HANDOUTS FOR ART APPRECIATION (FINAL PART)

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

The 5 Stages of the Creative Process

The creative process model has traditionally been broken down into the following five stages of creativity:
preparation, incubation, insight, evaluation, and elaboration (although creatives’ definition of each step,
and occasionally the names, can vary

1. Preparation: The Inspiration Phase

The creative process begins with preparation: gathering information and materials, identifying sources
of inspiration, and acquiring knowledge about the project or problem at hand. This is often an internal
process (thinking deeply to generate and engage with ideas) as well as an external one (going out into
the world to gather the necessary data, resources, materials, and expertise). 

2. Incubation: Absorbing and Processing

Next, the ideas and information gathered in stage 1 marinate in the mind. As ideas slowly simmer, the
work deepens and new connections are formed. During this period of germination, the artist takes their
focus off the problem and allow the mind to rest. While the conscious mind wanders, the unconscious
engages in what Einstein called “combinatory play”: taking diverse ideas and influences and finding
new ways to bring them together.

3. Insight: The “Eureka” Moment

Next comes the elusive aha moment. After a period of incubation, insights arise from the deeper layers
of the mind and break through to conscious awareness, often in a dramatic way. It’s the
sudden Eureka! that comes when you’re in the shower, taking a walk, or occupied with something
completely unrelated. Seemingly out of nowhere, the solution presents itself. 

4. Evaluation: Putting Your Idea Through the Wringer  

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but the creative development process would be remiss without
acknowledging that not every creative idea is a great (or even good) idea worth pursuing. This is the
phase where you really dig deep—as tricky and painful as it might be to your ego—and ask yourself if
this is an idea that’s ultimately worth working on. 

Some of those questions that might help you decide wether you will pursue your project of not, include
the following:

Questions to Ask Before Starting a Project 

 Has this been done before?
 How will I do this in a way that hasn’t been done yet?
 Will I actually enjoy this?
 Why does this idea or project matter to me, specifically?
 Am I challenging myself?
 In addition to looking inward, gathering some honest feedback from people you trust (creative or
otherwise) can also prove insightful at this stage in the creative process. Collaboration often allows
you to build upon your existing ideas in meaningful ways.

5. Elaboration: Putting Pen to Paper (So to Speak)

Onto the last of the stages of creativity: Once your project idea has passed the scrutiny test, it’s finally
time to “elaborate.” Or in easier-to-understand terminology, it’s officially time to put pen to paper, ink to
canvas, and clay to wheel. This is the phase where you’re actively creating something and bringing
your idea to life.

For many, this final step of the creative process can take just as long as all the other four put together
(or even longer). It typically involves many hours of brainstorming the best approach and
experimenting to figure out what works and what doesn’t. You might nail it on the first try (and some
really do!), but what’s more likely to happen is that you create something, dislike it, and either rewind a
bit or start completely from scratch. You might do this repeatedly until it’s perfect in your eyes. 
 Lest you find yourself discouraged during this stage, consider the many “failed” forerunner sketches,
sculptures, and pages by greats that would ultimately lead to a masterpiece that’s cherished centuries
later. Real sweat, real tears, and real joy is bred during this step 5 creative process stage. Embrace it.

The principles of design are the rules a designer must follow to create an effective and attractive
composition.

Design differs from art in that it has to have a purpose. Visually, this functionality is interpreted by making
sure an image has a center of attention, a point of focus.

Graphic design, like any discipline, adheres to strict rules that work beneath the surface to make the work
stable and balanced. If the work is missing that balance, it will be weak and ineffective.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
Design is the overall organizational visual structure of the formal elements in a work of art. A design is the
proper arrangement of the different art elements to produce something beautiful. The design of things
makes objects differ from one another. Good design is the result of careful and correct application of the
principles of design. The most important factor is to execute these principles to achieve beauty.

1. Emphasis
Emphasis is the part of the design that catches the viewer's attention. Usually the artist will make
one area stand out by contrasting it with other areas. The area could be different in size, color, texture,
shape, etc

Emphasis is a strategy that aims to draw the viewer's attention to a specific design element. That
could be to an area of content, to an image, to a link, or to a button, etc. We see emphasis used in most
fields of design, including architecture, landscape design, and fashion design.

2. Balance and Alignment

Balance is a feeling of equality in weight, attention, or attraction of the various elements of design.
It is the quality of two contrasting forces having two opposite directions. Balance is inherent in nature.
There are many factors which contribute to a sense of balance

Never forget that every element you place on a page has a weight. The weight can come from
color, size, or texture.

Symmetrical design creates balance through equally weighted elements aligned on either side of a
center line. On the other hand, asymmetrical design uses opposite weights (like contrasting one large
element with several smaller elements) to create a composition that is not even, but still has
equilibrium. Symmetrical designs are always pleasing, if not occasionally boring. Asymmetrical
designs are bolder and can bring real visual interest and movement (more on that later!) to your
composition.

3. Contrast
The design principle contrast refers to the use of visually different elements. In addition to capturing
attention, contrast can guide the viewer's eye to a focal point, highlight important information and add
variety, or even drama, to a design

4. Repetition
In design, repetition means reusing elements — colors, patterns, fonts, images, textures and
more — throughout a piece of work. Another way of thinking about repetition is consistency.

Repetition can be important beyond one printed product. Current packaging design is heavily
embracing beautiful illustrated patterns. Anyone thinking about a startup knows one of the first things
you need is a strong logo to feature on your website, business cards, social media and more. Brand
identity? Another term for repetition.

5. Proportion
Proportion deals with the proper or significant relationship between two things of parts. The principle of
proportion is sometimes called the “Law of Relationship”. This is express in size, number and position.
The space surrounding the objects plays an important relation to the other objects.
Proportion is the visual size and weight of elements in a composition and how they relate to each other. It
often helps to approach your design in sections, instead of.

Grouping related items can give them importance at a smaller size—think of a box at the bottom of your
poster for ticket information or a sidebar on a website for a search bar. Proportion can be achieved only if
all elements of your design are well-sized and thoughtfully placed. Once you master alignment, balance,
and contrast, proportion should emerge organically.

6. Movement
Movement is controlling the elements in a composition so that the eye is led to move from one to
the next and the information is properly communicated to your audience. Movement creates the story
or the narrative of your work: a band is playing, it’s at this location, it’s at this time, here’s how you get
tickets. The elements above—especially balance, alignment, and contrast—will work towards that
goal.

7. White Space
All the other elements deal with what you add to your design. White space (or negative space) is the only
one that specifically deals with what you don’t add. White space is exactly that—the empty page around
the elements in your composition.

8. Harmony
Harmony is said to be the most essential of all the principles of design. The principle I important in story,
letter and poetry writing in order to be understood. In society today as well as in government functions,
harmony holds everything in its proper order.

Harmony is the sense of cohesiveness between the elements in a composition. The elements shouldn’t
be the same or completely different but related in some way. Color palettes or similar textures can create
a sense of unity between different components. Using similarly shaped items will create harmony
because they will seem related. 

Not enough or too much harmony can make a design dull; there needs to be variety for it to be visually
interesting.

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Since the beginning of mankind, human beings have attempted to demonstrate their feelings on life, love,
religion and other topics by creating art. Whether it is architecture, sculpture, painting or cave drawings,
their art has acted as a time capsule, and allowed us to see how artists viewed the world in their time.
As time and technology progressed, so did art and art history have been divided into periods
based on techniques and common trends. This lesson will delve into some of these periods and explore
the techniques, trends, and works that have defined humanity through art.

PREHISTORIC (STONE AGE)

 Prehistoric art refers to paintings, engravings, sculpture and other forms of art, which were done in
the earlier stage of man’s cultural development when there were no written records.
 Even before writing, people were painting images, carving objects and creating structures or
shelters. Most ancient artworks depict religious symbols, a wide array of organisms from nature and
activities of everyday life.
 In order to understand prehistoric art, there is a need to situate them within the context of the three
periods of the Stone Age culture:
1. Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)
2. Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)
3. Neolithic (New Stone Age)
 The earliest artifacts of Prehistoric period come from Paleolithic era or the Old Stone Age, in the
forms of rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures and stone arrangements.
 The unearthing of archeological artifacts and remains provide modern society a glimpse of the
beliefs, practices and activities of early civilization. Some artifacts in the form of cave paintings and
sculptures serve as the storytellers.

