MAPEH Arts Grade 9 — Western Classical Art Traditions (Painting, Sculpture, Architecture)
Western Classical Art Traditions — Grade 9 MAPEH Notes (Painting, Sculpture, Architecture)
Overview
This module introduces Western Classical Art Traditions across Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, organized by historical periods: Prehistoric, Ancient Egyptian, Classical (Greek and Roman), and Medieval (Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic). These traditions form the bedrock of Western art history, reflecting the diverse cultural and philosophical values of their times and laying foundations for subsequent artistic movements.
Core objectives (from Module 1):
analyze art elements and principles in Western Classical styles;
identify distinctive characteristics of art periods;
recognize representative artists;
reflect on mood/messages in artworks;
discuss the use/function of artworks through elements and principles;
create artworks guided by Western Classical techniques.
The module emphasizes connections to foundational principles, real-world relevance, and ethical considerations in using borrowed materials.
Painting (Western Classical Art Traditions)
What painting is
Painting is the expression of ideas, emotions, and the creation of aesthetic qualities of a subject; it is the oldest form of art and a non-verbal form of communication.
Periodization and scope
Prehistoric Era: before the writing system; includes cave paintings.
Ancient Egyptian: painting tied to afterlife; highly symbolic; frontalism in composition.
Classical: Greek and Roman painting.
Medieval: Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic painting.
Prehistoric Era
Cave paintings found in caves; possibly for communication, religious, or ceremonial purposes. Pigments were typically derived from naturally occurring earth minerals like ochre and charcoal. Prehistoric drawings of animals often in correct proportion.
Cave of Lascaux ("Cave of Lascaux"), Stone Age, (15000-10000 ext{ BC}); features include: The Great Hall of the Bulls, The Lateral Passage, The Shaft of the Dead Man, The Chamber of Engravings, The Painted Gallery, The Chamber of Feline Paintings; nearly 2,000 figures (animals, humans, abstract designs).
Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
Egyptian ritual (ca. (1275 ext{ BC})) linked to ensuring the deceased’s afterlife; an example of symbolic Egyptian painting conventions.
Egyptian painting characteristics
Purpose: afterlife; life after death; preservation of knowledge.
Style: highly stylized and symbolic; profile view for animals and people; frontalism: head in profile, body shown frontally, eyes depicted frontally.
Palette: red, black, blue, gold, green from mineral pigments; colors chosen for durability under strong sunlight.
Classical Era — Greek painted traditions
Painting forms in Classical Greece: vases, panels, tomb painting.
Subjects: battles, mythological figures, everyday scenes; naturalistic representation; development of linear perspective. Such paintings adorned public buildings, tombs, and private homes, often serving didactic or commemorative roles.
Techniques:
Fresco: water-based pigments on freshly laid plaster on walls.
Encaustic: wax-based painting; developed for ship repairs, used in Greek contexts.
Vase painting: subjects from daily life, myth, and scenes; technique called polychromy (multiple colors).
Panel painting: paintings on flat wood panels; not always preserved due to organic materials; earliest known panel painting: Pitsa Panel.
Tomb/Wall painting (Classical era)
Used fresco or tempera or encaustic; sharp, flat outlines; depth achieved via shade and hue.
Roman painting (classical era)
Wide variety of subjects: landscapes, still life, portraits, mythological scenes.
Innovation: development of landscape painting as a main shift from Greek painting. Roman wall paintings, especially evident in Pompeii, transformed interiors, creating illusions of space and showcasing domestic life and wealth.
Mosaic and decorative interiors became prominent; mosaics used small pieces of colored glass or stones to create images (e.g., Roman floor mosaics such as those in Pompeii).
Mosaic (definition and function)
An artwork created from a large number of small pieces (glass, stone, or other materials) to form images for decorative or interior purposes.
Example: Roman floor mosaics and wall mosaics (e.g., House of the Faun, Pompeii).
Medieval Painting
Byzantine painting: religious subjects; integration of Greek and Oriental styles; large church mosaics; often solemn, iconic imagery.
Romanesque painting: mosaics on church walls with a mix of Byzantine influence (faces and drapery modeling) and Mozarabic decorative elements; frontal poses and stylized forms.
Gothic painting: illumination of manuscripts, frescoes in churches; cosmopolitan style; subjects include legends and love stories; decorative motifs like millefleur (thousand flowers); stained glass windows as major features for interior light and religious instruction.
Notable works and features:
Court of Empress Theodora (mosaic, Byzantine, 6th century) — shows Byzantine court imagery and cosmological iconography; location: San Vitale, Ravenna.
