艺术史概论（英文）.pptVIP

An Overview ofArt History A look at major trends and schools of art in Western Culture Compiled by Prof. John C. R. Silbert For use in the HUMA 1010 course, RMU Please Note: All Visual Art is Imitation Aristotle’s word for imitation is “mimesis”; what the actor sought to do; to reveal the truth of human beings. Art as Imitation does this in two essential ways: Art as Likeness: Rembrandt Van Rijn (top right) “The Jewish Bride,” 1667 Art as Alteration: Wassily Kandinsky (bottom right) “Composition VIII,” 1923 Within each essential form there are any number of styles. Some seek to paint what is there to be painted, while others seek to paint what is in the artist’s mind (and heart). Classical Art -- quick facts: Classical art is noted for its strong sense of form, proportion and balance. Much of the art and architecture served the needs of the state. Classical art at first sought to idealize the human form; reaching for perfection (as the gods/goddesses were perfect). Note the sculpture on p. 147 in TABH. Much of the art of the Greek period was attributed to Phidias, a painter, sculptor and architect greatly admired in the 5th cy B.C.E. In the late 4th cy B.C.E., the emphasis shifted towards realism; with less depictions of idealized forms replaced by more life-like human qualities. Note the sculpture on p. 149 in TABH. Roman Art often depicted less serene, more dynamic forms that appealed to human passions. Euclid’s “Golden Section” This is a mathematical calculation of balance that states the most pleasing relationship between two connecting parts is such that the smaller is to the larger as the larger is to the sum of the two. It is expressed mathematically as a ratio of 1:1.68. The golden section finds its way into architecture and painting in the classical and subsequent art periods. Leonardo da Vinci was so impressed by this principle that he called it the “Divine Proportion.” The Parthenon, Acropolis, GreeceEuclid’s Golden Section in Architecture Leonardo’