Prehistoric Painting

 Paleolithic art is a product of climate change. As the climate get colder, part of the early human’s
instinct to look for shelters that would provide them with warmth. Caves became protective havens
 for the early humans and these caves paved the way for the birth of their first attempt to create art.
Paintings were done on roof, wall and floors deep inside the caves. One cave painting can be traced
back to Lascaux, France.
 Paintings were focused on animals, spear and other rudimentary materials (Paleolithic) and later
evolved in depictions of animal and people engaged in everyday activities (Neolithic). They were
drawn on caves, stones and earth-filled ground.

Techniques used:

‫ ﻩ‬Early humans used the contours of the cave surfaces to enhance realism. It is believed they got their
ideas of picture making from the rough and lumpy surfaces of caves and the rocks in which they
made their paintings.
‫ ﻩ‬The painting evoke naturalism, which is evidently seen through the contours of the animals’ body
and their dark colors. Images are drawn in profile, frontal or diagonal view and are of different size.
‫ ﻩ‬Some of the early humans already used their own version of spray-painting techniques by using
ground pigments blown through reeds or hollowed-out bones.
‫ ﻩ‬They also worked with foreshortening and contrasting of lights and shadows. These techniques
created the illusion of three-dimensional forms and seemingly real representation of animals.
‫ ﻩ‬The individual figures were superposed, superimpose or juxtaposed.

Tools and Materials:

 Ancient people used charcoal to outline the walls; sometimes they incised the wall with sharp
stones or charcoal sticks
 Artists likely painted with their fingers first and later used tools like pointed sticks, bone, moss or
brushes made of animal hair, feathers or vegetable fiber.
 The “paints” used were ground minerals like red and yellow ochre; binders including fat of
animals killed, water or even spit
 The minerals were applied directly on the damp limestone walls
Prehistoric people made paintings in the caves for the following reasons:

‫ ﻩ‬Expressions of sympathetic magic (the painting might come true) – drawing or painting the capture of
a prey would translate to an actual capturing of an animal in real life
‫ ﻩ‬Reflect the early belief of humans especially with life and fertility
‫ ﻩ‬Religious and spiritual beliefs
‫ ﻩ‬Serves as a kind of sanctuary for the early humans
‫ ﻩ‬As an aid to memory and pass on

Prehistoric Sculpture
 Their sculptures were presented in relief or sculpture in the round, in small forms
(miniatures/statuettes) making it all portable.
 They carved in stone, bone, ivory, antlers or modeled in clay.
 Carvings on cave walls make use of natural modulations in the wall surface to enhance the images.
(Contours of stone used as a starting point for carvings on cave walls)
 Most sculptures found are stylized representation of animals and human figures especially women
which are used as fertility doll.
 Many figures featuring the female form are collectively referred to as Venus figurines.
 During the Neolithic period, statuettes details are added with paint and shell. This also marks the
beginning of monumental sculpture in the history of art.
 One major work of Prehistoric sculpture is the Woman or “Venus” of Willendorf. This is a 4.25-inch
limestone figurine that was found in what is now Lower Willendorf in Austria.
Prehistoric Architecture
 Prehistoric architecture is notoriously difficult to reconstruct as most of the materials used by
prehistoric man was made of fibrous materials that decay over time.
 Architectural anthropologist argue that Paleolithic humans may not have “invented” architecture,
rather they were the first to gradually define and structure their surroundings in order to create
spaces that allowed them to better understand the world and their place in it.
 As humans begin to form settlements during the Mesolithic to the Neolithic era, architecture began to
branch out into more distinct architectural forms. One kind of early building took the form of large
stone monuments called megaliths. The most famous of these is Stonehenge in England. This style
of construction demonstrated the post-and-lintel system.
  Most of the structures were made of timber with a post-and-lintel system. Structures would typically
have a flat timber roof supported by posts that could be filled with woven branches and covered with
mud to create a sturdy wall structure.
 Megaliths
‫ ﻩ‬In prehistoric art, a megalith is a large, often undressed stone, that has been used in the
construction of various types of monuments. Also known as petroforms, these monuments can
consist of just one stone or a number of stones, which are fitted together without the use of mortar
or cement.
‫ ﻩ‬This form of rock art was used in ceremonial or ritualistic structures, single or multiple tombs,
sanctuaries and several other types of monumental architecture.
‫ ﻩ‬The construction and alignment of this prehistoric structure could be highly sophisticated: specific
rock shapes were often hewn to meet specific design requirements, while the buildings themselves
were sometimes positioned in relation to the stars or the solstice.
‫ ﻩ‬Megalithic structures have different types:
 Stonehenge makes use of post-and-lintel construction style. Some regard it as a temple while
others see it as a complex calendar that tracked the movements of both Sun and Moon.
 Menhirs which are large standing stones or groups of standing stones, arranged in circles or
cromlechs and henges.
 Dolmens also called “chamber tombs”, usually contain one or more chambers or rooms in
which the dead were buried. Some dolmens also contain long, stone chambers or halls which
connect different rooms. The long chambers also are referred to as “long tombs” and “passage
graves”

THE CLASSICS – GREEK AND ROMAN

Art from Ancient Greece and Rome is often called classical art. This is a reference to the fact that the act
was not only beautiful and of high quality but that it came from a Golden Age in the past and was passed
down to us today. Greek art influenced Roman art and both of them were inspiration for the Renaissance.
GREEK ARTS
 Greek Art is usually divided stylistically into four periods:
 Geometric Period – geometric shapes and patterns have taken the spotlight in most
artworks
 Archaic Period – placed importance on human figures
 Classical Period – the peak of Greek sculpture and architecture. It was during this time
when the Greeks found themselves rebuilding their temples and focusing on creating
artwork.
 Hellenistic Period – art was primarily focused on showcasing emotions and depicting
reality. Hellenistic sculptures started to emphasize balance while showcasing dynamic poses
and a number of emotions evoked by the subjects.

Fundamental Characteristics of Greek art

 Flowering of an aesthetic idealism that seeks to represent an idyllic vision of beauty.
 Representation of proportionality and balance in the works of art that contribute to highlight the
concept of aesthetic perfection.
 It is not of practical and realistic character, but decorative. Seeking the joy of the spirit.
 Concern to represent an ideal vision of the beauty of the human body.
 Representation of nature and the surrounding world with an idealized and sweetened vision of
this.
 Greek art has not been looked as an instrument of propaganda, only as an aesthetic pleasure
vehicle.
 The rationality of mathematics measures used to represent the ideal proportion in works of art.
Greek Paintings
 Classical Greek painting reveal a grasp of linear perspective and naturalist representation.
 Subjects include figurative scenes, portraits, still-life and exhibitions were relatively common.
 Apart from vase painting, all types of painting flourished during the Classical period. The highest
form was panel painting, done in encaustic or tempera. Fresco painting was also a common method
of mural decoration in temples, public buildings, houses and tombs.
‫ﻩ‬ Vase Painting
  Kerch Style – also referred as Kerch Vases which are red, figured pottery
 Common motifs are life of women, mythological beings popular among the people of
the black sea and scene from a mythological story or event
 Uses the technique Polycromy, a combination of different colors especially the brilliant
ones, in an artistic manner
 A vessel’s form correlates with its intended function. On the exterior, Greek vases
exhibit painted compositions that often reflect the style of a certain period. The figures
were always painted so that they and their story fitted the shape of the vase and still
linear.
‫ﻩ‬ Panel Painting, done in encaustic or tempera
Panel painting are paintings on flat panels of wood. It can be either small,
single-pieced or several panels joined together. Most of it doesn’t exist anymore because
of its organic composition

