- Robins, G. “Understanding Ancient Egyptian Art”. The Art of Ancient Egypt by Robins. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2000. 12-29.
Ancient Egyptian Art continued essentially unaltered throughout the long history of the Ancient Egyptians. In order therefore to be able to understand it, one should learn about the functions and techniques of art in Ancient Egypt but also about the religious and cosmological beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians. Robins, places Ancient Egyptian art into its cultural, social and religious context and thus allows the reader to fully comprehend it. As we have covered Ancient Egyptian and discussed its characteristics and functions this chapter has been a very good supplement to course discussions and materials and a detailed account of the basic principles of Egyptian art and architecture.
- Aujoulat, Norbet. Lascaux. Ministry of Culture and Communication, Republic of France. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. [http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/#/en/00.xml]
The paintings on the walls of caves are the first examples of human art, the first artworks in the long history of art. As such, their importance is undoubted and universal as they elevate art to one of the primordial ways of expression of humans. This site is dedicated to one particular cave situated in France. Inside the Lascaux cave can be found some of the greatest example of Stone Age paintings. The site includes many details about the site, the archaeological work and conservation and specific wall paintings providing a wealth of information about subjects discussed briefly in the course.
- Hemingway, Colette, and Seán Hemingway. "The Art of Classical Greece (ca. 480–323 B.C.)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jan. 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tacg/hd_tacg.htm]
- De Puma, R. “Etruscan Art”. Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies, Vol. 20, Ancient Art at The Art Institute of Chicago, 1994, pp. 54-61
As De Puma says from the first lines of his article, the Etruscans are relatively unknown compared to their more famous neighbors, the Ancient Greeks and Romans. In fact, their lands were eventually conquered by the Romans and their culture was assimilated by them. The article examines some of the Etruscan works in the Art Institute of Chicago and their connection with Greek art and mythology. The article provides interesting information and, as a scholarly piece of work, is detailed and challenging to read. It provides another aspect of Etruscan art that has not been analyzed in class and makes an interesting and enlightening reading.
- Preziosi, D and Hitchcock, L.A. “The Second Palaces: Knossos, Phaistos, Gournia and Kato Zakro”. Aegean Art and Architecture by Preziosi and Hitchcock. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 92-110.
The chapter focuses on the Second Palace Period of Minoan art and architecture and some of the most well known artifacts created by this civilization are examined, some of which have also been part of class lectures. I particularly enjoy the constant preoccupation of the writers to make connections with other civilizations of the time and particularly Ancient Egypt, something that gave me a more holistic view of the Minoans and their placement in the Bronze Age Mediterranean.
- “Warts ‘n’ All”. The Treasures of Ancient Rome. 2012. BBC Documentary. RAR File.
The first of BBC’s three part documentary aims at dashing the old myth that the Romans were only good at copying and did not produce any great art of their own. Dealing with the art of the Republic and the Augustan era, the documentary provides not only interesting information about Roman art, its origins and its characteristics, which have also been discussed in class, but also beautiful images from Rome (and Pompeii) that make the Roman civilization come to life.