Christ in Majesty (Byzantine-influenced depiction in church contexts).
The Rose Window at Strasbourg Cathedral (Gothic stained glass).
The Last Judgment Tympanum at Autun Cathedral (Romanesque, c. (1120-1135) ext{ A.D.})$ by Gislebertus; typology of biblical judgment.
Pitsa Panel (early Greek panel painting) — earliest known panel painting.
Baroque-era embellishments not listed; focuses on medieval mosaic and painting forms.
Common themes and function
Art serves religious instruction and devotion; stained glass, mosaics, and illuminated manuscripts function as didactic and liturgical tools.
The Evolution of style from rigid, frontal, and symbolic forms toward more naturalistic and narrative approaches in late medieval Gothic art.
Activities and self-checks (Painting)
Activity 1.1: More on Painting — identify artworks and functions by era; practice filling exercise.
Activity 1.2: More Information — identify the art period described by statements (e.g., cave paintings; Court of Empress Theodora; Pitsa Panel; stained glass function).
Activity 1.3: Let the Sun Shine on Me — create a stained-glass-like window using folder, cellophane, and colors; practical craft to illustrate medieval stained glass ideas.
Activity 1.4: Crossword Puzzle (Brain Warm Up) — clues related to painting terms and eras (e.g., encaustic, panel painting, mosaic, etc.).
Activity 1.5: Evaluate Your Self — multiple-choice and matching on painting terms and artworks.
Notable terms and definitions (Painting)
Encaustic: hot wax painting method used by Greeks.
Fresco: painting on plaster with water-based pigments.
Mosaic: image created from small pieces of colored glass/stones.
Polycromy: use of multiple colors in vase painting.
Frontalism: Egyptian convention where figures face forward with a frontal gaze; bodies shown in profile.
Key eras and representative works/arts cited
Prehistoric: Cave paintings (Lascaux, (15000-10000 ext{ BC})); Great Hall of the Bulls.
Egyptian: Opening of the Mouth Ceremony (1275 ext{ BC}); symbolic, hieroglyphic, frontal style.
Greek: Discobolus (Myron, ca. (450 ext{ B.C.E.})); Greek vase painting; Pitsa Panel; Fresco and Encaustic in Greek contexts; panel painting as a medium.
Roman: Roman mosaics; Portonaccio Sarcophagus ((180-190 ext{ B.C.E.})); Sarcophagus of Spouses from Cerveteri ((520 ext{ B.C.E.})).
Byzantine: Barberini Diptych (ivory carving); Theodora mosaic (San Vitale Ravenna).
Romanesque: Last Judgment Tympanum at Autun Cathedral ((1120-1135) ext{ A.D.})).
Gothic: Chartres Cathedral (Portals, rose windows); The Lady and the Unicorn motif; stained glass as luminous interior medium.
Sculpture (Western Classical Art Traditions)
What sculpture is
Sculpture is the art of creating works in two or three dimensions using materials such as stone, metal, ceramic, wood, etc.; longer-lasting when using stone.
Often created to honor important figures; extensive use across civilizations.
Periods and scope (as per the module)
Prehistoric (and Ancient Egyptian) • Classical Greek • Roman • Medieval (Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic).
Prehistoric Sculpture
Materials vary; some scholars interpret some carvings as products of natural erosion rather than intentional artistry.
May carry mythological or religious significance.
Venus of Willendorf ((28{,}000-25{,}000) ext{ BCE})$ — carved from limestone; fertility charm.
Venus of Brassempouy ((25{,}000) ext{ BCE})$ — fragmentary ivory figurine; realistic human face/hair.
Egyptian Sculpture
Symbolism dominates; gods depicted as composite creatures with animal heads on human bodies. Reliefs arranged in horizontal registers to record events. Egyptian sculpture, deeply intertwined with religious beliefs and the concept of eternity, focused on rigid formality to ensure the timeless presence of deities and pharaohs.
Gods often larger than humans; kings larger than followers; the dead larger than the living.
Tomb sculptures favored; common materials: wood, ivory, stone.
Queen Nefertiti (18th Dynasty) — realistic portrait with refined features.
Pharaohs and royal portraits presented in rigid postures with little private emotion.
Classical Greek Sculpture
Early Greek sculpture is tense and stiff, figures often hidden in robes; later evolves to accurate human anatomy and proportion. Greek sculpture often sought to embody ideals of beauty, harmony, and athletic prowess, evolving from rigid Archaic forms to the dynamic naturalism of the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Hellenistic style emphasizes movement, elaborated patterns, and dramatic arrangement.
