WESTERN CLASSICAL ART

TRADITIONS
Quarter 1, Module 1

Engage in the wonderful world of arts. Let us travel back in time and learn how Arts
evolved through time. Embrace the challenge and learn! Have fun!

By: RIZA MAE F. REYS

SAN ROQUE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
 WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

In this module you will learn to:

 Analyze art elements and principles in the production of work following the style
of Ancient arts (Pre-historic and Egyptian Art (, Classical Art (Greek and Roman
Art), Medieval Art (Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic).
 Identify representative artists from various art periods.
 Compare the characteristics of artworks by evaluating its utilization and
combination of arts

WHAT I KNOW

Pre- Assessment:
Direction: Look closely at the pictures below and arrange them according to the
era/ period they belong. Write only the letter in the timeline.

Ancient Art Classical Art Medieval Art

Pre-historic Egyptian Classical Roman Byzantin Romanesqu Gothic
Greek Art e e
A C B, H E D G F,

CHOICES:

A. Cave of Lascaux B. Calyx-crater (mixing bowl)

C. Hieroglyphics D.
Enthroned Madonna and Child

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 E. Fresco from the Villa of Mysteries.
F. Rose Window

G. The Morgan Leaf H. Aphrodite (fresco)

LET US CHECK YOUR ANSWERS!

Let us compare your answers with the answers on the Answer Key on Page 24.
Did you got them all correct? If yes, you’ve done a great job! If not, then let’s learn some more
and embrace the challenge!

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 WHAT’s IN?
Let us recall our previous lesson that we learn last year! Can you help me pass through
the maze and help me uncover the new lesson? Collect all words you have learn from
the previous year’s lesson. Good luck!

Manuggul Jar

Ikat Technique

Batik Wayang Kulit

Carlos P. Butong Songkok

Start here Silk Painting

Sariwanok Sky Lantern Dastar

Bul-ol jar Ifugao arts Wau Kite

Silk worms

The Higantes Festival

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 WHAT IS IT?
Congratulations! Compare your answer on Page 24. You won a ticket!
This ticket is special since it is Time Travel Ticket! You will now embark and discover
new art forms since the ancient time. Are you excited? Hop in to this wonderful Time
Machine and prepare for travel! Enjoy!

What are you waiting

for? Hop in and let us
We are now going to learn the learn new things from
Western Classical Art Traditions the past! Have fun!
starting from Pre-historic era!

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DO YOU KNOW?
Even before humans learned to read and write they were already artists as manifested by the
different archaeological discoveries. Each and every civilization of the world has its aesthetic and
utilitarian needs.

I. Pre-historic Art
Are artifacts made before there was a written record? Long before the oldest
written languages were developed, people had become expert at creating forms that were
both practical and beautiful. The earliest art comes from the Paleolithic era (the Old
Stone Age), but it was in the Neolithic era that we see the most important developments
in human history. The way we live today—settled in cities, protected by laws, eating food
from farms—all this dates back approximately 10,000 years ago to the Neolithic era.

The paintings were found inside which may have been their way of
communicating with each other. It may also be for religious or ceremonial purposes.

A. Cave of Lascaux

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Lascaux Cave is a Paleolithic cave situated in southwestern France, near the village of
Montignac in the Dordogne region, which houses some of the most famous examples of
prehistoric cave paintings. Close to 600 paintings – mostly of animals - dot the interior walls of
the cave in impressive compositions
The cave was discovered by the four boys when they examined the hole where their dog
had fallen on the hill of Lascaux.
The art at Lascaux was both painted on and engraved into the uneven walls of the cave,
the artists working with the edges and curves of the walls to enhance their compositions. The
resulting impressive displays depict mainly animals, but also a significant number of abstract
Cave of Lascaux
symbols, and even a human. Of the animals, horses dominate the imagery, followed by deer and
5000-10000 B.C. – Stone Age
aurochs, and then ibex and bison. A few carnivores, such as lions and bears, are also present. The
archaeological record of the area shows that the depicted animals reflect the fauna that was
known to these Paleolithic humans.
The cave has several sections that have been identified inside the cave such as: The Great
Hall of Bulls, The Lateral Passage, The Shaft of the Deadman, The Chamber of Engravings, The
Painted Gallery and The Chamber of Felines.
II. PAINTINGS FROM ANCIENT EGYPT
The purpose of Egyptian painting is to make the deceased afterlife place
pleasant. Their themes include journey to the underworld introducing the deceased to the
gods of the underworld by their protective deities. It emphasizes the importance of life
after death and the preservation of the knowledge of the past.

