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Prehistoric to Medieval Art

            Prehistoric depictions of man sought not to be exact, but to tell a story. The early cave paintings did not serve the purpose of aesthetic values so much as to recount the experiences of the tribe as they embarked on the hunt and such. Prehistoric sculptures overemphasized the features of men and women in order to symbolize strength and power for the men and fertility for the women. .
             The Egyptians also used art to tell stories of historical and ritualistic importance, using more details in their work than the prehistoric peoples while still making the story being told the priority. For instance, the use of twisted perception in the art of Egypt shows how attention was paid to major details such as the difference between peasants and pharaohs, but the accuracy of the depiction was not vital.
             The early Greeks seemed to carry on this legacy of symbolism and story over form, but shifted somewhere down the line to create the ideal images of the human body. Muscle tone and beauty were exaggerated by the Classical Greeks, whose culture valued beauty among the highest of values.
             Roman style was very much adapted from the Greeks, whom the Romans conquered. However, there is an added sense of the value of power and brute strength that the Greeks did not hold. While the Greeks were more interested in the beauty and grace of a work of art, the Romans seemed more interested in the order of it. This is why Roman sculptures and depictions of humanity are less idealistic and more based on the order of the human body.
             Medieval art stresses the depictions of religious events and stories more than attention to human form.
            


Essays Related to Prehistoric to Medieval Art

1. Beliefs

Prehistoric people sat around the fireside and the elders told stories, legends and the beliefs of their civilization. One main belief of prehistoric people is the existence of the soul. ... The wide range of beliefs and practices that are generally held to be occult includes alchemy, a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy aiming to achieve the discovery of a universal cure for diseas and the discovery of a means of indefinitely prolonging life; divination the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usualyy by th...

  • Word Count: 633
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. n/a

Nevertheless, not all medieval waterspouts were carved as gargoyles. ... In general, art of the Gothic era is said to be more realistic, refined, and graceful than the art of the preceding Romanesque era (with the exception of Gothic gargoyles, which seem to continue the typically Romanesque fascination with grotesque and monstrous creatures). ... Some medieval gargoyles have short iron or lead pipes protruding from their mouths. ... Maybe gargoyles were inspired by the skeletal remains of prehistoric beasts (such as dinosaurs). ... Holy Terrors: Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings. ...

  • Word Count: 886
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3. Birth of Venus

Art has been present throughout the world since the beginning of humans. Art has come a long way in time from the early prehistoric art through the Classical period and then into the Renaissance, all the way to where we are now, art has evolved with the times. Everywhere you look, art is present, and whether it is obvious or not, be it a painting, a sculpture, or some sort of architecture, our world is full of art. ... The Renaissance is seen as building on, rather than breaking with, its medieval heritage (Canto, 1994, 13). ... Botticelli is of his generation in his enthusiasm for themes ...

  • Word Count: 1721
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Epidemic of the Black Death

They were uncovered records of deaths, symptoms and other characteristics, and have found political records, art, and other document that recalled the plague and the impact that it had on Europe. ... This was made possible because of the previous Ice Age and the uncovering the prehistoric bacteria (Nox). ... Treatment methods during medieval times were not very effective in treating the bubonic plague. Many tried burning herbs such as juniper, laurel, pine, beech, lemon leaves, rosemary, and posies (Medieval World). ... "They believed that the plague was God's punishment for humankind...

  • Word Count: 2057
  • Approx Pages: 8
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5. The work of janet beanie the hare and the horse

Beginnings and Inspiration Beeny graduated (BA ceramics) from Cardiff Art College in 1986 after completing both her intermediate and foundation art qualification in the Rochdale College of Art. ... In 1982-1983 Beeny completed an art foundation course at the Rochdale College of Art. ... One of Beeny's interests has directed her work towards the research of prehistoric sites and cave drawings of animals. ... At present, as she told me, she is looking into secondary sources for ideas such as cave drawings and the stylised depiction of animals in heraldry, medieval stained glass wind...

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6. The Role of a Museum Curator

(AAMC,2007) The definitions and histories of decorative art and the fine art. The differences between decorative art and fine art. ... The essay focuses on the two main catalogues: Decorative art and Fine art. ... Fine art could date back to the Acheulian period of prehistoric art: to proto-sculptures such as the Venus of Berekhat Ram and the Venus of Tan-Tan and to cave paintings from Chauvet Cave Lascaux, Altamira, Pech-Merle, and Cosquer. Fine artists were regarded as mere skilled workers during the era of ancient Mediterranean civilizations, including those of later Greek, Roman and Byzan...

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7. Art History Exam Study Guide

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8. Travelogue

In a century marked by immense political unrest, public debate between the classes, and resurgence in new forms of art and culture, citizens are taking part in Caesar's grand Roman tradition. ... The statue of Pauline Bonaparte, executed by Canova between 1805 and 1808, was of particular interest to me since I had learned about it in my Art Appreciation class at Indiana University. ... On our way to Paris, we learned (from the announcements made on the train) that France is the land of mysterious prehistoric caves and Celtic monoliths, Roman ruins, medieval fortresses and Renaissance cast...

  • Word Count: 2516
  • Approx Pages: 10
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