Introduction to Sculpture History

Introduction to Sculpture History

• Sculpture is a three-dimensional branch of the visual arts.
• Key sculptural processes include carving (removing material) and modeling (adding material).
• Common materials include stone, metal, ceramics, wood, and others.

Prehistoric Period

• Sculpture began during the Stone Age, though the exact starting date is unknown.
• Early examples include the Venus of Berekhat Ram and the Venus of Tan-Tan.
• The Venus of Berekhat Ram is basaltic, found on the Golan Heights.
• The Venus of Tan-Tan is a quartzite figurine.
• These figures are considered pre-sculptural forms.
• The earliest prehistoric carvings emerged around 35,000 BCE.

Mesolithic Sculpture

• (c.10,000-4,000 BCE) Mesolithic art included base-reliefs and free-standing sculptures like those from Lepenski.
• "Venus figurines" depicted nude women with exaggerated features.
• They may have represented fertility goddesses.
• Venus figurines predate the mythological figure of Venus by thousands of years.
• Materials included limestone and plaster.

Neolithic Sculpture

• (c.4,000-2,000 BCE) A more static domestic existence led to a demand for aesthetic decoration.
• Crafts like decorative art, murals, small statues, and patterns for pottery and textiles were developed
• Neolithic art often contained aesthetic values and functionality.

Eastern Mediterranean Sculpture

• (c.2000-1100 BCE) Anthropomorphic figures were used in spiritual ceremonies (e.g., Göbekli Tepe).
• Materials included clay, limestone, and plaster.
• Often painted or adorned with red ochre for visual impact.
• Examples include the Ain Ghazal statues.

Sculpture of Classical Antiquity

• (c.1100-100 BCE) This is considered the peak of Greek civilization and the foundation of Western civilization.
• Greek culture greatly influenced the Romans.
• Greek ideas and values have had a lasting impact on art and architecture in modern times, particularly during the Renaissance period.

Classical Greek Sculpture

• (c.500-323 BCE) Monumental sculpture was mainly carved from marble or bronze.
• Cast bronze became the preferred medium for major works by the early 5th century.
• Smaller sculptures used a wide range of materials, including terracotta.

Medieval and Gothic Sculpture

• Religious themes dominated, featuring biblical stories, saints, and angels.
• Stone sculptures were integrated into the architecture of cathedrals and churches.
• Notable examples include gargoyles and intricate facades like Notre Dame.

Renaissance Sculpture

• Artists revisited Greek and Roman techniques, emphasizing humanism and anatomical precision.
• Michelangelo's David and Pieta are masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture.
• Innovations included the use of perspective and depth to create lifelike representations.

Baroque and Rococo Sculpture

• Baroque sculpture was dramatic and ornate, with dynamic movement and emotional intensity.
• Bernini's Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is an example.
• Rococo sculpture was elegant and decorative, often depicting playful and romantic themes.

Pop-Art Sculpture

• Emerging in the 1950s, pop art challenged traditional fine art.
• It incorporated imagery from popular culture (e.g., advertising, comic books).
• Pop art sculpture was known for bold designs and vibrant colors.

Minimalist Sculpture

• A post-World War II art movement, minimalism emerged in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Minimalist sculpture features precise, geometric forms and rigid color planes.
• Often using cool hues or a single color.