Discobolus (Discus Thrower) — by Myron, ca. (450 ext{ B.C.E.}); marble; energy and tension in action.
Roman Sculpture
Romans favored monumental terra-cotta works; less emphasis on free-standing Greek-type sculpture for myth/history; produced continuous narrative reliefs on triumphal columns.
Notable works: Sarcophagus of Spouses from Cerveteri ((520 ext{ B.C.E.})) — depicts a reclining couple; Portonaccio Sarcophagus ((180-190 ext{ B.C.E.})) — battle scenes between Romans and Germans; marble carving.
Medieval Sculpture
Byzantine sculpture focuses on religious subjects; ivory carvings (e.g., Barberini Diptych) serve as luxury items for elites in Constantinople.
Romanesque sculpture features reliquaries, altar frontals, crucifixes, devotional images—often small, portable, ornate, and used in processions.
Last Judgment Tympanum (Autun Cathedral) by Gislebertus (c. (1120-1135) ext{ A.D.})$—illustrates biblical iconography and medieval style.
Gothic Sculpture
Gothic sculpture grows in outward projection from walls; dynamic and realistic figures; saints' lives depicted; portal sculpture becomes monumental.
Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral (c. (1145) ext{ A.D.})$ showcases elongated figures and expressive drapery; Chartres is a key example of Gothic sculpture and architecture.
Activities and craft-related tasks (Sculpture)
Activity 1.1: “Ivory Carving” — Byzantine ivory traditions; a hands-on soap-carving project to imitate Byzantine motifs; emphasizes careful handling and elder supervision.
Activity 1.2: Identification and description of specific sculptures (e.g., Discobolus; Queen Nefertiti; Barberini Diptych; Last Judgment Tympanum; Portonaccio Sarcophagus; Sarcophagus of Spouses).
Activity 1.3: NAME THE ARTWORKS! — identify artworks and periods for a list (1–20 items).
Activity 1.4: Rubrics to evaluate craftsmanship and depiction in activity outputs.
Notable terms and definitions (Sculpture)
Terra cotta: fired clay used for large sculpture (Roman practice).
Relievo/relief: sculptural technique used on sarcophagi and walls; often narrative.
Ivory carving: highly refined Byzantine ivory works (e.g., Barberini Diptych).
Representative works and periods cited
Venus of Willendorf ((28{,}000-25{,}000) ext{ BCE})$; Venus of Brassempouy ((25{,}000) ext{ BCE})$.
Discobolus (Myron, ca. (450 ext{ B.C.E.})).
Sarcophagus of Spouses from Cerveteri ((520 ext{ B.C.E.})).
Portonaccio Sarcophagus ((180-190) ext{ B.C.E.})).
Barberini Diptych (Byzantine ivory).
Last Judgment Tympanum at Autun Cathedral ((1120-1135) ext{ A.D.})$.
The Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral ((c. 1145) ext{ A.D.})$.
Architecture (Lesson 3) — Overview
Architecture defined as the process of planning, designing, and constructing buildings or structures; embodied as cultural symbols and artistic works reflecting civilization.
The study covers Prehistoric, Egyptian, Classical (Greek and Roman), and Medieval (Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic) architecture.
Prehistoric Architecture
Megaliths: huge stones used in monumental architecture; often burial-oriented; examples include menhirs, dolmens, cromlech, Stonehenge (various megalithic configurations).
Egyptian Architecture
Key characteristics (approx. (4000 ext{ B.C.}) and later): thick sloping walls; limited openings; columns and piers often covered with hieroglyphics and vivid frescoes; color and symbolic ornamentation; temples aligned with astronomical events. Egyptian architecture is characterized by its massive scale and monumental structures, such as pyramids and temples, built primarily from stone to symbolize permanence and the divine power of the pharaohs.
Classical Greek Architecture
Parthenon (447-432 B.C.) as a flagship example; built in honor of Athena; exemplifies Doric order architecture; shrines surrounded by rows of columns.
Roman Architecture
Large-scale public works; arches, vaults, and concrete allowed grand structures; exemplified by Colosseum (70-82 A.D.). Roman architecture, renowned for its engineering ingenuity, extensively utilized concrete, arches, and vaults to create vast public utility structures, amphitheaters, baths, and basilicas, reflecting their organizational power and civic pride.
Byzantine Architecture
Hagia Sophia (537 A.D.) — “holy wisdom”; transformation from church to mosque and now a museum; famous for its colossal dome.
Romanesque Architecture
Solid masonry walls; rounded arches; large-scale church-building activity across Europe; elaborate sculptural portals.