Tomb or Wall Painting

 Uses the method frescos in either tempera or encaustic
 Sharp, flatty outlined style of painting
 Painting using true fresco technique with limestone mortar
 Depicts symposium scene on the wall
 Only few samples survived
Greek Sculpture
 There was a huge improvement in the technical ability of Greek sculptors to depict the human body
in a naturalistic rather than rigid posture. Anatomy became more accurate and as a result, statues
started to look much more true-to-life. The human form began being depicted in stances of
movement, particularly in athletic movement.
 Bodies took on a natural, more realistic form. The male form was represented as a fit, healthy and
young man whose muscles and shape were carved out of the marble. Women were often nude on
top and robed on the bottom or completely nude. They had soft round abdomens, full hips and legs
and small breasts.
 Medium: Although Greek sculptures are associated with white marble, Greek sculpture in the early
classical period and after, sculptures were made from white marble and were often painted. Bronze
was also used.
 Subject: Throughout the classical period, sculptures are consisted primarily of Gods, Goddesses and
mythological scenes and figures. These figures are often sculpted as “heroic nudes”, in which the
male figure is idealized.
 In free-standing sculptures, Greek depicted Gods, heroes and mythological figures. Greeks created
idealized versions of the human body. Figures in Greek sculpture are often detached and
unemotional, even when performing difficult or painful tasks. The images of people in Greek
sculpture echo the focus on reason, moderation and symmetry in Greek culture.
 One of the key characteristics of this period is the contrapposto stance, or s-curve. One leg is
forward, in front of the other bearing the weight of the body.

Greek Architecture
 Classical Greek architecture is highly formalized in structure and decoration, and is best known for
its temples, many of which are found throughout the region as substantially intact ruins.
 Each classical Greek temple appears to have been conceived as a sculptural entity within the
landscape and is usually raised on higher ground so that its proportions and the effects of light on its
surface can be viewed from multiple angles.
 The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with their distinctive
proportion and detailing. The Greek orders are the Doric, Ionic and the Corinthian Order. All three
styles have had a profound impact on Western architecture of later periods.
The Doric Order – it is most easily recognized by its capital which appears as a circular
cushion placed on top of a column onto which a lintel rest. The Parthenon is considered the
most important surviving building of classical Greece and the zenith of Doric Order
architecture.
‫ ﻩ‬The Ionic Order – This coexisted with the Doric Order. This style is most easily identified by
its voluted capital. The cushion placed on top of the column is similarly shaped to that of the
Doric Order, but is decorated with a stylized ornament and surmounted by a horizontal band
that scrolls under to either side
‫ ﻩ‬The Corinthian Order – This style directly grew from the Ionic and was initially of a very
similar style and proportion, with the only distinguishing factor being its more ornate capitals.
 The capitals of the Corinthian Order were much deeper than those of the Doric and Ionic
Orders. They were shaped like a bell-shaped mixing bowl and ornamented with a double row
of acanthus leaves above which rose splayed, voluted tendrils.

 While the three orders of Greek architecture are most easily recognizable by their capitals, the
orders also governed the form, proportions, details and relationships of the columns, entablature,
pediment and stylobate.
 Three of the main characteristics of classical Greek architecture would be domes and arches,
balance and symmetry and ordered columns, since these were thought to bring the most respect to
the Gods.
 The Greeks not only had free-standing sculptures, but also sculpture worked into architecture,
primarily in friezes that rain in horizontal strips above architectural columns. These architectural
sculptures also depicted Gods and mythological figures and were often featured above temples.
ROMAN ARTS
 This refers to the visual arts made in Ancient Rome and in the territories of the Roman Empire.
 Roman art comprises of architecture, sculpture and mosaic works. Sculpture and figure painting
were regarded as the highest forms of Roman Art.
 Romans produce artworks that are often looking stern, harsh and strong.
 They invoked the principle of realism in most of their works, highlighting the features of human
beings.
 Romans were also known to be master builders, which earned their reputation for grand monuments
and architectural infrastructure.
Roman Painting
 The few paintings that have been known represent a utilitarian character in which it is used to
decorate building walls, using the fresco technique. Therefore, they are kept in buildings and ruins.
 The mosaic stands out as a representative technique, with geometric and animalistic motifs, where it
was looked to represent daily life themes or mythology. Mosaics are used for decorative art or
interior decorations.
 Roman paintings have a wide variety of subjects: animals, everyday life, still life, mythological
subjects, portraits and landscapes. In fact, the development of landscape painting is the main
innovation of Roman painting from Greek painting.
 The perspective was used to give a sensation of depth and chiaroscuro was used to represent
volumes and expressions.
 Fresco techniques was used in brightly colored backgrounds such as yellow, red and orange,
representing mythological and historical themes; division of the wall into a multiple rectangular area
(tic-tac-toe design); multipoint perspective; and trompe-l’oeil effect (an art technique that uses
realistic imagery to create an optical illusion that the depicted objects exists in three dimensions)
Roman Sculpture
 While the Greeks made sculptures of idealized human forms, the Romans tended to make portraits.
The subject was represented as if in real-life, including their individual imperfections. Romans
focused on verism, the attempt to create images that exactly reflected the subject. This meant
including wrinkles and blemishes, as well as depicting their subjects at the correct age.
 Romans made sculptures of gods, heroes, emperors, generals and politicians. They also used
sculpted images to adorn the capitals of columns and the helmets of gladiators.
 As with Greek sculpture, the Romans works on stone, precious metals, glass and terracotta but
favored bronze and marble above all else for their finest work. However, as metal has always been
in high demand for re-use, most of the surviving examples of Roman sculpture are in marble.
 Roman sculpture may be divided into four main categories:
Historical relief
The monumental altars, commemorative columns and triumphal arches were excellent surfaces
for decorative reliefs of the typical narrative style of the Roman sculpture.
Produced reliefs in the Great Roman triumphal columns with continuous narrative relief arounds

 Portrait busts and statues, including equestrian statues

 Funerary reliefs, sarcophagi or tomb sculpture. Funeral busts and stelae (tombstones)
were one of the most common forms of sculpture in the Roman world.
 Copies of ancient Greek works. The label Roman copy after a Greek original can be found
in museums throughout the world on most Roman sculptures that portray deities, heroes or
athletes.
CONCUSION: Roman Sculpture has provided us not only with a priceless record of earlier Greek
masterpieces but it has also contributed great works in their own right. Unique contributions to the art
form include the use of historical narratives and an unprecedented realism in portraits which could take
the form of grandiose emperors dressed as gods or more humble depictions of lesser mortals and
rendering of particular physical features and emotional expressions.

Roman Architecture
 Strongly influenced by Greek model, the Roman building were large and ornate. They also used new
materials particularly roman concrete and newer technologies such as arch and the dome to make
buildings that were typically strong and well-engineered.
 The striking features of Roman architecture were the elements use, innovated and mindfully
executed by them. They focused innately on the elements they used in architecture like vaults,
domes, columns and arches.

Elements of Ancient Roman Architecture

 Columns. Romans initially followed the Greek order of columns: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian in
many structures. They also came up with two columns of their own styles, Tuscan and Composite.
Tuscan is an unfluted and simplified version of Doric order and Composite is a combination of Ionic
and Corinthian columns. Columns were initially used as support elements but later on, they were
also used as elements of decoration in various structures.
 Arches. Arches were extremely used in Roman architecture. The Greeks followed the post and
lintel form of construction and Romans sought a change to this as arches could provide longer
uninterrupted spaces.
 Vaults. It is an arch-shaped roof used by the Romans. The most common were tunnel vaults, groin
vaults and multi groin vaults.
 Dome. These are natural developments of vaults. They look similar to a half-cut sphere.
Semicircular vaults covering much larger distances, with the shallow source of light coming in
through a circular aperture at the top were the major pros of domes. Also, it enhances the
aesthetics of the place.

