Which Time Period Came First in Art History?

Art|Art History

Art history is the study of art from antiquity to the present day. It includes a variety of different artistic styles, movements, and media from different cultures, periods, and regions. It is an area of study that has been around for centuries and has changed significantly over time.

Ancient Art is generally considered to be the oldest form of art in the world. Ancient art dates back to around 35,000 BCE and includes a variety of mediums such as paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, coins, and architecture.

Ancient art was often used to depict religious or political scenes and beliefs. Examples of ancient art include cave paintings in France and Spain, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Greek vases and sculptures, Roman frescoes and mosaics, Indian temple carvings, Chinese bronze vessels and jade carvings.

Medieval Art is an umbrella term that covers a period from about 500 CE to 1500 CE. During this period of time there was an increased focus on religion as well as a revival in classical forms of art such as painting and sculpture. Medieval art includes illuminated manuscripts such as The Book of Kells as well as Gothic cathedrals such as Notre Dame de Paris.

Renaissance Art is the period between 1400-1600 CE when Europe saw a revival in classical forms of art such as painting and sculpture combined with new techniques such as perspective drawing. Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci used their knowledge of anatomy to create lifelike figures while others like Michelangelo sculpted iconic works like his statue “David”.

Baroque Art followed after the Renaissance period with its own unique style characterized by exaggerated motion, vibrant colors and drama. Famous Baroque artists include Peter Paul Rubens whose works often depicted religious or mythological scenes or Gian Lorenzo Bernini whose sculptures are still admired today for their detail and craftsmanship.

Conclusion: From this overview it is clear that ancient art came first in the timeline of art history followed by the medieval period which was then superseded by renaissance art followed by baroque art. Each era brought its own unique styles which evolved over time into what we now recognize as classic works of art today.