The course will survey the major developments in European, Asian and Middle Eastern art from pre-history to the Roman and early Islamic period. 1. Ancient Rock, Cave and Land Art (e.g. Altamira, Ubirr and Lascaux cave paintings, "chalk field" art) 2. Early Mesopotamian (e.g. the Royal Standard of Ur, Victory stele of King of Akkad) 3. Aegean (e.g.Toreador Fresco, the Mask of Agamemnon) 4. Ancient Egyptian (e.g. the Burial Mask of Tutankhamun, Anubis, God of Death) 5. Early Pre-Colombian 6. Mesopotamian and Persian (e.g. Neo-Assyrian Winged Guardians, Snake Dragon of Marduk) 7. Ancient Chinese (e.g. Terracotta Army, Funeral suit of Princess Dou Wan) 8. Greek (e.g. Discus Thrower, Parthenon Frieze, Black-figure Amphora) 9. Buddhist (e.g. The Bimaran Reliquary, the Amida Buddha) 10. Roman (e.g. Villa Dei Misteri, Augusta of Prima Porta) 11. Byzantine (e.g. Hagia Sophia, Emperor Justinian's court) 12. Islamic Art (e.g. the Blue Quran).
Course aim
• To give a broad picture of key developments in European, Asian and Middle Eastern art from antiquity to the Roman period. • To increase the enjoyment and appreciation of art through having a deeper knowledge of its history.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Interpret works of art, particularly paintings and sculptures, with more confidence
- Formulate opinions on works of art and take part in discussions on art
- Discuss the key movements in art over the centuries
- Identify works of art with historical periods, art movements and artists
- Enjoy more the museums where objects from the ancient world can be viewed.
What else do I need to know?
All learning materials will be provided.
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