CONCUSION: By combining a wide range of materials with daring designs, the Romans were able to
push the boundaries of physics and turn architecture into an art form. The Roman use of concrete, bricks
and arches twinned with building designs like Basilica would immeasurably influence all following western
architecture up right up to the present.
EARLY CHRISTIAN
 Following the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, Roman Empire were made to divide into
Western and Eastern half. Early Christian comprise the west half.
 Early Christian art are also called Paleo-Christian art or primitive Christian art. The art of this period
has its root in the classical Roman style, but it developed into a more abstract, simplified artistic
expression. It’s ideal was not physical beauty but spiritual feeling. The human figures thus became
types rather than individuals and often had large, staring eyes, “the windows of the soul.” Symbols
were frequently used, and compositions were flat and hieratic, in order to concentrate on and clearly
visualize the main idea.
 Characteristics of this period
o themes are from the bible
o few nudes
o move away from realism toward symbolic form (more concerned in expressing religious thought
or idea)
o found on frescoed walls of catacombs outside Rome
o acceptance of the Christian religion created a need for new architecture – starting in the 4 th
century

Early Christian Painting

 Early Christian used the same artistic media as the surrounding pagan culture. These media
included mosaics and fresco wall painting.
 Some of the subject matter of these works was borrowed from pagan religions, such as the Virgin
and Child motif or the lion, lamb and bull scenes.
 First traces of Christian art can be seen in the catacombs (ancient underground cemetery).
Catacombs are closed with flagstones or ceramic tiles made with inscriptions or symbols painted
with a layer of paint.
 Early Christians decorated their catacombs with frescoes or paintings on fresh plaster. These
frescoes are very simple and allegorical; not refined at all.
 In their paintings of people, early Christian art showed little interest in the beauty, grace and strength
of the human body, which were so important to Greek and Roman artist. Spiritual expression took
precedence over physical beauty.

Mosaics

 Early Christians developed their own iconography (the holy images).

 To spread Christianity, building of churches throughout the empire occurs and though these
churches were very plain on the outside, their interiors were bursting with colorful design in the form
of mosaics. Provided with these vast spaces, early Christian took the art form of mosaic from the
floor and spread in onto the ceilings and the walls.
 Early Christians created mosaics of biblical narratives and symbolic awareness. Instead of natural
stones, they used colored glass, allowing them to create vibrant colors.
Early Christian Sculpture
 Early Christians continued the ancient Roman traditions in portrait busts and sarcophagus reliefs, as
well as in smaller objects such as the consular diptych.
 Their sculptures were stylistically no longer correspond to the classical ideal of beauty but centers on
representation of the character in the Bible. Sculpture focused on the spiritual message of the piece
or the clarity of the narrative being told and not on the classical proportions of the figures or
individual expressions.
 Their sculpture is mostly carving and relief in marble, bronze, ivory and ceramic.
  Their sarcophagi (stone caskets) are the first examples of Early Christian sculpture. A wide variety
of subjects are shown on sarcophagi, with the most elaborate containing small cycles of narrative
scenes from the gospel.
 Early Christian sculpture avoided the life-sized scale of their pagan predecessors and almost
completely avoided full statues or sculpture in round. Instead, they used shallow relief sculpture and
depicted biblical scenes and Christian allegory.
 Though the early Christians did not make use of sculpture on occasion, they took special care to
make sure that the sculpture was clearly part of the decoration rather than an object of adoration.

Early Christian Architecture

 When the early Christians were able to find their churches in public, they chose the high-style
architectural classicism of the Roman Empire. Their churches, modeled on Roman basilicas, uses
old columns which by various devices were brought to a uniform height.
 Early Christians architecture are seen in Basilicas, which had a central nave with one aisle at each
side and an apse at one end. The transept was added to give the building a cruciform shape.
 Early Christian architecture consisted of two building types: the Christian Basilica, a rectangular
building with an apse for the altar at one end, and as far as the form is concerned, based on the
straight line, interpreted as path; and the martyrium, a circular building, interpreted as center.

MEDIEVAL ART
 Following the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, Western Europe became largely
decentralized, except for the centralizing power of the Catholic church. After the collapse of the
Roman Empire, Europe saw a period of artistic backwardness, as the highly refined methods of art
from the classical period were forgotten.
 Characteristics:
o focus on religious (Christian) themes
o two dimensional, flat and stiff with no movement
o disproportionate and little perspective; important figures are large
o fully clothed, draped in deeply carved, stiff looking clothes
 Another dominant characteristic of the period was that church was the central figure and authority of
the period, hence the most important products of this period would have to be copied of the Christian
scriptures done by hand.
 During this time, great cathedrals were also built.
 Purpose: to teach religion to those that could not read and write
 Sub-divided into 3 periods: Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic

BYZANTINE ART
 Roman Empire were made to divide into Western and Eastern half. Along with the transfer of
imperial authority to Byzantium, went thousands of Roman and Greek painters and craftsmen, who
proceeded to create a new set of Eastern Christian images and icons known as Byzantine art.
 Exclusively concerned with Christian art, though derived from techniques and forms of Greek and
Egyptian art, this style spread to all corners of the Byzantine empire, where Orthodox Christian
flourished.
 One of the clearest distinctions between Early Christian and Byzantine art is the insidious insertion of
imperial propaganda into religious images. Where the church in Rome (Early Christian) was a purely
religious body, the church in Constantinople (Byzantium) was bound tightly to the political structure
of the empire.
 The combination of religious and political authority gave the emperor unprecedented power over the
art and architecture of the Byzantine empire.
 Characteristics: retain Greek harmony, themes from bible, mosaics not very realistic
 Arts was commissioned solely by emperors and nobles.
Byzantine Painting
 Byzantine artist specialized in two-dimensional (2D) painting, becoming masters of panel painting,
including miniatures – notably icons (holy images) which were developed in the monasteries of the
eastern church using encaustic wax paint on portable wooden panels; and manuscript illumination.
 Entirely concerned with religious expression; specifically, with the translation of church theology into
artistic terms. Byzantine painting and mosaic works developed a particular style of meaningful
imagery (iconography) designed to present complex theology in a very simple way. For example,
colors were used to express different ideas: gold for heaven; blue for the color of human life.
 Byzantine art borders on abstraction as evidenced by its flatness and highly stylized depictions of
figures and landscapes.
 Began with mosaics decorating the walls and domes of churches as well as fresco paintings
Mosaic decoration was perfected as was the use of clerestory to bring light in from high
windows.
Byzantine Sculpture

Byzantine did not allow 3D artworks like statues or high reliefs, believing they glorified the human aspect
of the flesh rather than the divine nature or spirit.
Sculptures produced in this era are more on carved and relief.
Dominant theme: religious, everyday life scenes and motifs from nature
Animals were used as symbols while some had acrostic signs that contained a great theological
significance
Byzantine Architecture
 Has a lot in common with early Christian architecture.
 Byzantine architects created a totally spiritualized space. The dome of heaven served as a point of
departure. The spiritualized space of the dome of heaven is reached only after passing through
some preparatory low and difficult spaces, symbolizing the necessary persistent effort a Christian
must exert to reach his final destination.
 Byzantine architecture is exemplified by the 6th century Hagia Sophia, built in Constantinople and
designed to conform to the Greek cross with four equilateral arms, as opposed to the Latin cross with
only three equilateral arms.
ROMANESQUE ART
 Romanesque art refers to the art of Europe from the late 10 th century to the rise of the Gothic style in
the 13th century or later, depending on the region,
 The name Romanesque refers to the fusion of Roman, Carolingian, Ottonian, Byzantine and local
Germanic traditions that make up the mature style.
 The term “Romanesque’ was invented by the 19 th century art historians to refer specifically to
architecture of the time period, which retained many basic features of Roman architectural style –
most notably semi-circular arches – but had distinctive regional characteristics.

Romanesque Architecture
 The economic boon of such travels(pilgrim) to cities led to rapid architectural developments, in which
cities vied for grander and grander churches.
 Combining features of Roman and Byzantine buildings and other local traditions, Romanesque
architecture is distinguished by massive quality, thick walls, round-headed arches, sturdy piers, groin
vaults, large towers, decorative arcades and symmetrical plans.
 Lofty stone vaulting replaced wooden roof; main church entrances became more monumental.
 Architects developed the ribbed vault, which allowed vaults to be lighter and higher, thus allowing for
more windows on the upper level of the structure.
 Architects developed the use of the tympanum, the arched area above the doors of the church to
show scenes that will set the mood upon entering the church.
Romanesque Painting
 Much of the monumental painting of the Romanesque period covered the interior walls of churches.
 Both painting and sculpture incorporated a broad range of subject matter, reflecting the general
revival of learning: contemporary theological works, biblical events and the lives of saints were
common subjects.
  In illuminated manuscripts, the most lavishly decorated manuscripts of the period were mostly bibles
or psalters. More originality is seen, as new scenes needed to be depicted. They used intensely
saturated primary colors.
The art of the period was characterized by a vigorous style in both painting and sculpture. In churches,
painting continued to follow Byzantine iconographic models. Use of visual iconography for didactic
purposes are prevalent as most people outside of the monastic orders were illiterate, complex religious
scenes were used to guide and teach the faithful of Christian doctrine.
Pictorial compositions usually had little depths as they were limited to the narrow spaces of historiated
initials, column capitals and church tympanums.
Figures often varied in size in relation to their importance and landscape background were absent.
Human forms were often elongated and contorted to fit the shape provided and at times appeared to be
floating in space.

