Western Art History: From Prehistoric Art to Classical Greek Painting

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering major concepts, artists, artworks, and techniques from Prehistoric art through Classical Greek painting as presented in the notes.

Paleolithic Art

The earliest phase of prehistoric art dating before 10,000 BCE, including cave paintings and portable sculpture created by hunter-gatherers.

Mesolithic Art

Middle Stone Age art bridging Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, with continued hunter-gatherer practices and improving techniques.

Neolithic Art

New Stone Age art marked by farming, settled communities, and more complex symbolic and ritual works.

Prehistoric Art Timeframe

Art dating to before written history, approximately before 3000 BCE, spanning Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods.

Art as Communication

The function of prehistoric art to convey information about environment, spirituality, and community where writing did not exist.

Cultural Window

Prehistoric art serves as a vital view into early human culture and societal values when texts did not survive.

Symbolic Expression

Use of symbols in art to express ideas, indicating a cognitive leap in early humans.

Ochre

An earth pigment (yellow-red) used by prehistoric artists to create color.

Charcoal

A natural black pigment used in cave and rock art.

Hematite

An iron oxide pigment producing red tones in prehistoric artworks.

Venus Figurines

Portable prehistoric sculptures of female forms, often associated with fertility and symbolism.

Lascaux Cave Paintings

Ancient cave art in southwestern France (~17,000 years old) with nearly 600 parietal paintings of animals and dynamic composition.

Parietal Wall Paintings

Paintings applied to cave walls rather than portable objects.

Twisted Perspective

A stylistic approach where figures are shown with mixed viewpoints to enhance clarity and form.

Hall of Bulls

A large chamber in Lascaux with extensive bull imagery, exemplifying complex spatial composition.

Byzantine Art

Art (330–1453 CE) characterized by stylized, symbolic figures, gold backgrounds, and mosaics, exemplified by Hagia Sophia mosaics.

Romanesque Art

Medieval style (roughly 1000–1150 CE) with thick walls, rounded arches, and sculptural biblical scenes on churches.

Gothic Art

Medieval style (1150–1500 CE) featuring verticality, light, large stained glass, and flying buttresses.

Bayeux Tapestry

An embroidered cloth nearly 70 meters long depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Bayeux Tapestry Techniques

Created with stem stitch for outlines and couching to fill shapes, on nine linen strips.

Linear Perspective

A Renaissance technique by Brunelleschi to render three-dimensional space on a flat surface.

Atmospheric Perspective

A depth cue where distant objects appear lighter and less detailed to create depth.

Renaissance Humanism

Intellectual movement valuing human potential, individual expression, and scientific inquiry in art and life.

Leonardo da Vinci

Renaissance master known for Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, applying anatomy, chiaroscuro, and atmospheric perspective.

Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s renowned portrait celebrated for its enigmatic expression and subtle shading (sfumato).

The Last Supper

Leonardo’s iconic mural depicting Jesus’s final meal with disciples, noted for narrative clarity and composition.

David (Michelangelo)

Michelangelo’s sculpture epitomizing ideal human proportions and classical grandeur.

Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Vatican depicting Genesis scenes, including The Creation of Adam.

Raphael – School of Athens

Raphael’s fresco illustrating classical philosophers in a grand architectural setting with harmonious composition.

Chiaroscuro

The use of strong light-dark contrast to model volume and depth in painting.

Exekias

A renowned ancient Greek vase painter known for detailed red-figure scenes, such as Achilles and Ajax playing a game.

Black-Figure Technique

Early Greek vase painting with black silhouettes on red clay backgrounds.

Red-Figure Technique

Later Greek vase painting where red figures stand out against a black background, allowing finer detail.