Most paintings were highly stylized

symbolic and shows profile view of
an animal or a person. The main
colors used were red, black blue, gold
and green derived from the mineral
pigments that can withstand strong
sunlight without fading.

The paintings of the walls on the tomb show

events of the life of the king while he was still
on earth and the scenes he expects to encounter
in the underworld after his death.

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 III. PAINTINGS FROM CLASSICAL GREEK ERA

Paintings from the classical era were most commonly found in vases, panels and
tombs. They depict natural figures with the dynamic compositions. Most of the
subjects were battle scenes, mythological figures and every day scene.
Most Common Methods of Greek Painting:
A. Fresco/ Frescoes – a method of painting water- based pigments on a freshly applied
plaster usually on a wall surface. Colors are made of ground powder pigments mixed in
pure water, dried and set with plaster to become a permanent part of the wall. Ideal for
murals (wall painting), durable and has a matte finish.
B. Encaustic – developed by Greek ship builders, who used hot wax to fill the cracks of the
ship. Pigments (colors) were added and used to paint in a wax hull. The word Encaustic
is a Greek word meaning “to heat or burn in” (enkaustikos).
Encaustic was a slow, difficult technique, but the paint could be built up in relief, and
the wax gave a rich optical effect to the pigment. These characteristics made the
finished work startlingly life-like. Moreover, encaustic had far greater durability than
tempera, which was vulnerable to moisture. 

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 Judgement of Paris
(370 – 330 B.C.)

C. Vase Painting

Kerch Style e also referred to as Kerch Vases which are commonly red, figured pottery
named after the place where it was found.

Shapes commonly found are:

a. Pelike (wine container)
b. Lekanis (a low bowl with two horizontal handles and a low broad foot).
c. Lebes gamikos (with high handles and lid used to carry bridal bath).
d. Krater ( bowl) used for mixing wine and water.

Pelike vase Lebes gamikos

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Lekanis Krater

D. PANEL PAINTING
The people from Ancient Greece also painted on flat panels of woods. It can be
either small, single-pieced or several panels joined together. Most of the panel paintings
no longer exists because of their organic composition.

The earliest known panel painting is the Pitsa Panel. Painted wooden panel
found in a cave in ancient Sikyon, near the village Pitsa in Corinth. One of the four fragments
found, depicts a procession to a sacrifice with a lamb. Late 6th c. BCE. National Archaeological
Museum, Athens, Greece.

Pitsa Panel
(Archaic Period between 540 and 53 B.C.E)
https://ancient-greece.org/images/museums/athens-archaic/pages/athens-mus-archaic046.html

E. TOMB / WALL PAINTING

Tomb or wall painting was very popular during the classical period. It
uses the method frescoes in either tempera (water-based) or encaustic (wax). It has a sharp,
flatly outlined style of painting and because it uses water-based materials very few samples
survived.

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 The image was painted using a true fresco technique with a limestone mortar. It depicts
a symposium scene in the wall.

The best example is the painting of Tomb of the Diver.

The tomb of the diver at Paestum is the finest known example of Greek wall painting of the fifth
century, the very best period of Greek art. It also has some of the finest scenes of Greek
homosexuality.   It is a single tomb and was discovered in 1968 by Mario Napoli about a mile
south of the town when he was exploring the cemeteries. It dates to around 480 BC – the date
can be fixed fairly precisely by a Greek vase which was found in the tomb.