Romanesque Sculpture
 Most Romanesque sculpture is pictorial and biblical in subject. A great variety of themes are found
on building capitals, columns and around the massive doors of churches.
 The tympanums of important church portals were carved with monumental schemes often depicting
iconography from Byzantine painting but treated with more freedom than in painted versions.
tympanum – a triangular space between the sides of a pediment; the space within an arch and
above a lintel or a subordinate arch, spanning the opening below the arch
Decorative architectural sculpture flourished on the facades of the churches. These portal sculptures were
meant to both intimidate and educate the viewer.
 Sophisticated precious objects in metalwork, ivories and enamels held high status in the
Romanesque period.
 Some of the famous sculptural pieces are reliquaries, altar frontals, crucifixes and devotional images.
Small individual works of art were generally for royal and aristocratic patrons. These lightweight
devotional images were usually carried in the processions both inside and outside the churches.

GOTHIC ART
 Gothic art started in France in the 12 th century when Abbot Suger completed the first Gothic church
at the Abbey of St. Dennis. From Northern France, it spread throughout Europe where different
regional styles were adopted.
 For the first time, we actually have names for most of the artist of this age – like Cimabue, Duccio,
Giotto, the Lorenzetti brothers and Gentile Da Fabriano.
 Two trends developing in Italian Gothic art:
‫ ﻩ‬increasingly realistic figures
‫ ﻩ‬the use of perspective in painting
 Generally, art during this period move toward realism in both figures and decorations
 The most expressive medium for the Gothic style is architecture, specifically Cathedrals.

Gothic Architecture
 Ratios became essential to French Gothic cathedrals because they expressed the perfection of the
universe created by God.
 Gothic architecture exploited a number of technical advances in pointed arches to cross-ribbed
vaults to flying buttresses and soaring ceilings, thin towering walls and stained-glass windows, all of
these techniques allowed Gothic architecture to awe, inspire and educate the masses.
 Gothic cathedrals were characterized by lighter construction and large windows. The pointed arch
was the defining architectural feature of Gothic construction.
 Gothic cathedral was seen by architects as representing the universe in miniature. Almost every
feature was designed to convey a theological message: the awesome glory of God and the ordered
nature of his universe.
Gothic Painting
 Murals, frescoes and mosaics fell out of fashion. Exception on this is Italy where the huge windows
of the gothic style never really achieved the central decorative role assigned to them. Instead,
murals, frescoes and other forms of painting remained an important form of church decoration in
Italy.
 In the Gothic age, stained glass windows became the main form of inferior church decoration. Gothic
glaziers wrote the stories of the Bible, not in words but in lights.
  These stained-glass windows were the multimedia stories of their day. Stained glass windows
offered illiterate Christians a glorious glimpse into the tales of the Bible.
 Gothic stained-glass windows are identified by their massive size as well as their shape (the tall
window with the pointed arch and the round rose window)
 Abbot Suger adopted the idea that light equates to God. He wrote that he placed pictures in the
glass to replace wall paintings and talked about them as educational devices. The windows were
instructional in theology during the gothic era, and the light itself was a metaphor for the presence of
God.

Illuminated manuscripts also provide excellent examples of Gothic painting. Manuscript is a prayer
book known as the book of the hours became increasingly popular during the Gothic age and was
treated as a luxury item.

Gothic Sculpture
 Most sculptures were made in conjunction with church architecture. Sculptors began coating Gothic
cathedrals with decorative sculpture. It has greater freedom of style and no longer lay closely against
wall but begun to project outward. We begin to see the first step toward full sculpture in the round
that stand on their own two feet.
 Figures were given their own particular attitude instead of being set into particular patterns. Sculpture
during this time are livelier and more realistic.
 Gothic statues of human figure were given a natural and life-look, both in bodies and facial
expressions. They wore garments to give the impression of real bodies.
 Trends developing in Gothic sculpture:
the wild movement of Romanesque sculpture is replaced with geometric harmony and
symmetry
accompanied by an increased sense of realism (move away from massive frontal poses to more
typical or everyday poses that tender human emotion

RENAISSANCE ART
 The term “Renaissance” refers to the rebirth of Greek and Roman culture and arts. It is an art
movement originated in Italy in the 15th century.
 Florence was a cultural leader in the Renaissance period.
 Artist during this period gained prestige and became celebrities.
 Patrons financed and protected artist. Patrons commissioned artwork and decided the themes.
 Kings and Popes and Medici Family in Florence were the most famous and wealthy patrons of
the Renaissance.
 Leonardo da Vinci – the ultimate Renaissance man
 Artist were allowed greater flexibility in what they were to produce, and they took advantage of it by
exploring new themes and techniques.
 Characteristics
 Classicism – artist, architects and sculptors studied the art of Ancient Greece and Rome and
incorporated elements of these civilizations.
 Humanism– emergence of the individual figures and faith in the nobility of man
 Realism and naturalism – one of the big changes in art was to paint and sculpt
subjects realistically. This is called realism and involves a number of techniques that make
the subjects and background look like they would in real life.
They studied human anatomy, measuring proportions and seeking the ideal human form.
People looked solid and displayed real emotions, allowing the viewer to connect with
what the depicted persons where thinking and feeling.

 Vitruvian man – it depicts the ideal human proportions. Vitruvius described the human
figure as being the principal source of proportion. Vitruvius determined that the ideal body
should be eight heads high

Renaissance art is often divided into three periods:

 Early Renaissance. Artist learned by trying to emulate classical artists focusing
on symmetry and creating the perfect form. This era featured such artists as
Giotto, Masaccio and Donatello.
High Renaissance. A rising interest in perspective and space gave the art even
more realism. Great artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and
Rafael flourished during this period.
Mannerism Period (to be discussed later on)

Renaissance Painting
 Subject:
‫ ﻩ‬Renaissance artists continued to paint religious paintings but they also branched out to other
subjects including Greek and Roman mythology, historical subjects and portraits of individuals.
They also focused on the details of everyday life.
‫ ﻩ‬Painters took an increasing interest in the representation of the visible world instead of being
confined to that exclusive concern with the spirituality of religion that could only be given visual
form in symbols and rigid conventions.
 Mediums:
‫ ﻩ‬Moved from frescoes to easel or detached painting on canvas. Although painting on canvases
become prominent during the Renaissance, some artist, especially ones from the early
Renaissance continued to paint on polyptychs (wooden panels with folding wings mainly to serve
as altarpieces in churches) as was the custom during the medieval area.
‫ ﻩ‬The art of oil painting was mastered. They began using oil paints in preference to tempera or
fresco due to climatic and other reasons.
 Techniques. Many new techniques were introduced during the Renaissance. These techniques helped
to enhance the quality and realism of the art.
Development of perspective - drawing or painting a picture such that it looks like there are 3 dimensions.
It gives the illusion that some objects in the painting are further away than others.
Foreshortening - object is visually compressed to give the illusion of depth
Quadratura - an illusionistic mural painting in which images of architectural features are painted onto walls
and ceilings so that they seem to extend the real architecture of the room into an imaginary space beyond
the confines of the actual wall or ceiling.
Use of light and dark - many artists started using light and shadows in their works to add drama,
perspective and timing to their art.
Balance and proportion - drawing subjects such that they are the correct size when compared to each
other.
Sfumato - oil painting technique of blurring the lines between subjects.
Paintings in a tando format (circular painting).

