This document provides an overview of prehistoric and ancient art from 15,000 BCE to the Byzantine period. It describes cave paintings found at Lascaux, France from around 15,000 BCE, as well as the Venus of Willendorf figurine from 25,000 BCE. Egyptian art from around 3000 BCE to 1500 BCE is discussed, including pyramids and tomb art. Examples given include the pyramids at Giza and a painting of Queen Nefertiti from 1360 BCE. Ancient Greek art from around 1600 BCE to 0 AD is summarized, mentioning vases, statuary, and the Aphrodite of Milos sculpture. Finally, Byzantine art from the 4th century AD is briefly

1. SmARThistory
Prehistoric Art: 15,000-25,000 BCE

2. The caves at Lascaux,
France
http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/#/en/00.xml

3. Venus of Willendorf
ca 25,000 BCE
exaggerated proportions
fertility?/ good crops?

4. • freedom of expression
• vitality
• life like
• materials from earth- used cave surfaces
• purpose? rituals for hunting? document of
hunting expeditions? fertility rituals?

5. Ancient Art
• Egyptian
• Greek Roman
• Byzantine
• Early Christian

6. Ancient Egypt
• pyramids
• tomb art
circa 3000 BC - 1500 BC
pyramids at Giza- 2500 BC

7. descriptive perspective stylization

9. Queen Nefertiti, 1360 BC

10. compare views of women

11. • tomb art and architecture
• geographic isolation allowed for consistent
culture for thousands of years
• belief in afterlife stimulated growth in art
• descriptive perspective
• stylization of body position and proportion

12. Ancient Greek
circa 1600 BC-AD 0

13. vases

14. statuary

15. Aphrodite of Milos

16. • humans at center: humanistic culture
• rational, proportion, balance, unity
• human body is beautiful- idealized
• art flourished in all forms- architecture also
followed ideals
Ancient Greek Art

17. Roman portrait sculpture
how different from Greek?

18. • Christianity!
• Rome to Constantinople 337 AD
• glass and gold mosaics
• stiff, stylized figures
Byzantine Art

19. Hagia Sophia
532-537 AD
532-537 AD