The Tomb of the Diver

http://www.paestum.org.uk/museum/classical/
IV. PAINTINGS FROM THE ROMAN ERA

Most of the paintings in this era were copied or imitated from Hellenic Greek
paintings. Fresco technique was used in brightly colored backgrounds; division of the wall into a
multiple rectangular area. (tic-tac- toe); multi-point perspective and trompe-l’-oeil effect.

Do you know?
Trompe l’oeil, (French: “deceive the eye”) in  painting, the representation of an object with such
verisimilitude as to deceive the viewer concerning the material reality of the object. This idea
appealed to the ancient Greeks who were newly emancipated from the conventional stylizations
of earlier art. This is a technique applied by artist to make their art pieces look more realistic in
detail that misleads the audience.

Roman paintings have wide variety of subjects, animals, everyday life, still life,
mythological subjects, portraits and landscapes. The development of landscape painting is the
main innovation of Roman painting from Greek painting.

A. Mosaic
It is an art process where an image is created using assemblage of small pieces of
colored glass, stones or other materials.

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 This technique is used for decorative art of interior decorations.

The full image is a Roman floor mosaic in the House

of Fun Pompei, dated 100 B.C. The whole mosaic
depicts the battle between the armies of Alexander
the Great and Darius III of Persia.

Head of Alexander
Image from Treasures of the World, 1961 CCP Library

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/390476230169151251/

Fresco from the Villa of Mysteries

Pompeii 880BC.

https://www.archaeology.org/issues/124-1403/features/1813-pompeii-saving-the-villa-of-the-mysteries

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 This fresco painting was believed to depict a ceremonial rite, either marriage or
initiation of a woman in a mystery cult.

Boscotrecase, Pompeii

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/503769908294845438/

V. BYZANTINE PAINTING

The lively styles of painting which had been invented in Greek and Rome
lived on this Byzantium but this time for Christian subjects. Byzantine art is almost entirely
concerned with religious expression and with the translation of the church theology into artistic
terms. Its forms of architecture and painting grew out of these concerns and remained uniform
and anonymous, perfected within a rigid tradition rather than varied according to personal
whim. The result was a sophistication of style and a spirituality of expression rarely paralleled in
Western art

By the 11th century, the Greek and Oriental styles seem to blend together in
magnificent, imposing images which adorned churches in large and small forms.

The Empress Theodora and Her Retinue

Empress Theodora and her retinue, mosaic, 16th century ; on the south wall of
apse, church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. Scala/Art Resource. New York.

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 Empress Theodora

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodora-Byzantine-empress-died-548

VI. ROMANESQUE PAINTING

It has a remarkable variety of artistic traditions such as modeling and

treatment of faces and draperies that follow Byzantine convention while the refreshingly
decorative feeling comes from southern French styles. It also shows traces of Mozarabic
influence (Arabize influence) through elongated oval faces, large staring eyes and long noses,
figures are against flat colored bands and heavy outlining.

In general, Romanesque art reflected the rise in political and economic stability across

Europe. With stability came higher tax and tithe revenues for the Church, which therefore had
more money to spend on new churches - complete with stained glass art, stone statues of
Saints, fresco paintings, illuminated manuscripts and the like - which in turn attracted larger
congregations and bigger collections. Indeed, some art historians view Romanesque art as a
reflection of growing monastic piety. In
any event, the new Romanesque
movement was a tremendous boost
for medieval artists, throughout western
Europe.

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 Christ in Majesty

https://camel76.wordpress.com/tag/christ-in-majesty/

Christ wears a greyish, white robe with a blue mantle. Underneath the Mandorla
(Italiand word for “almond” – used to describe an enclosure surrounding a holy figure in painting.) is a black
band with white writing. Each side of the center window are three arches resting on columns of
capitals in green, red and black and in between of the figures of Virgin Mary and five saints are
columns of vertical wavy line patterns. This mural painting has been moved to Barcelona and
replaced by a replica.