Gothic Architecture
Chartres Cathedral features: pointed arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses; abundance of stained glass windows and sculpted figures; Notre Dame as a related example.
Activities and projects (Architecture)
Activity 1.1: More on Architecture — fill in artworks, periods, and descriptions.
Activity 1.2: Let’s the Brain Warm Up! — identify the art period given architectural descriptions (temples, megaliths, Hagia Sophia, Chartres, Parthenon, etc.).
Activity 1.2: My Architectural Work (Crayon Etching) — create an architectural design using one of the Greek orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian); steps include colored background, tracing, and presentation.
Activity 1.3: Loop-A-Word Puzzle — find architectural terms (e.g., Megaliths, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Parthenon, Colosseum, Hagia Sophia, Cathedrals, Pyramids, Mastaba).
Notable terms and definitions (Architecture)
Megaliths: large stones used in prehistoric architecture.
Menhir, Dolmens, Cromlech, Stonehenge: examples of megalithic architecture.
Doric, Ionic, Corinthian: the three Greek orders for temple design.
Parthenon: classical Greek temple employing the Doric order; iconic classical temple.
Hagia Sophia: monumental Byzantine architecture with large dome; symbol of architectural ambition.
Chartres Cathedral: quintessential Gothic architecture with pointed arches and stained glass.
Key dates and terms (Architecture)
Parthenon: (447-432 ext{ B.C.})
Hagia Sophia: (537 ext{ A.D.})
Colosseum: (70-82 ext{ A.D.})
Chartres Cathedral: c. (1145 ext{ A.D.})
Common themes (Architecture)
Architecture as cultural symbol; use of different materials and techniques to reflect religious, political, and social values.
The evolution from solid stone constructions to light-filled, structurally complex Gothic cathedrals.
Key Works and Periodic Connections (Summary)
Prehistoric cave paintings (Lascaux) — early visual communication; large animal subjects; cave sections identified for study.
Egyptian tomb paintings — afterlife orientation; symbolic and frontal compositions; use of mineral pigments.
Classical Greek painting — fresco, encaustic; vase painting; development of perspective and naturalism; Pitsa Panel as earliest known panel painting.
Roman painting and mosaic — landscape and narrative; roman interiors decorated with mosaics.
Byzantine/Mediterranean medieval art — religious iconography; iconic mosaics; ivory carvings; liturgical works (Barberini Diptych).
Romanesque and Gothic sculpture — monumental portal sculpture; Last Judgment tympanum; Gothic portals and rose windows.
Architectural evolution — Megalithic megaliths; Egyptian temples; Parthenon (Greek orders); Hagia Sophia; Chartres Cathedral; Castles and Romanesque churches; structural innovations like pointed arches and rib vaults in Gothic architecture.
References and Credits (from the module)
Lascaux and other cave artworks; Theodora mosaic; Parthenon and Chartres imagery; various listed artworks and their photographers/licences (as provided in the module references).
Included references to public-domain and licensed images used to illustrate artworks (e.g., Discobolus, Nefertiti, Theodora, Chartres, Hod goddesses, etc.).
Quick Revision Checklist
Can you identify the era for a given artwork (Prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic)?
Do you recall key characteristics of each era (e.g., frontalism in Egyptian painting; fresco vs encaustic; the Greek orders; Gothic innovations)?
Can you name representative works and what they illustrate about their period (e.g., Discobolus, Pitsa Panel, Hagia Sophia, Chartres Cathedral, The Last Judgment Tympanum)?
Do you understand the major media formats discussed (fresco, encaustic, mosaic, stained glass, ivory carving, terra cotta)?
Notation and Formulas (Dates and Periods)
Prehistoric cave period: (15000-10000) ext{ BC}
Lascaux cave discovery: 1940
Egyptian opening of the mouth ceremony: (1275) ext{ BC}
Discobolus: (450) ext{ B.C.E.}
Pitsa Panel: ancient Greek; earliest known panel painting
Portonaccio Sarcophagus: (180-190) ext{ B.C.E.}
Sarcophagus of Spouses: (520) ext{ B.C.E.}
Theodora (mosaic): 6th century AD (Byzantine)
Autun Cathedral Last Judgment Tympanum: (1120-1135) ext{ AD}
Parthenon: (447-432) ext{ B.C.}
Hagia Sophia: (537) ext{ A.D.}
Chartres Cathedral (Portals and rose windows): c. (1145) ext{ A.D.}
Colosseum: (70-82) ext{ A.D.}$$
End of Notes
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