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Hall of Bulls
Lascaux, 15000 BCE
Naturally occurring pigments, outlines and more filled in, do not form any sort of narrative scene. Artists did not use scale to create a sense of depth or distance. Often used a surface edge/crack as a contour to bring animal out of wall. Likely done by many different people. |
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Chinese Horse, Lascaux
Often nicknamed the Chinese Horse because it is similar in style to a Chinese Dynasty's style of painting. |
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Well Scene, Lascaux
Closest we find to a narrative in prehistoric art. Seems to be a human figure (which is rare). Human is very abstracted and simple while the Bison is more 3D and detailed. Figure is likely a shamam and stick next to him is a spiritual or ritual stick of sorts. |
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Pech Merle, 25,000-24,000 BCE
Spotted Horses with Negative Hand Prints
Originally thought there were no spotted horses in the area at this time so it spots were originally thought to have some sort of special power or meaning. Horses seemed to be pregnant making an ideal hunting ground.
Handprints could be a signature, a symbol of property, or a form of totemism. |
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Chauvet, Ardeche region, France, 32,000-30,000 BCE
Discovery of these paintings got rid of the idea that older paintings are going to be more primitive than more modern paintings. |
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Human face, Makapansgat, 2.5-3 millions years ago
Jasperite, Australopiticus moved this at least 32km from it's natural source, shows that people at this time had a sense of self and saw themselves in this, found in South Africa
Manuport = unidentified object transported and deposited by hominids |
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Venus of Willendorf, 28,000-25,000 BCE
Oolitic Limstone, 4 3/8" tall
Large belly, breats, hits, detailed pudenda, faceless - all point to this being a symbol/representation of fertility
Steatopygous - shelf buttocks, idea associated with fertility
Size means it was most likely for personal devotion |
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Woman of Laussel, Les Eyzies
25,000-20,000 BCE
Limestone and Red Ochre paint
Low relief
13 marks could represent 13 menstrual cycles per year
Much more detailed than images of males at this time, also likely a symbol of fertility and pregnancy. |
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Castellan de la Plana, Spain, 6000 BCE Hunters
Mostly human figures that are more modeled and have more a 3D form than in previous paintings. Most likely has some sort of narrative.Painted mostly in rock shelters which is why many didn't survive. Repainted periodically, may be a story or legend that goes with that specific area. |
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Menhirs, Carmac, Brittany
Parallel rows of stones
Old story was that these were soldiers that Merlin then turned into stone, accounting for the long straight lines which are almost soldier like in position. |
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Newgrange, Ireland - Neolithic
Passage tomb built under a large mound. Had 97 large kerbstones which often feature spiraling motifs. Used a post and lintel system construction. |
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Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England, Salisbury Plains, Neolithic, 2900-1500 BCE
Large rings of stone. Ring of bluestones (smaller stones). Ring of Sarsens - large tall rock, 6 ft of them are underground in order to keep them upright. Trilithon - grouping of 3 sarsens.
Used post and lintel construction. Thought to have been originally used as a tomb, later thought to be used as an astronomical or time telling device later due to the alignment of the heel stone with the sunrise of the summer solstice. |
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Lepinski Vir, Mesolithic, 6300-5500 BCE
Red sandstone, sculpted boulders to look like fish creatures. Most likely has something to do with the fact that this was a fishing community. |
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Enthroned Woman, Catal Hoyuk, Neolithic
Also likely a symbol of fertility -
large breasts and belly signifying pregnancy.
Supports Mellart's idea of this society being one that worships a mother goddess, which Hodder has since downplayed and denied in attempts to retain funding. |
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Landscape with Catal Hoyuk, 6150 BCE, Neolithic
Thought to be the first landscape - of the town Catal Hoyuk with a nearby twin-peaked mountain/volcano in the background. Often repainted which could mean the actual painting of the image was a ritual in of itself. |
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'Ain Ghazal, Two Headed Bust, 6500 BCE, Neolithic
Among the earliest large scale representations of the human form. Possible that they represent the ancestors of the village. |
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Ziggurat of Ur, Sumer, 2100 BCE
Large stepped building dedicated to a specific deity. Each layer was decorated with plants and trees to give the building the symbolic feeling of being a sacred mountain.
Temple at the top, only the priests ever went in there. The higher up the ziggurat you were able to go the more important/sacred you were.
Architecture was reliant on mud brick and burnt brick. |
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Eshunna - Tell Asmar Statuettes, 2700 BCE
Alabaster
21 statues all together, all fairly small in size. Size was determined by the size of the stone they could find.
All in same position holding cups as if they are offerings.
Substitute worshippers, always praying. Large eyes and simplified forms. |
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Standard of Ur, Sumer, 2600 BCE
Bitumen, Red Limestone, Lapis Lazuli, shell
Style is much more naturalistic than in the past.
Peace - Banquet scene, people playing harps, animals are slightly more naturalistic, most important person is the largest
War - used echelon treatment to show movement of animals, chariots being pulled by asses, troop with captives, military leader/priest king is largest (hierarchy of scale) |
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Bull Headed Harp (Queen's Lyre), 2600-2350 BCE, Royal Cemetery of Ur
Found in the grave of Queen Pu-abi
Believe to be fairly popular instruments at the time due to number they've found.