VII. PAINTINGS FROM GOTHIC ERA

Paintings have been confined in the illumination of manuscripts pages and

painting of frescoes on the walls of churches in cosmopolitan style, elegant mannered
and sophisticated.
Subjects usually depict popular legends and love stories. Patterns like mille fleur or
thousand flowers show influence which may have been due to the Crusades.

Lady and the Unicorn Tapestry

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_and_the_Unicorn

Rose Window from the North transept

Stained glass was created to transform the vast

Stone interiors with warm and glowing color and at the same time to
instruct Christians in their faith. Stained glass are colored glass used
for making decorative window and other objects through which light
passes.

http://arthistoryblogger.blogspot.com/2011/09/chartres-
cathedrals-north-rose-window.html

The Shepherd David

The painting shows some realistic details and naïve naturalism.

The basic characteristic of Gothic art styles reinforces symbolic meanings. The
churches symbolize the transcendence of the soul and the underlying philosophy is to create
buildings of height and light.

***
Different eras show different styles, characteristics and functions of the art that reflects
the kind of society the different era has, a product of constant search and innovations that
serves different functions are all important contributors to what kind of art we enjoyed today.

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 “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles
the world”
~Albert Einstien~

WHAT’S MORE?
That was an awesome knowledge that we have learn from the past. It
was indeed very interesting the kind of innovation in arts which we still see until
now. Now, are you ready for the next challenge?

Direction: To know how much you have learned from the discussion about the paintings of the
Early Age. Fill in the box with the characteristics and functions that would best describe the
painting in every era/period/

Period/ Era Characteristics Functions

Ancient Paintings
Pre-historic Found in caves, most subjects are Communicating whit other
animals and fauna of the region. tribes or group and rituals/
ceremonial activities.

Egyptian Found in tombs, highly stylized and Making the deceased

symbolic. Uses red, black, blue gold and afterlife pleasant.
green.

Classical

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 Paintings Found in vases, panels and tombs, shows Visual recordings and
Greek natural figures. Shows battle scenes, development of “Fresco and
mythological creatures and everyday Encaustic” technique in arts.
scenes.

Roman Copied and imitated from Hellenic Greek. Mastered “tropme-l’-oeil

Used brightly colored backgrounds effect” in arts.

Medieval
Paintings
Byzantine Blending Greek and oriental styles in Used to adorn churches in
arts. large and small forms.

Romanesque Used the Byzantine style with the Use to adorned churches.
influence of French styles. Has Maintained the Roman
Mozarabic styles too. styles.
Gothic Are seen in illumination of manuscripts Used in churches to
and stained glass. command the faithful.

LET US CHECK!
Now let us check your answers! Let us compare your answers from the Answers
found on Page 25_. Did you get it perfect? That would be great!

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED?

Now let us review what we have learned! Can you help me fill in
the missing word/s in completing the paragraph?

Each and every civilization of the world has its distinct arts forms
depending on its aesthetic and utilitarian needs.
____________________ is classified into three periods such as; Paleolithic (Old Stone Age),
Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) and Neolithic (New Stone Age) Eras. Pre-historic is not easy to
understand. These are slues for archaeologist in understanding the Stone Age civilization.
Archaeologist are given a peek into the minds of the primitive people through their artworks
and find out what they have experienced to produce those pictures.

The characteristics of _______________________ are combination of geometric

regularity and keen observation of nature. Egyptian Civilization was one of the early civilizations
that have greatly contributed in the development of art, religion, science and technology.
____________________ depicts naturalism. They portray human forms in a realistic and
anatomically correct manner.

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 ____________________ developed as a new source of artistic creativity much more
progressive than the conservative Greek art.
____________________ art was purposely made to glorify the Christian religion and to
express its mystery. It is filled with spiritual symbolisms, illustrates a love of splendor.
____________________ art was characterized by its very vigorous style in painting and
sculpture, lavishly decorated manuscripts and retained many basic features of a highly
innovative and coherent style.
____________________ art styles reinforce symbolic meanings. The church symbolizes
the transcendence of the soul, the underlying philosophy is to create buildings of height and
light.
Different eras, different styles, characteristics and functions of arts occurred but all of
those contributed in the development and establishing the importance of arts in our lives.

