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Ancient Egyptians - Egyptian Art History |
Ancient Egyptian Art History Ancient Egyptian Time Periods Prehistoric Egypt 5000 - 3100 BCE The Early Dynastic Period: 3100 - 2686 BCE The Old Kingdom 2686 - 2181 BCE 1st Intermediate Period 2181- 2134 BCE The Middle Kingdom 2134 - 1782 BCE 2nd Intermediate Period 1782 -1550 BCE The New Kingdom1550 -1069 BCE 3rd Intermediate Period 1069 - 664 BCE The Late Period664 - 332 BCE Ptolemaic Egypt 332 - 30 BCE Roman & Byzantine Egypt 30 BCE - 641 CE Egyptian Art History - Early Dynastic Period Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Early Dynastic Period Fact 1 on Egyptian Art History: Early Dynastic History Overview 3100 - 2686 BCE: Start of political unity, central government, emergence of a cultural identity and Egyptian religion based on the worship of many gods. The 1st and 2nd Egyptian Dynasties of kings established. Fact 2 on Egyptian Art History: African art influences from the prehistoric Stone Age period had gradually given way to the culture in the South of Egypt (Lower Egypt Fact 3 on Egyptian Art History: The system of hieroglyphic writing had been invented and being developed into a system that used 700 characters. Fact 4 on Egyptian Art History: Basic pottery techniques had been established. Decorations added especially on vessels used for temple offerings. Fact 5 on Egyptian Art History: The Egyptians used flint weapons and these were embellished with carvings. Fact 6 on Egyptian Art History: Ivory from the tusks of hippopotamus and, to a lesser extent, elephants were carved and used for inlays and expensive vessels. Fact 7 on Egyptian Art History: Sculptors carved small Statuettes of gods and goddesses. Fact 8 on Egyptian Art History: Large Statues of deities were created using limestone. Fact 9 on Egyptian Art History: Grandeur was more important than detail. Fact 10 on Egyptian Art History: Artistic themes were intimidating, unyielding and formidable. Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Early Dynastic Period Egyptian Art History - Old Kingdom Period Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Old Kingdom Period Fact 1 on Egyptian Art History: Old Kingdom History Overview 2686 - 2181 BCE: The 'Age of the Pyramids'. Egypt was politically stable and prosperous, rule of the Pharaohsestablished with divine status. Worship of the sun god Ra. Pyramids and Obelisks built and the Pyramid Textsinscribed on the tomb walls of Pharaohs. Fact 2 on Egyptian Art History: Use of weapons and tools made of copper and bronze and metal working skills were developed. Fact 3 on Egyptian Art History: Stylistic conventions adopted including 'Frontality' and 'Axiality'. Fact 4 on Egyptian Art History: Frontality - heads were depicted in profile with just one eye visible Fact 5 on Egyptian Art History: Frontality - both shoulders were shown front facing Fact 6 on Egyptian Art History: Axiality - The rules of axiality adopted, figures were situated on an axis Fact 7 on Egyptian Art History: 'Human Hybrid' gods depicted with the bodies of humans and heads of animals Fact 8 on Egyptian Art History: Stilted forms due to lack of perspective Fact 9 on Egyptian Art History: Figures and scenes arranged in horizontal rows Fact 10 on Egyptian Art History: Faces devoid of emotional expression Fact 11 on Egyptian Art History: Simplicity of form Fact 12 on Egyptian Art History: Proportions of figures were related to the width of the palm of the hand Fact 13 on Egyptian Art History: Hieratic scaling where the size of figures was determined by their importance Fact 14 on Egyptian Art History: Egyptian artists adopted a limited repertoire of standard types Fact 15 on Egyptian Art History: Funerary Sculpture developed Fact 16 on Egyptian Art History: Artistic effort was focused on preserving life after death Fact 17 on Egyptian Art History: Painted reliefs of the pharaohs and royal family and of wealthy Egyptians Fact 18 on Egyptian Art History: Symbolism and Color Symbolism played a central role in the depictions of the gods and the pharaoh Fact 19 on Egyptian Art History: Architecture: Transition of Step Pyramids to smooth surfaced pyramids Fact 20 on Egyptian Art History: Architects mastered the techniques to build monumental structures in stone Fact 21 on Egyptian Art History: Sculptors created life-size statues in wood, copper, and stone. Fact 22 on Egyptian Art History: The formal artistic rules defined ancient Egyptian art for over 3,000 years Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Old Kingdom Period Egyptian Art History - Middle Kingdom Period Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Middle Kingdom Period Fact 1 on Egyptian Art History: Middle Kingdom History Overview 2134 - 1782 BCE: Military campaigns, power struggles, feudal organization run by Nomarchs. Religion of ancient Egypt focused on funerary and mortuary religious beliefs and Coffin Texts created for ordinary Egyptians. Fact 2 on Egyptian Art History: The emergence of Block Statues - knees drawn to the chest with arms folded Fact 3 on Egyptian Art History: Sculptures were bulky, solid, and impersonal Fact 4 on Egyptian Art History: Statues emphasized symmetry that minimized suggestion of movement Fact 5 on Egyptian Art History: Massive portrait sculptures of pharaohs Fact 6 on Egyptian Art History: Use of Hieroglyphic writing, the language of the gods, extended to non-royals Fact 7 on Egyptian Art History: Small