What Are the 7 Major Periods in Western Art History?

Art|Art History

The 7 major periods in Western Art History are the Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, and Modern periods. Each period had its own distinct style of art that was reflective of the culture at the time.

Ancient Art spans from pre-historic to classical antiquity. Ancient art was characterized by its use of natural materials such as stone or clay and its focus on religious and spiritual themes. Ancient art also included some of the first large scale sculptures such as the Parthenon in Greece.

Medieval Art is typically associated with the Middle Ages which ran from about 500-1400 AD. During this time period, art was heavily influenced by the Christian faith with a focus on religious subjects and themes. Gothic architecture became popular during this time period as well as illuminated manuscripts and stained glass windows.

Renaissance Art started in Italy around 1400 AD and spread through Europe for over 200 years until around 1600 AD. This period was characterized by a renewed interest in classical forms such as Greek and Roman sculpture and architecture. Renaissance artists also focused on realism in their work with an emphasis on perspective and light.

Baroque Art began in Italy around 1600 AD and lasted until 1750 AD when it was replaced by Rococo style art. Baroque artists were known for their dramatic use of light and shadow to create dramatic scenes as well as their grandiose sculptural works depicting religious scenes or historical events.

Neoclassicism was a reaction to Baroque style with a focus on simplicity and order rather than drama or emotion. Neoclassical works were often inspired by classical antiquity with an emphasis on idealized figures or scenes from mythology or history.

Romanticism was a response to Neoclassicism that ran from about 1800-1850 AD. Romanticism focused more on emotion than rationality which was reflected in its paintings of intense landscapes or emotional scenes from history or literature.

Modern Art, which began around 1850-1900 AD, is often seen as a reaction against traditional forms of art such as Realism or Impressionism that focused more on realism than abstraction or expressionism..

Conclusion:

The 7 major periods in Western Art History span from pre-historic times through modern day movements such as Expressionism, Abstractionism, Surrealism, Pop Art, Minimalism, Postmodernism, etc., each with its own unique style reflective of the culture at the time period it belongs to.