Let us compare your answer on Page 25! Now check on the

next page for another exciting things!

WHAT I CAN DO?

Now here’s an interesting activity to test your creativity!
Check this out!

Individual Activity: “Light Me Up”.

In the ancient Romans stained glass was used in their villas and palaces. During the
medieval time it has been one of the prominent features of every cathedral built using the
Christian themes and symbolisms. In this activity create an example of a stained glass that has
practical use. Materials Big empty glass bottle Black permanent marker Acrylic paint Paint brush
White glue Water Tee light candle

Materials:
 Big empty glass bottles
 Black permanent marker
 Paint brush/es
 White glue
 Water
 Acrylic paint (It would be best if you
have at least 3 different colors).

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Procedures
1. Choose one design for your “stained glass” “bottle candle holder”. The design should
be relevant to the medieval themes and symbols.

Below are samples that you can use, you may also use designs or themes, motifs and
patterns that promotes your city, region or place.

2. Trace your designs outside the bottle using the permanent black marker. The outline
should be BOLD and THICK. To have the characteristic of a Medieval/Gothic designs.

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3. Now color your designs using your acrylic paint.

4. After coloring, re-outline your design with the black marker to make the outline
precise and visible.

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 5. After recoloring and outlining the design, apply a glaze composed of white glue that
is diluted in water.
6. Place a tee light candle inside the bottle and light so you can see the stained-glass
effect.

ASSESSMENT TIME!
Since you have learned new things from this module, how about we put
that
new knowledge to the test? Let’s answer the following Assessment to
test
how much have we learned from this lesson? I know you can do it!

Direction: Read carefully the questions and write your answer in the space provided before the
number.

______1. What kind of effect does a tropme-l’-oeil technique creates?

A. It’s a technique that creates the glassy and watery effect in an art piece.
B. A technique used by an artist to achieve a more realistic effect in an art piece.
C. Because it uses bees wax it has the glossy effect and can survive different weather
conditions.
D. This is technique uses water-soluble pigments enabling the artists to manipulate
colors easily thus creating a flowy stroke in their painting.
_______2. Which of the following statement is true to Egyptian art?
A. The purpose of their art is to create another world.
B. Most of their paintings are emphasized life on earth.
C. They used their arts in helping the deceased afterlife pleasant.
D. Their paintings are often found in dining halls and place of gatherings.
_______3. Which of the following choices below is a characteristic of a Classical Era form of art?
A. Most of their paintings are found in vases, panels and tomb.
B. Majority of their paintings are used for burial traditions for the afterlife.
C. They use there are art and expression to glorify Christianity and its mystery.
D. Their art form sprung from the glorious Byzantine era
_______4. What is that art technique that uses assemblage of small pieces to create an image?
A. Fresco B. Encaustic C. Mosaic D. Mozarabic
_______5. What does Mozarabic mean when it comes to Romanesque painting?

