Chapter Five ExamplesBeginnings of Western Art

Art timeline images for study and discussion.

I should be able to…

5.1•describe the style, techniques, and skills of prehistoric artists.•explain how the art and culture of ancient Middle Eastern and Egyptian communities reflect their advanced societies.•explain that the exact use of Old Stone Age art is unclear, but that the works served as more than mere decoration.•describe how prehistoric artist deliberately stylized their work to evoke the natural world.

Art History Learning Target

Truly the gods have not from the beginningrevealed all things to mortals, but by long seekingmortals make progress in discovery. Xenophanes of Colophon

Mediterranean Sea

Hall of Bulls15,000 BCE, Lascaux, Francecarbon and pigment on stone

Virtual Tour

Hand Painting (stencil)The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arcblown pigment on stone

RhinocerosesThe Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arccarbon and pigment on stone

Venus of Willendorfc. 25,000 BCE, found in AustriaPaleolithic period, carved stone

Bison c. 10,000 BCEPeleolithic period, carved reindeer antler

Plastered Skullc. 7000 BCE, JordanNeolithic Period, dried plaster on human skull

Stonehenge2000 BCE, Salisbury Plain, Englandneolithic period, stone

I should be able to…

5.2•identify the art of a succession of sophisticated civilizations that ruled the fertile lands of Mesopotamia starting somewhere between 3599 and 3000 B.C.E.•analyze how Mesopotamian art honored both the rulers and the gods.

Art History Learning Target

Mediterranean Sea

Ziggurat at Ur2000 BCE, Iraq

Ziggurat at Ur2000 BCE, Iraq

Standard of Ur: Peacec. 2685 – 2645 BCE, Iraq

Virtual Tour

Votive statues c. 2900 – 2600 BCE, Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar, Iraq) Limestone, alabaster, and gypsum

Ashurnasirpal II 875BC – 860 BCEalabaster wall panel, relief

Ashurbanipal645 – 635 BCEalabaster wall panel, relief

Ashurbanipal645 – 635 BCEalabaster wall panel, relief

Stele of Hammurabic. 1760 BCEstone

Xerxes' gate, Persepolisc. 500 BCElimestone

Bull Capital, Persepolisc. 500 BCElimestone

I should be able to…

5.3•identify the factors that provided the necessary stability for Egypt’s culture to thrive for several thousands of years.•explain why a strong belief in the afterlife was an essential ingredient in Egyptian art and culture.

Art History Learning Target

Map of Ancient Egypt

Step Pyramid of King Zoserc. 2600 BCE, Egypt

The Great Pyramids2530 – 2470 BCE, Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramids (detail)2530 – 2470 BCE, Giza, Egypt

The Great Sphinx2575 – 2525 BCE, Giza, Egypt

Mycerinus and His Queenc. 2470 BCE, Giza, Egyptslate

Katep and His Wifec. 2563 BCE, Memphis, Egyptpainted limestone

The Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsutc. 1480 BCE, Deir el-Bahari, Egyptpainted limestone

Model from the tomb of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II c. 2000 BCE, Deir el-Bahari, Egypt

Painted wooden model boatc. 1985-1795 BCE, Egypt

Temple of Amun1830 BCE, Egypt

Temple of Amun1830 BCE, Egypt

Greenfield Papyrus1080 BCE, Egypt

Mask of King Tutankhamen1352 BCE, Egypt

Queen Nefertitic. 1360 BCE, Egypt

Temple of Ramses IIc. 1257 BCE, Egypt