BELIEFS: Belief in many gods

IDEAS: Democracy, individualism, reason, knowledge, philosophy

PAINTING: Black-figure pottery decoration

SCULPTURE: Male nudes / realistic human forms

ARCHITECTURE: Columns, pediment, frieze, etc.

Greek Art

Roman ArtBELIEFS: Many gods (same ones as the Greeks but known by Roman names)

IDEAS: efficiency, organization, practicality

PAINTINGS: Frescos & Mosaics

SCULPTURE: copied Greek sculptures & political themes

ARCHITECTURE: arches, domes, maintained and elaborated on Greek architectural orders

Medieval (Christian) ArtBELIEFS: Christianity

IDEAS: Emphasis in beliefs (and art) was focused on Christian salvation

PAINTINGS: Focused on teaching Christian doctrine / Bible stories. Types: Frescos (Early Christian), Mosaics

(Byzantine), Icons (Byzantine), Stained Glass (Gothic)

SCULPTURE: Romanesque – more twisted, exaggerated figures, Gothic – moving towards realism

ARCHITECTURE: increasingly complex and beautiful church designs meant to bring ordinary people a feeling

of being closer to God (Basilica – Greek Cross Plan – Latin Cross Plan). New Features: barrel vault, cross vault,

ribbed vault, pendentive, flying buttress, pointed arch.

Medieval (Islamic) ArtBELIEFS: Islam

IDEAS: Islamic art often features decoration based on geometric or floral designs (images of people and

animals were generally forbidden – only God can create these)

PAINTINGS: Mosaics (geometric designs), ceramic tiles / pottery (floral / geometric designs)

ARCHITECTURE: Designs for mosques and other buildings – shows use of the pointed arch, also

borrowing from Greek & Roman architecture (e.g. domes, columns, etc.)

Renaissance ArtBELIEFS: Christianity

IDEAS: Revival of Greek & Roman ideas in a Christian context & Humanism – “man is the measure of all

things” because humans are God’s greatest creation / Art is created to look like real life

PAINTINGS: Religious & secular themes – use of linear perspective. Types: Frescos, Tempera on canvas,

Oil paints on canvas or wood panel (oils invented at this time)

SCULPTURE: Nudity and contrapposto return to sculpture (based on Greek examples)

ARCHITECTURE: Features based Greek & Roman architecture, symmetry, & geometric shapes

Baroque ArtBELIEFS: Christianity

IDEAS: Art used to feel emotionally involved Catholicism / Art shows: TIME, LIGHT & SPACE

PAINTING: Highly realistic – based on real people, use of chiaroscuro (extreme light & dark), dramatic

poses, captures a moment in time

SCULPTURE: Contrapposto continued, complex carving of details & textures, dramatic poses

ARCHITECTURE: continued use of Greek & Roman elements as well as convex and concave forms, very

elaborate and decorative.