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 A. The enclosure surrounding the holy figures in painting.
B. The use of a pattern of thousand flowers in the painting.
C. The technique that uses subtle stroke that creates a realistic and naïve naturalism.
D. The use of an elongated oval faces, large staring eyes and long noses in the painting.
_______6. Which era does the mosaic of the “Head of Alexander” belongs?
A. Pre-historic era C. Romanesque Era
B. Classical Greek Era D. Roman Era
_______7. Which of the following statement below best describes what kind of arts were
produced during Byzantine era?
A. Their art is for Christian subjects that adorned churches in large and small forms.
B. They highly used tempera in most of their artworks.
C. They use different pigments from surrounding nature and primitive tools.
D. Most of their paintings are highly stylized, painted on walls and on tombs showing
the life on earth and the afterlife.
_______8. Which of the following is a technique that used hot wax to fill the cracks of the ship
and is now being used in paintings?
A. Tempera b. Encaustic C. Fresco D. Mosaic
_______9. Which of the following below is the most important innovation of Roman painting
from Greek painting?
A. The development of landscape painting
B. Using different mediums in panel painting.
C. Styling different Kerch style vases that uses polycromy.
D. Using the shade and use of a paint to create a depth and life-like feeling.
_______10. What is that decorative piece used to transform the vast stone interiors of the
church that uses colored glasses?
A. Mosaic B. Sculpture C. Stained Glass D. Fresco
_______11. Which of the statement below best describes why it is important to understand or
study Pre-historic art forms?
A. It encourages us to understand how limited the resources were during those times.
B. It allow us to take a look to where art is heading to.
C. It gives us understanding of how colors were utilized and maximized.
D. Allow us to understand how art develop through time and appreciate different
cultures across time.
_______12. Why do you think some artworks did not survive through the test of time?
A. Because of their organic composition in nature.
B. Ancient people did not take arts seriously.
C. Ancient people doesn’t know how to preserve their art forms
D. Graveyard looters did not take care of the precious artifacts.
_______13. Which of the following is not a purpose of art?
A. Conveys emotions
B. Creates aesthetic beauty.

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 C. Records visual data
D. Di-motivated an individual.
_______14. Which of the following sentences below best explains why art is considered as “The
Avante-Garde in political change”?
A. During the Pre-historic era arts are used to record the daily activities of civilization.
B. When the Ancient Egypt used their arts to convey what they think is the afterlife.
C. Romanesque style is a complete realization of religious and social functions
influencing the people.
D. Arts as viewed by many as an expression and exploration of one’s creativity.

_______15. Which statement below best explains the role of the church in arts?
A. The church opposes to different innovations in arts.
B. They are one of the biggest patrons of the arts and churches are used as an artistic
space.
C. They commission artist to create arts only for religious activities and purposes but
also for entertainment.
D. Only the church can afford to have the vast collections of art pieces from the
different eras.

LET US CHECK YOUR ANSWERS!

Let us compare your answers to the Answers found on page 26_.
Did you get everything right? If yes then you are ready to move to the next
modules, if not you can always read the module again and check which item
you’ve missed and why.

ENRICHMENT!
Let us deepen further your appreciation in arts! Let us try to
complete the sentences below!

Direction: Can you complete the sentence and tell us what are the benefits of arts for you?

Art helps me stimulate my imagination.

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Art makes me ________________________________________.
Art enhanced my _________________________________________.
Art boost my ____________________________________________.
Art reduces my ___________________________________________.
Art helps me _____________________________________________.

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XII. References.

[CITATION Mar14 \l 1033 ]

[ CITATION Tho20 \l 1033 ]

[CITATION The20 \l 1033 ]

[ CITATION JAR20 \l 1033 ]

[ CITATION Mer20 \l 1033 ]

[CITATION The201 \l 1033 ]

References
Britannica, T. E. (2020a, 06 11). Theodora. Retrieved from Encyclopaedia Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodora-Byzantine-empress-died-548

dictionary, M.-W. (2020, 06 11). Merriam Webster. Retrieved from Meriam Webster :
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trompe%20l%27oeil

LOBELL, J. A. (2020, 06 11). Saving the Villa of Mysteries. Retrieved from Archaelogy:
https://www.archaeology.org/issues/124-1403/features/1813-pompeii-saving-the-villa-of-the-
mysteries

Mary Grace J. Badiola, M. A. (2014). Music and Arts Learner's Material. Pasig City: Vibal Group , Inc.

Sakoulas, T. (2020, June 11). Pitsa Painted Panels. Retrieved from Ancient Greece.Org: https://ancient-
greece.org/images/museums/athens-archaic/pages/athens-mus-archaic046.html

Sowers, R. W. (2020, 05 06). Stained glass. Retrieved from Encyclopaedia Britannica:

https://www.britannica.com/art/stained-glass

The Greek Temples. (2020, June 11). Retrieved from www.Paestum.org.uk:

http://www.paestum.org.uk/museum/classical/

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