each is described beautifully.
 #2: there is an emphasis in the shape/form
of the church. It pulls your eye right into
the picture.
 And so on…….

Interpretation
Moods,
feelings and
ideas communicated by
the work
Theories of Art
Aesthetic
qualities
imitationalism
Formalism
Emotionalism
Literal qualities:
Realistic
presentation of
subject matter
Design qualities:
Effective
organization of
the elements of
art through the
principles of art
Expressive
qualities:
Vivid
communication of
moods, feelings,
and ideas
Choose one or more that pertains to your piece of art
I chose Imitationalism

Next, present your reason for choosing that
theory of art.

I chose imitationalism because it is a pretty
picture. He isn’t trying to tell me anything,(as in
emotionalism) and the formal structure or design
quality is successful, but not as important (as in
formalism) it is just a soothing picture of an
English country side
Judgment
Decision
making about the work’s
artistic merit
During the description step, I was impressed by the literal
qualities of the work. I was impressed also with the authentic
look or the English country side. The church, the small figures
and the dappled sunlight coming through the trees. The clouds
made it look like a beautiful summer day. The textures depicted
in the painting were very real.
Clearly, considering all of the steps taken in examining
This piece of art, I would consider this is a excellent piece of art
Using the Art History Method
Be sure to consult at least three books,
you are looking now for external cues
Remember that you are doing the art history on not only
the art work, but also the artist. So you must do your
research on the artist.
We will use the same 4 methods that you used in
Art Criticism, but in different ways.: Description,
Analysis, Interpretation, and Judgment
Description
Determine: When, Where, and by
Whom the Work was done
This information can usually be found by the
Photograph of the picture. However it won’t tell
Where it was painted, only where it is now.
of Salisbury Cathedral”: w
in 1825 by John Constab
gating his history, I was a
he painted it in Salisbury,
Analysis
Discovering
the Unique
Features of a
Work
of Art: identify the unique
features to determine artistic stylego through lots of books and read
about the artist to see where he
developed his style, and what his
meadows of the English countryside. He
wanted to paint the sky, meadows, hills and
streams as the eye actually sees them. He
wanted to capture the light and warmth of
the sun, motion of the clouds and rains.
During walks, he would carry a sketch book,
and draw his landscapes from different
angles, and refer often to his notes when he
was painting inside.Lots more can be said!
His Style:
John Constable was an English Landscape
painter.
Interpretation:
Learn how time and place
influenced the artistFind out who he studied with,
who influenced him, and who
his contemporaries were.
Consult more books!
before he won a gold medal at the
Paris Salon in 1 854. In his own land,
however, very few people appreciated
his work, and had to supplement his
work with portraits. One of his best
supporters was his wife, who
encouraged him.
Contemporaries were Friedrich,
Allston,and Turner(only Turner was
English ) He greatly influenced
Delacroix. And on, and on.
Judgment
Make a decision about
the work’s importance in
the history of art.
Besides the intrinsic merit of his work, he
also historically important for the effect he
had on both the
Romantic and Impressionist groups. The
spontaneity of such painters as Delacrsix
may be traced partly to Constable: and the
Impressionist search for momentary effects
through broken colors, etc. owes much to
this British painter.