Renaissance Sculpture
 Themes and Subjects:
‫ ﻩ‬Subjects for ecclesiastical works nearly always came from the Old and New Testament of the
Bible.
‫ ﻩ‬Themes for non-church sculpture features scenes from classical mythology and portraits of or
motifs connected with the patron concerned.
‫ ﻩ‬Reflected the primary of human figure, notably the male nude.
 Mediums:
‫ ﻩ‬Bronze was given more important role, being employed first for reliefs, then for statues or busts. It
was a popular medium for sculptors because of its ductility and durability and also because of its
brilliance when gilded.
‫ ﻩ‬Italian artists turned to marble, which allowed them a degree of subtlety and expressiveness that
was not possible with other materials.
‫ ﻩ‬Terra cotta was also used in place of marble because it was more affordable.
 Techniques:
‫ ﻩ‬Renaissance sculptor’s technique were by and large the same as those used by Greek and
Roman sculptors but the ethos of the Renaissance was far more pictorial. Great attention was
paid to perspective, the use of multiple planes and gradations of relief.
‫ ﻩ‬Increasing naturalism in Renaissance sculpture in which human and animal figures were depicted
with starting life-likeness
Renaissance Architecture
 Architects began to look back to the Romans and Greeks for inspiration when designing buildings.
Much of Renaissance architectural style was taken from Ancient Rome and Greece and then altered
to fit their current lifestyle. Filippo Brunelleschi considered the first Renaissance architect.
 Renaissance architecture creates a feeling of serenity and order through uncluttered lines, balance
and symmetry. Its features are as follows:
Square – many buildings were built as square or rectangle symmetrical shapes
Front – the front or facade of the buildings were generally symmetrical around the
vertical axis
Columns – they used Roman type columns specifically the order.
Arches and Domes – semi-circular and round arches, tunnel vault and
domes became popular again. Dome is used frequently
in this period both as a very large structural feature that is
visible from the exterior and also as a means of roofing
smaller spaces where they are only visible internally.
Ceilings – the ceilings of buildings were generally flat unlike with Middle
ages ceilings which are often left open.
Simplicity – abandoned the complex aspects of Gothic art

MANNERISM ART
High Renaissance painting evolved into Mannerism. Mannerist artists, who consciously rebelled against
the principles of High Renaissance, tended to represent elongated figures in illogical spaces.
Most artworks during this period displayed lack of clear perspective, highly stylized poses, elongated
proportions, two-dimensional spaces, discordant hues and colors and lack of defined focal point. Most
artworks have a witty intellectual quality.
Mannerist artists often based their depictions of human bodies in reference to sculpture and prints.
Thus, allowed Mannerist artists to focus on creating dimensions.
Mannerist Architecture
 Characterized by visual trickery and unexpected elements that challenged the Renaissance norms
 Architects experimented with using architectural forms to emphasize solid and spatial relationships.

POST - RENAISSANCE ART

 The cultural rebirth that occurred in Europe from roughly the 14 th through the middle of the 17 th
centuries. This is sub-divided into 4 periods: Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism and Romanticism.

BAROQUE ART
 The term “baroque” is derived from the Portuguese term baroco which is translated as “irregularly
shaped pearl”.
 To appeal and compete with Protestant churches for worshippers following the Protestant
Reformation, the Catholic Church sponsored the creation of impressive religious art and architecture
known as Baroque movement.
 Baroque arts are characterized by rich color, Christian themes, intense shadowing, and highly
dramatic scenes that are heavily foreshortened.
 The appeal of Baroque style was visceral appeal aimed at the senses. It employed an iconography
that was direct, obvious and theatrical.
 Arts were full of drama and movement.
 Motion and space were taken into consideration by artists like the use of dramatic lightning and
the concept of time.
 Exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance
and grandeur in sculpture, painting and architecture.

Baroque Painting
 The Baroque style started with catholic Church. The church wanted its religious paintings to become
more emotional and dramatic. This type of style spread to where much of the art of the time became
very dramatic, full of life and movement and emotional.
  There was generally action and movement and color were often monochromatic with variations in the
saturation and value of one color.
 Subject: religious painting, history painting, allegories and portraits were still considered as the most
notable subjects. Landscape, still life and genre scenes rapidly gained notoriety.
 Medium: Fresco painted on the ceiling of church or in canvas
 Techniques:
Still uses perspectives and foreshortening techniques to heightened drama
Line was diffused – one form melts into another
Favored open form – action implied beyond the visible limits of the canvas.
Use of chiaroscuro technique – refers to the interplay of light and dark and is often used in
paintings of dimly lit scenes to produce a very high contrast, dramatic atmosphere.
Painterly brushstrokes, recession of the plane, open form, unity, unclearness of subject

Baroque Sculpture
 Sculptors now are taking the ideas of the Renaissance artists and running wild with them. The
resulting works of art are almost exclusively in the round, very dramatic and dynamic.
 Baroque sculptures were often made of rich materials such as colorful marble, bronze or even gilded
with gold.
Many artists felt free to combine different materials within a single work and often used one
material to stimulate another.
 More action, expressiveness and individuality than Renaissance sculpture
 Many works of Baroque sculpture are set within elaborate architectural settings, and they often seem
to be spilling out of their assigned niches or floating upward toward heaven.
 Features:
the use of more than one block of marble, thus allowing a large array of gestures
the treatment of drapery, which does not fall in an ordinary way, but is moved by a sort of wind
the use of variegated/colored marble or of different marbles
Baroque Architecture
 Took the basic elements of Renaissance including domes and colonnades and made them higher,
grander, more decorated and more dramatic.
 Baroque was characterized by complex shapes, extravagant ornaments, opulent paintings and bold
contrast. Baroque architects added profuse ornamentation, highly decorative and theatrical style.
 The interior is often made with high ceiling frescoes and effects were often achieved with the use of
quadratura or trompe-l’oeil painting combined with sculpture. Clusters of sculpted angels and painted
figures crowd the ceilings.
 Chiaroscuro or use of strong contrast of darkness and lights for dramatic effect
 Solomonic or twisted columns to give an illusion of upward motion
 The external facade is often characterized by a dramatic central projection.
 Emphasized symmetry of forms.
 Was more serious, placing an emphasis on religion, and was often characterized by Christian
themes

ROCOCO ART
 The Rococo developed in the early part of the 18 th century in Paris, France as a reaction against the
grandeur, symmetry and strict regulations of the Baroque.
 Rococo style developed first in the decorative arts and interior design, and its influence later spread
to architecture, sculpture, theater design, painting and music. Rococo art was often used by nobles
for displaying their wealth.
 Rococo style is characterized by elaborate ornamentation, asymmetrical values, pastel color palette
and curved or serpentine lines.
 Love and Romance were considered to be better subjects than historical or religious subjects. Thus,
rococo art works often depict themes of love, classical myths, youth and playfulness
 Light-hearted depiction pf domestic life in the upper-class home, almost whimsical style

Rococo Painting
  Theme/ Subject
‫ﻩ‬ Placed emphasis on portraying the carefree life of the aristocracy rather than on grand heroes.
‫ﻩ‬ Depicts the pursuit of pleasure and leisure time of the wealthy; playful, decadence
‫ﻩ‬ Usually mundane or palace life scenes.
‫ﻩ‬ lighthearted and “frivolous” subject matter
‫ﻩ‬ youth and myths of love as well as portraits and idyllic landscapes (nature). Landscapes were
pastoral and often depicted the leisurely outings of aristocratic couples
 Techniques
‫ ﻩ‬forms are often asymmetrical
‫ ﻩ‬heavy use of ornaments and curved or serpentine lines (irregular
lines and contours)
‫ ﻩ‬subjects are painted with wispy brushstrokes
‫ ﻩ‬softness of paint application
 Medium
‫ ﻩ‬Canvas; murals; tapestries; wall and ceiling fresco
‫ ﻩ‬the use of gold and pastel-based pallete

Rococo Sculpture
 Rococo’s sculpture, being highly ornate and exquisite, designed purely for ornamental purposes.
This art appeared largely in furniture, panels, vases and urns.
 Medium: makes use of very delicate porcelain instead of marble or another heavy medium
 Themes: the prevalent themes echoed those of the other mediums, with the display of classical
themes, cherubs, love, playfulness and nature.

