Art History I, the end

 This year art history has really been a treasure. The stars aligned for me and hooked up the facts I was learning in world history with what I was learning in art history. It has been a fun experience, very different from most survey classes. I really enjoyed having so many different ways of making grades. I liked having a variety of projects. I, however, was not a huge fan of the group projects but it was still fun to get to know the people that were sitting around me.
 My favorite project was definitely the Parthenon project. I really enjoyed working with a partner, not only was I able to learn more about my partner and the parthenon I was able to get a different point of view. I also liked it because it was like a mini field trip!
 I'm so glad I took this class, I know it will help me if I ever do become an art teacher. I can take all the facts I've learned into my career and help children grow up and have a better knowledge of art and it's history.

Ancient Roman/Early Christianity

Commodus As Hercules
Rome, c.191-192
This sculpture is of Commodus, who became emperor after his father's death. He was known for having no political skills, administrative competence, or intellectual distinction, as well as being "insane". He believed that he was the reincarnation of Hercules and the incarnation of the god Jupiter. He was a man of luxury and thoughtless amusements. This piece shows how vain he was, in having a bust made of him being the reincarnation of the great demi-god Hercules, while his face reflects that of his fathers by the elongated face and large eyelids.


Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. The small brick chapel is plain and modest on the outside, concealing the glittering treasures inside.Entrance is through a small door on the north side. The plain north facade was once covered in marble.The interior is lit by 14 small windows, several of which are on the second floor called clerestory windows. these windows are made to give the mosaic in the dome a heavenly glow. the figures in the mosaic are representative of the disciples. Matthew is represent by an angel, Mark by a lion, Luke by an ox, and John by an eagle, While Christ is represented by the cross in the center. As we can kind of see this picture glowing towards the center. 

From the beginning of time religion has been portrayed in art. It has shifted from the focus of a person, their achievements, and god-like divinity, to focus on the Christian belief in one savior. In the bust above Commodus is being portrayed as the demi-god Hercules which is an example of pagan, archaic beliefs. In Roman times the only real connection with religion was through mythological gods. However, instead of mythological stories and glorifications of other gods, Christian art portrayed miraculous, but humble stories of Christ and his followers. As Christianity spread throughout Rome the people soon realized they needed a place to worship and they began to borrow specific aspects from Roman architecture just as others have done throughout time. For example, Christian congregations needed a large well-lit space for worship and the Roman basilica model provided the perfect inspiration.

   This piece of pottery is an Aryballos-style Archaic Greek "vessel". It was created around 570 BCE. This piece would have been used for holding oil for the bathing process after one was finished at the gym. It stands around three feet tall, making it extremely portable, and is made out of terracotta. It is decorated by a black-figure painting on a light background. The figures we see beside the lip of the aryballos are pygmies and cranes in an epic battle. On the side of the handle we can see Hermes and Perseus  with two Tritons on top of the handle that are less visible from this angle, and there are three satyrs painted on the main face of the handle.
   The vessel was likely crafted and painted by Nearchos. Signing his name in an isolated portion of his works we can find him making other vessels earlier in the Archaic time period.

Egypt project

http://prezi.com/pcei9bkrlofx/ancient-egyptian-project/

Egyptomania

The Presbyterian church is decked out to look like an egyptian hall. It has the hypostyle halls painted on the wall which do create a great illusion making you feel as if there is more depth to the walls. However I do not feel very much when I see this church. Maybe it is the fact that I have been there many times to the point that my feels towards it are numb. I do think the artwork is amazingly done especially the stain glass work. But the feel itself does nothing for me. A few other people in my group felt to same about the church while others found it to be rather fascinating!

Individual blog 2 part 2

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/In-an-era-of-austerity-reasons-to-fund-the-arts/21121

Culture is a social language that we would be dumb without. Through out time it has been a question of why fund the arts. This article tells of past times when people have fought for the arts as well as people fight for the arts today. Art is something that is vital to our existence. No matter where you are or what language you speak art is universal. It can teach us about the past such as cave paintings or hieroglyphics, inform us of the present with things such as pictures of current events, and expand our imaginations about the future. We need art as a means to communicate when words can't be found. Without art this world could become more violent and ignorant because without art words are all we can use and sometimes words just aren't enough.

Individual blog 2 part 1

My favorite picture that we have recently studied is The Narmer Palette. Created at the dawn of its history, the palette suggest the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. This work uses the Rebus system of writing, where the picture represent a sound or the first letter of a word.  This is read by starting on the right side then the top, inside , then bottom. This piece has several representational symbols, for example the Lotus for Upper Egypt and the Papyrus for Lower Egypt.
During Narmer's time a Palette such as this was used for grinding eye paint. In his time everyone wore eye shadow and eyeliner because of the intensely bright sun. However this piece would have been much too fancy and important to be used for the grinding of the eye shadow. The amount of history that we can get just out of this one piece of work is truly amazing.