statuary created with more detail Fact 8 on Egyptian Art History: Funerary art depicted on wooden coffins Fact 9 on Egyptian Art History: Coffin texts providing spells and a guide to the Afterlife painted on coffins Fact 10 on Egyptian Art History: Artists depicted scenes of daily life but no depictions of light and shadow Fact 11 on Egyptian Art History: No attempt to create the illusion of space and atmosphere in outdoor scenes Fact 12 on Egyptian Art History: Pharaohs depicted in a 'softer' art style, less austere than the gods Fact 13 on Egyptian Art History: Gods and pharaohs were always depicted as young, vigorous and healthy Fact 14 on Egyptian Art History: Meticulous craftsmanship Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Middle Kingdom Period Egyptian Art History - New Kingdom Period Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - New Kingdom Period Fact 1: New Kingdom History Overview 1550 - 1069 BCE: Height of the Empire and military expeditions. Period of great wealth, luxury and power. A new age of experiment and invention. Pharaoh Akhenaten established a new religious order worshipping the sun god Aten. The Pyramid Texts and the Coffin Texts evolve into the Book of the Dead. Surge in funerary and mortuary religious beliefs and the priests acquire unprecedented power and more cult centers with new temples emerge. Fact 2: Numerous versions of the "Book of the Dead" are created with vignettes Fact 3: New demands for papyrus containing sacred Hieroglyphic writing Fact 4: Mortuary & Funerary art includes extensive use of spells, amulets & talismans Fact 5: Figures and scenes arranged in horizontal rows Fact 6: Art materials unavailable in Egypt acquired by increased trade Fact 7: Engravings precious and semi-precious stones, ebony & ivory increase Fact 8: Faience, frit & glass artwork created as a cheaper substitute for gemstones Fact 9: Artwork reflected the riches of the kingdom especially the use of gold Fact 10: Durable materials used to create monolithic statues, to last for eternity Fact 11: Rounded statuary figures but continued adherence to the rules of frontality Fact 12: Funerary rituals require art for sarcophagi, canopic jars & ushabti figures Fact 13: Animals depicted in a more realistic way but still rules of frontality and axiality Fact 14: A new art style developed during the Armana period of Pharaoh Akhenaten Fact 15: Armana art style radically changed existing conventions Fact 16: Armana artists developed a more graceful and naturalistic style Fact 17: Paintings of Pharaoh and royal family depicted a more realistic representation Fact 18: No statues to the God Aten as these were viewed as idolatry Fact 19: Armana art style only lasted for sixteen years Fact 20: Egyptian art reverted to the old art style Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - New Kingdom Period Egyptian Art History - Late Period Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Late Period Fact 1 on Egyptian Art History: Late Period History Overview 664 - 332 BCE: A period of decline and chaos. Peaceful start until the the Assyrians invade Egypt. The Persians oust the Assyrians and conquer Egypt. Temples desecrated and demolished. Military defeat of Persia by the Greeks at Marathon. Fact 2 on Egyptian Art History: Naturalistic depictions of human and animal sculpture reach new heights Fact 3 on Egyptian Art History: Attempts made to recapture the glory of the New Kingdom in new artwork Fact 4 on Egyptian Art History: Temple building increased Fact 5 on Egyptian Art History: Emphasis placed major production of smaller bronze and metal statuary. Fact 6 on Egyptian Art History: Offerings to the gods believed to be more effective than sumptuous tombs Fact 7 on Egyptian Art History: Offering vessels of various types developed with detailed artwork Fact 8 on Egyptian Art History: Creation of small vessels increased using glass faience, metals and ivory Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Late Period Egyptian Art History - Ptolemaic Egypt Period Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Ptolemaic Egypt Period Fact 1 on Egyptian Art History: Ptolemaic Egypt History Overview 332 - 30 BCE: Egypt was dominated and influenced by foreigners. The Persians ousted when Egypt is conquered by Alexander the Great who establishes the Ptolemaic dynasty. The city of Alexandria was founded, the great Lighthouse of Alexandria was built and its Great Library was established. The Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra becomes the mistress of Julius Caesar and then the wife of Mark Anthony. Defeat at the Battle of Actium results the end of Egyptian rule and Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire. Fact 2 on Egyptian Art History: Greek influence seen in architectural designs Fact 3 on Egyptian Art History: Emphasis placed on public buildings: libraries, theatres and gymnasiums built Fact 4 on Egyptian Art History: Greek technology introduced and the great Lighthouse of Alexandria was built Fact 5 on Egyptian Art History: All reliefs were painted in vibrant colors due to advances in dyes and pigments Fact 6 on Egyptian Art History: Artwork declines when Egypt becomes a province of the Roman Empire Fact 7 on Egyptian Art History: Within 100 years of Roman rule hieroglyphic writing was no longer used or remembered... Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Art History Fact Sheet - Ptolemaic Egypt Period Egyptian Art History Egyptian Art History |