Ancient Greece and Rome It is art project and I need 2 pages duble spaces and 3 resource.

The Middle Ages in Europe

Ten centuries from the fall of Rome to 1400, the beginning of the Renaissance are called the dark times. But this is when Western Art found its footings. All systems for constructing architectural structures were already created Almost all human activities were under the dogmatic rule of the Church. Everything was for church use and everything was under church control. Head of Constantine, made of marble, 312 ce, is an image of empirical majesty, the prominent nose and chin undoubtedly reproduce Constantine’s distinctive features. But the overall style is far from the naturalism of earlier Roman portraits. Exaggerated, stylized eyes stare out from geometric sockets under an abstracted representation of hair, the eyes expressed inner spiritual life.

-Catacombs-sacred burial areas where Romans would not pursue Christians. The earliest Christian Art was simplified interpretation of Greco-Roman figure paintings. The emphasis was on storytelling through images of Christ and other biblical features as well as through Christian symbols. The background was usually white for better visibility in the dark tunnels with red and green lines dividing scenes. Lively and energetic figures were rendered in quick brush strokes.

Christianity needed a fundamentally different kind of building, the one that could contain a lot of people. As public gathering places for large groups Christians were using Roman basilica.. Basilica was basically a long rectangular hall. The long central nave ends in the apse, where Christians placed the alter.

ROMANESQUE ART -Stylistic name, not historical period -It means: “like Roman architecture”

In 5th century, the Roman Empire collapsed. Two forces influence art at that time: Barbarian - grotesque, mythological, supernatural images. Christian Church - life after death, images of Jesus Christ’s was the most dominate part of the images. The Madonna and Child was the most popular of images. By the 8th century, these two elements begin to merge.

Sculpture -Relief images were carved in portals (entry ways) -Relief carvings in tympanum Most of the art was created by monks and priests. Church sponsored the creation of art in bronze, wood, copper, ivory, etc, but painting was the most important art because it was cheaper and faster than other media. Wall paintings were painted in decorative heavy lines - contour, which influenced the art of stained glass later in the Gothic period. Gregorian chants and organ music was enhanced by the acoustical properties of the vault architecture.

Art and architecture was heavy and not sophisticated. The massive nature of the work is the most recognizable feature of Romanesque. The pointed arch opened the door to a new dominance style known as Gothic.

The art of early Christian was affected by controversy between those who followed biblical prohibition against the making of images and those who wanted pictures to help tell the sacred stories. The Byzantine style was abstract and could not be confused with real persons like in Roman paintings.

Artists of the eastern Orthodox faith sought to portray the symbolic or mystical aspect of religious features rather than their physical qualities. Small paintings are referred to as icons (image in Greek) which are holy images that inspire devotion but are not worshipped in themselves. This painting grew out of the mosaic and fresco traditions. Andrei Rublev ( Russia) ,Trinity, icon, 14th-century

Gothic

GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE - Mystical Gothic cathedral is the most famous form of Catholic Church. The Gothic style was concerned with the devotion to God. Paris was the center of Europe and the rebirth of intellectualism. In the 1100’s the Gothic style spread all over Europe, where each country had variations on the Gothic style -the architecture was invented to influence and uplift the occupants

-a variation on the vault which allowed for more upward motion, ribs and flying buttresses- exterior support structures on the outside of the cathedrals which take the weight off the walls allowing for more windows, They also helped transfer the force of the wind on these tall roofs down into the ground.

Rose window of Charters Cathedral .

176 large stained glass windows were incredible technical achieve- ments and powerful symbols of heavenly radiance. These windows filled the Gothic church with muted light. The rose window shape is shaped like a blooming rose, which is a symbol of the blessed Mary, mother of the savior Jesus. Charters Cathedral (Notre Dame de Char- ters), 1134-1220, 40 miles SW of Paris.

The plan is symmetrical while the plan shape is a cross, symbolizing the crucifixion. The interior design of the building also emphasized the vertical line as a way to remind the worshippers of Christ rising to Heaven and to remind them that God is above.

Gothic sculpture, unlike Greek and Roman sculpture, could not be walked around because they were on columns or tombs. The sculptures represent emotions such as agony (JC) or happiness (smiling saints) or horror of monsters.

The combination of buttresses. stained glass windows, sculptures and music were used to make you feel like you had entered another world - one of mysticism and mystery.