Introduction to History of Sculpture PDF

Introduction to History of Sculpture By:Mahlet Z. Sculpture Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Durable sculptural processes originally used carving (the removal of material) and modelling (the addition of material, as clay), in stone, metal,cer...

Introduction to History of Sculpture By:Mahlet Z. Sculpture Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Durable sculptural processes originally used carving (the removal of material) and modelling (the addition of material, as clay), in stone, metal,ceramics, wood and other materials. Prehistoric Period Sculpture begins in the Stone Age. Exactly when, we don't know. The earliest known examples are the two primitive stone effigies known as The Venus of Berekhat Ram and The Venus of Tan-Tan. 1.The Venus of Berekhat is basaltic Ram which was discovered on the Golan Heights. 2.The Venus of Tan- Tanis a quartzite figurine from the same period. These objects are pre-sculptural forms, the earliest prehistoric sculpture roper emerged around 35,000 BCE in the form of carvings of Mesolithic Sculpture (c.10,000- 4,000 BCE) Mesolithic art witnessed more base-reliefs and free standing sculpture such as the statues of Lepenski in eastern Turkey, (eg. Fish God) infrom It is carved Serbia. limestone that is not local to the area, and tinted with red ochre. "Venus figurines", due to the widely-held belief that depictions of nude women with exaggerated sexual features represented an early fertility fetish, perhaps a mother g o d d e s s. T h e r e f e r e n c e t o Ve n u s i s metaphorical, since the figurines predate the mythological figure of Venus by many thousands of years. Neolithic Sculpture (c.4,000- 2,000 BCE) A more static domestic existence created a huge demand for aesthetic decoration and ornamentation. As a result, crafts were developed as well as various forms of decorative art and design. Murals began to appear in houses; as did small statues, and patterns for pottery and textiles. True, most ancient art remained essentially functional in nature, but Neolithic culture also wanted beauty. Eastern Mediteranian an Sculpture (c.2000- 1100 BCE) Religious and Ritualistic Use: Anthropomorphic figures were used in spiritual ceremonies, as seen in sites like Göbekli Tepe. Materials and Techniques: Made using clay, limestone, and plaster, often painted or adorned with red ochre for enhanced visual impact. Examples: Ain Ghazal statues are early evidence of large-scale anthropomorphic representations. Sculpture of Classical Antiquity (c.1100-100 BCE) During this period of Classical Antiquity - known as "Classical Greek Culture" - we see the peak of Greek Civilization, the foundation of all Western Civilization. Classical Greek culture was immensely influential on the Romans, who exported versions of it to all parts of their empire. As a result Ancient Greek ideas and values have had a major impact on the art and architecture of the modern world, notably during the period of Renaissance art in Europe, and Classical Greek Sculpture (c.500- 323 BCE) By the classical period, roughly the 5th and 4th centuries, monumental sculpture was composed almost entirely of marble or bronze; with cast bronze becoming the favoured medium for major works by the early 5th century; many pieces of sculpture known only in marble copies made for the Roman market were originally made in bronze. Smaller works were in a great variety of materials, many of them precious, with a very large production of terracotta figurines. Medieval and Gothic Sculpture Themes: Religious iconography dominated, with sculptures depicting biblical stories, saints, and angels. Materials and Placement: Stone sculptures adorned cathedrals and churches, integrated into architecture. Notable Examples: Gargoyles and intricate facades like those of Notre Dame. Renaissance Sculpture Revival of Classical Ideals: Renaissance artists revisited Greek and Roman techniques, emphasizing humanism and anatomical precision. Masters of the Era: Michelangelo’s David and Pieta exemplify the height of Renaissance sculpture. Innovations: Use of perspective and depth to create lifelike representations. Baroque and Rococo Sculpture Baroque: Dramatic, ornate sculptures with dynamic movement and emotional intensity (e.g., Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Teresa). Rococo: Elegant and decorative, often depicting playful and romantic theme Pop-Art Sculpture Pop art, emerging in the 1950s in the UK and US, challenged traditional fine art by incorporating imagery from popular culture, such as advertising, comic books, and everyday objects. Known for bold, simple designs, vibrant colors, and a modern feel, it bridged the gap between commercial and fine arts. Minimalist Sculpture Minimalism, an art movement that began in post-WWII Western art, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, features precise, geometric forms and rigid color planes, often using cool hues or a single color. Its works are typically non-hierarchical, grid-based, and made from industrial materials, emphasizing simplicity and abstraction. Pop-Art Sculpture Minimalist Sculpture