Period/Region Dates

Main themes & Stylistic Traits

Paleolithic
/Neolithic

Not Covered on Midterm

35,000- 1,500 BCE

Ancient Near East

Sumer

3000-2000 BCE

Cylindrical and conical shapes

composite views- frontal eye and torso, profile legs, feet and head
registers
Hierarchical scale and important people in higher registers
Composite (combination) creatures/personified animals
votive have large eyes and clasped hands
Enemies humiliated and crushed underfoot
Architecture:
Stepped mud brick
relatively small temples
bent axis

Assyrian

1000-600 BCE

Enemies crushed under foot of conqueror

composite views
combination creatures
use of registers
more important people are on the higher registers
multiple rows of figures shown by repetition of lines
hierarchal scale
Architecture:
Huge citadel complexes in center of city
open courtyards
Ziggurats- platform for temples
citadels are defensive fortresses

Neo-Babylon

600-500 BCE

Persia

550-350 BCE

Reliefs project more from backgrounds

More rounded than assyrian reliefs
frontal eye, profile foot remains but torso is also in profile now.
Architecture:
Built of stone
large impressive citadels
Huge audience hall (Persepolis)
Multi columned halls
complexes on raised platforms
capitals on columns are double bulls
Egypt

Old Kingdom

2700-2200 BCE

New Kingdom 1500-1100 BCE

Amarna

1353-1335 BCE
Aegean

Cycladic

3000-2000 BCE

Minoan

2000-1400 BCE

Mycenaean

1500-1100 BCE
Greek

Geometric/
Orientalizing

900-650 BCE

Archaic

650-480 BCE

Classical

480-300 BCE

Hellenistic

323-30 BCE
ABET-1

South and
Southeast
Asia

Before 1200

China and
Korea

To 1279

--

Japan

Before 1333

Chinese influenced Buddha (round faced, large, happy, smiling

face. similar to Tang China)
drapery more schematic than the tang
broad shoulders
Stylized horses
Well proportioned
gold, jade, granite, pottery

Chinese influenced
symbolism
3D of 2D space
flat figures
Intricate patterns on textiles and art
unusual angles
hanging scrolls, scrolls, painting
Architecture:
Main pillars decrease in diameter from bottom to top
tapering
reduction of scale from 1st story to 2nd story
curved roofline
ceramic tiles
Ceramics

Etruscan
Etruscan

750-200 BCE
Roman

Roman
Republic

500-60 BCE

Roman
Empire

60 BCE- 500 CE
Early Christian

Early
Christian

330-530 CE
Byzantine

Byzantine

300-1500 CE
ABET-2

Islamic

661-1492

Native

Before 1300

American
Africa

Before 1800
Early Medieval

Hiberno
Saxon

400-700

Carolingian

700-900

Ottonian

900-1000
Romanesque

Romanesque

1000-1200

Architecture:
thick, solid walls
very little light
rounded arched- barrel vaults
churches divided into sections- modules
small windows
built using stone
Relief Sculpture:
figures scrunched to fit space- sculpture confined to portals
elongated, angular positions
Agitated figures often in dance like positions
Drapery created through linear patterns, areas of the body are
subdivided
hands folded back on body legs bent awkwardly to show seated
figures
size of woks gradually increases to become monumental
Gothic

French Gothic 1140-1500

English
Gothic
German
Gothic
Italian Gothic

Architecture:
Defined by space, not mass
Space flows from one area to the next
Four parts to nave elevationnave arcade; gallery; triforium;
clerestory
ribbed vaults
Emphasis on the vertical
Stained glass windows- lux nova
STAINED GLASS
STONE CATHEDRALS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three parts of nave elevation- nave arcade; Triforium; clerestory
Flying buttresses-dramatic and functional: allow for even more
glass
Rectangular nave bays (narrower than earlier square module
bays)- allow for higher structures
6 part vaults become 4 part vaults because they need less support
No alternating piers-makes the eye see one long, tall space for
nave)
Flamboyant, thin, flame like decorations of stone- opened areas to
allow gaps in the facade.
Lightened the look of the facade
=============================================
Sculpture:

Rigid, Stiff, unmoving

Linear Surface decoration
Cylindrical forms
Elongated proportions (~international Style)
over time, progressed toward standing on their own (free from
architecture and on solid ground
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Concept of a kind and forgiving god is portrayed (still see the last
judgment but it is focused on salvation)
More humanized and individualized figures
Statues interact with each other-personality is revealed in faces
and gestures
More naturalistic drapery- evidence of some classical influence can
be found.
Close to being in the round
Some sculpture shows preference foe the courtly style- elongated
and elegant
MARBLE SCULPTURE

Renaissance
ProtoRenaissance

1200-1400

Northern
Europe

1400-1500

Early Italian
Renaissance

1400-1500

Architecture based oc carefully proportioned shapes and ratios

Geometric basis for complex art (triangles, squares, circles)
Innovations and advances linear perspective
pyramid configuration of figures
Chiarascuro- contract of light and dark in modeling
definite light source in painting
divine proportions: Golden mean/section/ratio, square, circle
harmonious ratios=beauty
Intentional focus on greek/roman art for inspiration (NOT copying)
blends pagan and christian meanings