Often decorated with a bull's head. Often found with a beard which is a symbol for masculinity and virility.
Sound box - enuck with 2 human headed bulls in the heraldic pose associated with the epic of gilgamesh, animals carrying out scenes from a baquet, and a scorpion man sometimes interpreted as gilgamesh making offerings. |
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Head of Akkadian King, 2250 BCE
Copper/Bronze
More detailed in texture, more naturalistic. Was likely mutilated by an enemy but is also possible that the eyes were precious stone and were stolen.Much more refined that sumerian works. |
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Victory Stele of Naram Sin, 2254-2218 BCE, Akkad
Triangular format, creates a visual hierarchy, which is also facilitated by the image itself.
Shape of stone mirrors shape of the mountain.
Utilizes a double scale, figure isn't actually as tall as the mountain. Brings more attention and focus to the character rather than the background setting |
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Gudea, Lagash, 2100 BCE
Calcite
Holding an overflowing vessel - symbol of abundance and prosperity
Closed contour suggests they're keeping themselves in line and somewhat isolated from surrounding groups to keep from being invaded. |
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Assyrian, Lamassau, 720-705
Lions with human heads carved in relief in the door jams.
The way they are carved makes it so there are 4 legs able to be seen from all angles - 6 legs carved over all.
Protective deity. |
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Ashurnasirpal Hunting Lions, Kalhu(Nimrud), 875 - 860
Low relief, Continous narrative, pushing more towards naturalism, inspired by akkadian art.
Exaggerated musculature in animals was almost like a convention, made the animals look stronger which in turn makes the king/hero look even stronger. |
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Scene from Ashurnasirpal II at War, Nimrud, 875 - 860
People swimming, trying to retreat from attack by swimming away from it. Used sheep bladders both as a floating device and as a breathing apparatus.
Shows the scene in perspective and is working towards realism.
Used a double scale - people in water vs fortress, people a a bit more important |
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Assyria Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions, Nineveh, 645-640
Shows a steady development to realism/naturalism.
Ashurbanipal is only slightly bigger than his assistants in comparison to past images. |
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Persepolis, Persia, Apandana - Audience Hall
Borrowed from Greek and Egyptian designs
Greek - doric columns, made of drums where you couldnt see the joins once polished
Egyptian - obelisks, monoliths (one stone)
Square Hall full of columns - inspired by the tents from when they were nomadic people.
Set up on a high point
As if it was designed by a sculptor |
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Palette of Narmar, Recto and verso, Egypt, 3000-2920 BCE
Used for grinding malachite for eye makeup - painted around the eye to reflect the sun but more decorative/cosmetic
Was likely not used but was more ceremonial. Intertwined animal heads on front symbolize the unification of lower and upper egypt.
Pharaoh character is on diffrent ground line signifying sacred ground. Horus with 6 papyrus stalks - hold captive the delta, stalks represent number of city states at the time
Shows the evolution to hieroglyphs, a change in language
Hathor, cow headed goddess, in upper corners, said to have created the milk way in egyptian culture |
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Djoser(Zoser), Stepped Pyramid and Funerary Complex, 2630-2622 BCE
Designed by Imhotep
Built up from a mastaba (where people were buried post unification of egypt)
Included a house of the north and house of the south showing still some degree of separation post unification.
Funerary complex were dummy buildings, his palace for the after life
Columns with papyrus and others with lotus representing lower and upper egypt |
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Pyramids of Giza, Cheops(Khufu), Chephren(Khafre), Mykernius(Merkure), 2551 - 2472 BCE
Sandstone is the main structure of the pyramid and they were coated in a white limestone as a fine casing to make them smooth - Khafre's is the only with remaining limestone
Created under the idea that these would protect them and Ka in the afterlife.
Khufu pyramid is the oldest and largest of the 3 |
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Sphinx, 2520 - 2494 BCE
"Horus on the Horizon"
Believe Khafre was responsible for the building, it's adjacent to his pyramid and apparently is supposed to have a resemblance to him.
Was made as a guardian, particularly because he was fairly disturbed about the fact that his mother's tomb was vandalised. |
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Egypt, Khafre, 2520-2494 BCE
Diorite-very hard stone picked so that the statues would last for centuries
Khafre comissioned many sculptures of himself (23 in his valley temple)
Closed position, naturalistic but idealized body type
Entwined lotus and papyrus representing lower and upper egypt |
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Menkure and Queen Khamerernebty II, 2515 BC
Both have left foot in front which is a conventionalized walking position
Queen was fairly important, women in general had fairly equal rights in egypt at this time especially compared to mesopotamia |
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Sheikh el Beled, Egypt, Ka-aper, 2450-2350 BCE
Symbolic stick represents his position as either a scribe or a high official.
Not idealized, very naturalistic - officials weren't idealized as it was expected that their call would be doing duty for the king in the afterlife |
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Prince Rahotep and Wife Nofret, Egypt 2580 BCE
Painted limestone
The prince and his wife being painted as different skin colors was a common occurance and did not reflect real life.
Was surprising that the eyes were still intact as the were made out of crystal. Level of preservation was due to being sealed in a mastaba for years |
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