Rococo Architecture
Rococo architecture was a lighter, more graceful yet also more elaborate version of Baroque architecture,
which was ornate and austere.
 Was more secular and light-hearted.
 Builders constructed graceful white buildings with sweeping curves.
 Characterized by elegant decorative designs with scrolls, vines, shell-shapes and geometric
patterns.
 Rococo architecture has its emphasis on asymmetry, bright colors and ornamentation.
ROMANTIC ART
 The Romanticism also known as the Romantic era lasted from about 1800 to the 1850’s. The
Romanticism movement originated as a revolt against the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific
Revolution of Early modern Europe.
 Romantic artists expressed a more personal response to life, relying more on their senses and
emotions rather than reason and intellect.
 Romantic works of art showed strong imagination and emotions, feelings and moods of all kinds
including spirituality, mystery and fervor.
 Celebrated nature as out of control
 Romanticism paintings appealed to the emotions of trepidation and awe, through nightmarish
narratives and awe-inspiring natural shots.
 Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification
of all the past and nature preferring the medieval rather than the classical.

Romantic Painting
 Romanticist artist created paintings far dreamier and more imaginary and were often narratives.
Narrative or history painting was another important genre in Romanticism.
 Subject:
Varied widely including landscapes, religion, revolution and peaceful beauty.
Every art piece had a full detailed background of nature. Nature – can be calm or stormy;
emphasis on the expanse of sky
rural life, common people and exotic subjects
 emphasis on the goodness of mankind and emotions – faces show inner thoughts and emotions
such as fear, anger, love and hope
 Techniques:
unrefined outlines, unrestrained brushstrokes and emphasis on color
over form
use of small, close strokes of complementary colors to create
brilliance and vivid visual effect
visible brushstrokes which lend themselves to an energy and
immediacy to painting
Utilize modern painting supplies which allowed artists to create more
work easily and with more autonomy than ever before. Tubes of paint
and artificial pigments became available during this time.
Romantic Sculpture
 The Romantic period was short and works are rare, even more so in sculpture.
 Since marble does not easily lend itself to postures that one might associate with intense emotion,
sculpture in marble remained relatively untouched by the Romantic period. Instead, most of the work
are done using bronze.
 Romantic sculpture can be divided into works that concern human world and those that concern the
natural world
Romantic Architecture
 Romanticism in architecture is an umbrella term that covers many of the European 19 th century
“revivalist” and Eastern influenced styles. Neoclassical/Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Baroque
Revival, Romanesque Revival and Indo-Saracenic are some examples of architecture during this
period.
 The Romantic movement in Europe would spark a widespread reuse of Gothic building styles
characterized by pointed arches, large windows, steep gables and heavy, detailed decoration.
 Romantic architecture emphasizes strong emotions as a source of aesthetic experience, putting new
stress on emotions such as fear, horror and wonder as experienced by a sublime of nature.
 Romantic-era architects used new building materials, like cast iron, to play with Gothic forms and
introduced exotic motifs inspired by Britain’s global empire.

REALISM
 Realism, sometimes called naturalism, is an art period where artists tried to represent their subjects
truthfully and accurately. The movement was a reaction against Romanticism and the Industrial
Revolution and focused on everyday life, even the unpleasant parts of life.
 Realism as a style of work focuses on the accuracy of details that depicts and somehow mirrors
reality. There is a little room for imagination in this movement since emphasis is placed in observable
traits that can concretize through artworks. Idealistic concepts and images were replaced by real
manifestations of society. There is a move to combine both art and life in artistic works.
 Artist worked with the context of revolutions and social change; artistic works began to depict real-life
events. This movement also expanded and widened existing notions of what can be considered as
an art.
 Realist artist were characterized by painting everyday people in ordinary situations, as well as being
audacious by painting explicit subject matter like prostitutes.
 Realism paintings were often en plein air, which means they were painted while outdoors.

PERFORMING ARTS
The performing arts range from vocal and instrumental music, dance and theatre to pantomime,
sung verse and beyond. They include numerous cultural expressions that reflect human creativity and
that are also found, to some extent, in many other intangible cultural heritage domains.
Music is perhaps the most universal of the performing arts and is found in every society, most
often as an integral part of other performing art forms and other domains of intangible cultural heritage
including rituals, festive events or oral traditions. It can be found in the most diverse contexts: sacred or
profane, classical or popular, closely connected to work or entertainment. There may also be a political or
economic dimension to music: it can recount a community’s history, sing the praises of a powerful person
and play a key role in economic transactions.
Dance, though very complex, may be described simply as ordered bodily movements, usually
performed to music. Apart from its physical aspect, the rhythmic movements, steps and gestures of dance
often express a sentiment or mood or illustrate a specific event or daily act, such as religious dances and
those representing hunting, warfare or sexual activity.
Traditional theatre performances usually combine acting, singing, dance and music, dialogue,
narration or recitation but may also include puppetry or pantomime. These arts, however, are more than
simply ‘performances’ for an audience; they may also play crucial roles in culture and society such as
songs sung while carrying out agricultural work or music that is part of a ritual. In a more intimate setting,
lullabies are often sung to help a baby sleep.
Film, also called motion picture or movie, series of still photographs on film, projected in rapid
succession onto a screen by means of light. Because of the optical phenomenon known as persistence of
vision, this gives the illusion of actual, smooth, and continuous movement.
Film is a remarkably effective medium in conveying drama and especially in the evocation of
emotion. The art of motion pictures is exceedingly complex, requiring contributions from nearly all the
other arts as well as countless technical skills (for example, in sound recording, photography, and optics).
Emerging at the end of the 19th century, this new art form became one of the most popular and influential
media of the 20th century and beyond.

DANCE-
 Comes from an old German word “danson” which means “to stretch”
 The movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space, for the
purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the
movement itself.
 A dance is an art form or activity that utilizes the body and the range of movement of which the
body is capable. Unlike the movements performed in everyday living, dance movements are not
directly related to work, travel, or survival. Dance may, of course, be made up of movements
associated with these activities, as in the work dances common to many cultures, and it may even
accompany such activities. But even in the most practical dances, movements that make up the
dance are not reducible to those of straightforward labor; rather, they involve some extra qualities
such as self-expression, aesthetic pleasure, and entertainment.

Types of Dance
a. Ballroom Dance
 Type of dance which are generally performed in pairs, originated in Germany, but is now a popular
act followed in various dance styles. Today, the popularity of ballroom dance is evident, given the
innumerable shows and competitions worldwide that revere dance, in all its form.
 Ballroom dancing is one of the most entertaining and elite styles of dancing. In the earlier days,
ballroom dance was only for the privileged class of people.
 Some forms of ballroom dances are:
‫ ﻩ‬Waltz. The waltz is danced to melodic, slow music and is an equally beautiful dance form. The
waltz is a graceful form of dance, that requires fluidity and delicate movement.
This graceful and slow two persons dance was first introduced in mid-19th century and was
greatly popularized by the music of the famous composer Johann Strauss. Today this dance
represents gold standard and the most famous dance of the ballrooms around the world.
‫ ﻩ‬Tango. Originally created in the Argentinean region of Rio de la Plata, this dance is today known
by many of its variations (Argentine tango, Uruguayan tango, Finish Tango and two types of
Ballroom tangos - standard and American) and the fascinating sensual and energetic style.
Like all ballroom dances, the male has to lead the female partner. The choreography of this
dance is what sets it apart from other styles.
‫ ﻩ‬Cha-cha-cha. This incredibly rhythmic dance created in Latin America managed to meld together
both the slow and very energetic movements, making it an instant hit among the dancers around
the world.
‫ ﻩ‬Jive. This is another lively form of ballroom dance. This dance is among the five dances that
belong to the Latin American dance styles. Seen as a dance style that had taken the 30s and 40s
(dancers moved mostly to jazz music) to perfect and pass on years later, still keeping it just as
upbeat like it was back in the days.
‫ ﻩ‬Paso Doble. This lively dance is an International Latin dance style with less emphasis on hip
movement. The basic structure of this Latin dance is based on the sounds and the movements
used in Spanish bullfights.
‫ ﻩ‬Rumba. This sensual dance is based on slow hip movement. This dance is known for the beauty
of the steps that are coordinated on a slow rhythm.
 ‫ ﻩ‬Samba. Samba is a famous dance and musical genre that originated form the coast of Africa and
land of Brazil. This beautiful and energetic dance has also many forms. The steps may differ in
Samba that is danced as per the ballroom style and the traditional style samba choreography.
‫ ﻩ‬Lambada. Sexy and stylish, the lambada is a Brazilian dance that is performed as a couple or
even in groups. This dance was particularly in the limelight because of the famous track
‘Lambada’ by a music group ‘kaoma’.

b. Folk Dance/Ethnic Dance

A dance that has cultural or regional significance.
A type of dance that portray the beliefs, interests, habits, customs and practices of nature.
Folk dances represent musical, cultural heritage, reflections of daily life or ethnic history of people who
live in a certain region or country. Popular all around the world in hundreds of unique variations and
styles, folk dances (also known as traditional or ethnic dances) are usually performed at dance gatherings
with the accompaniment of traditional music of the region. Majority of folk dances are not regulated, and
they slowly morph during the passage of time.
Some of the folk dances are:
‫ ﻩ‬Tinikling. A folk dance that originated in Leyte.
‫ ﻩ‬Pandanggo sa Ilaw. An ethnic dance in the Philippines that originated in Lubang Island, Mindoro.
‫ ﻩ‬Sayaw sa Bangko. A traditional folk dance in the Philippines that originated in Pangasinan.

c. Theatrical Dance
 Any form of dance that is performed for an audience, as opposed to social dance, which is primarily
social in nature.
 It is usually performed in a theater or another public venue. People who participate in theatrical
dance go to classes and practice with the ultimate goal of performing on stage.
 The different types of theatrical dance are:
‫ ﻩ‬Ballet. One of the most widely known forms of theatrical dance. It developed in the 17 th century
and it is characterized by the body being open with the toes facing outward while they are
pointed. The movements are fluid and graceful, and the classical style is symmetrical in terms of
the dancers’ bodies. Ballet dancers dance in a calm, upright and sophisticated manner and
illusion is still a large part of ballet.
‫ ﻩ‬Modern Dance. It was developed in the 20 th century. It was a reaction against the limited and
heavily structured parameters of ballet. One of the founders of modern dance was Isadora
Duncan, who felt that ballet was too artificial. Modern dance was designed to express the human
spirit, and it explored emotions, conflicts and passions that lay within. It was a combination of
different genres and it is often a combination of two or more genres.

‫ ﻩ‬Tap Dance. A style of dance where dancers wear special shoes that have heel and one tapping
device installed. When they dance, they make sounds in time with the music. It was first begun in
the United States as a combination of different ethnic percussive dances. It became popular in
dance contests and then it started to spread out across the countries.

‫ ﻩ‬Jazz Dance. It appeared in the 1950s in the United States and it was named or the jazz music
that accompanied it. Jazz was made even more popular when it was included in Cabaret and
Broadway and today, it influences many styles of dance including ballet, contemporary and lyrical.
Most jazz dancers have a strong foundation in ballet. It includes spins, quick moves, leaps and
more and it is an upbeat and fun type of theatrical dance. Jazz allows dancers to show their
originality as they interpret the dance in their own way.

Contemporary dance. It is an offshoot of modern dance. It was developed in the mid-20 th century
and it draws on ballet, jazz, modern and more. It does not have any specific codified rules and it is
very interpretative. Dancers are able to move freely to interpret the music. The emphasis with
contemporary dance is on Armstrong’s upper body and footwork and it also includes fall and
recovery as well as floorwork. It is important for contemporary dancers to have a surface with shock
absorption because they need protection for their ankles and legs due to the sudden changes in
direction.
‫ ﻩ‬Hip-hop. Appeared in the 1970s and it has evolved over the years. It includes many different
styles of dance today. Some of the most popular includes Breakdancing, Locking and Popping,
Funk, Up rock, Boogaloo, Reggae, Lyrical Hip-hop and stepping. It includes percussive beats
made through body movements. People enjoy this style of dance because they can make up their
own moves.
Elements of Dance
The elements of dance are the foundational concepts and vocabulary that help develop
movements skills and understand dance as an artistic practice. The acronym BASTE will help you to
remember these elements.
a. Body
 In dance, the body is the mobile figure or shape, felt by the dancer, seen by others. The body is
sometimes relatively still and sometimes changing as the dancer moves in place or travels
through the dance area. Dancers may emphasize specific parts of their body in a dance phrase
or use their whole body all at once.
 Another way to describe the body in dance is to consider the body systems—muscles, bones,
organs, breath, balance, reflexes. We could describe how the skeletal system or breath is used,
for example. 
 The body is the conduit between the inner realm of Intentions, ideas, emotions and identity and
the outer realm of expression and communication. Whether watching dance or dancing
ourselves, we shift back and forth between the inner/outer sense of body.

b. Action
 Is any human movement included in the act of dancing— it can include dance steps, facial
movements, partner lifts, gestures, and even everyday movements such as walking. Dance is
made up of streams of movement and pauses, so action refers not only to steps and
sequences, but also to pauses and moments of relative stillness.
 Dancers may use movements that have been choreographed or traditional dances taught by
others who know the dances. Depending on the dance style or the choreographer's decision,
dancers may also revise or embellish movement they have learned from others. 
 Movement can also be improvised, meaning that the dancers make it up "on the spot" as they
spontaneously dance. Movement that travels through space is broadly called locomotor
movement in contrast to axial movement, which occurs in one spot.

c. Space
 Dancers interact with space in myriad ways. They may stay in one place or they may travel from
one place to another. They may alter the direction, level, size, and pathways of their
movements.
 The relationships of the dancers to each other may be based on geometric designs or rapidly
change as they move close together, then apart. Even when a dancer is dancing alone in a
solo, the dancer is dynamically involved in the space of the performing area so that space might
almost be considered a partner in the dance. 
 Dancers may focus their movement and attention outwardly to the space or inwardly, into
themselves. The line of travel may be quite direct towards one or more points in space or
indefinite and meandering. Dancers may also orient their movement towards objects or in
relation to natural settings. Sometimes dances are created for specific locations such as an
elevator or on a raft in a lake for site-based performances. Spatial relationships between
dancers or between dancers and objects are the basis for design concepts such as besides, in
front of, over, though, around, near or far.

d. Time
 The keyword for the element of time is when? Human movement is naturally rhythmic in the
broad sense that we alternate activity and rest. Breath and waves are examples of rhythms in
nature that repeat, but not as consistently as in a metered rhythm.  Spoken word and
conversation also have rhythm and dynamics, but these timing patterns are characteristically
more inconsistent and unpredictable.
 Rhythmic patterns may be metered or free rhythm. Much of western music uses repeating
patterns (2/4 or 3/4 for example), but concepts of time and meter are used very differently
throughout the world. Dance movements may also show different timing relationships such as
simultaneous or sequential timing, brief to long duration, fast to slow speed, or accents in
predictable or unpredictable intervals.

e. Energy
 Energy is about how the movement happens.  Choices about energy include variations in
movement flow and the use of force, tension, and weight. An arm gesture might be free flowing
or easily stopped, and it may be powerful or gentle, tight or loose, heavy or light. A dancer may
 step into an arabesque position with a sharp, percussive attack or with light, flowing ease.
Energy may change in an instant, and several types of energy may be concurrently in play.
 Saying that a dance "has a lot of energy" is misleading. ALL dances use the element of energy,
though in some instances it may be slow, supple, indirect energy - not the punchy, high speed
energy of a fast tempo dance.
 Some types of energy can be easily expressed in words, others spring from the movement itself
and are difficult to label with language. Sometimes differences in the use of energy are easy to
perceive; other times these differences can be quite subtle and ambiguous. Perhaps more so
than the other elements, energy taps into the nonverbal yet deeply communicative realm of
dance.