Art History | explore the history of art by looking at information about artists, styles, and periods...from the art of ancient Greece and Rome, to the 19th Century and the introduction of Modern art, Loggia presents resources and reference materials about art history - including recommended art books and guides to art terms and techniques. Art historians of the world, indulge your passion for art!

Art of Greece | Greek artists achieved a level of sophistication that is arguably unmatched by any other contemporary civilization in the West - and such was their skill that ancient Greek art still speaks to us today

Geometric Period | this early period from Greek art history shows how ancient artists adorned many of their works (vase paintings in particular) with precise geometric patterns

Archaic Period | during this period, Greek artists came into contact with ideas and styles from outside of Greece; also a time when vase painting and sculpture began to reflect Greek ideals

Classical Period | often referred to as the "Golden Age" of Greece, the Classical era was a time when perfection was achieved in the arts - the Parthenon was constructed during this fruitful period.The Classical Period in ancient Greece is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and brilliant eras of artistic achievement in the West. However, this period was but a moment in terms of time, dating from circa 480 - 323 BC. In this brief but fruitful span of years, the ancient Greeks in general, and the Athenians in particular, brought the fine arts of sculpture, vase painting, and architecture to a point of near perfection. In many respects, the city of Athens was the center of this artistic revolution. And it is in Athens that we still see powerful reminders of the genius of ancient Greek artists. Here, on what is referred to as the Acropolis, we find what is perhaps the most recognizable work of Classical Greek architecture - the Parthenon. The Parthenon was a temple dedicated to the patron goddess of Athens, Athena. This temple stands, along with other Classical works, as a monument to the vitality and timelessness of ancient Greek art.

Hellenistic Period | during the Hellenistic period, new ideas permeated Greek art, and emotion, drama, and realism began to influence the appearance - and subject matter - of Hellenistic sculpture

Art of Rome | the ancient Romans absorbed many artistic lessons from their neighbors, the Greeks, and this debt is everywhere evident in Roman art; but the Romans were also great innovators... When one thinks of ancient Roman art, often the word "derivative" comes to mind. This is an unfortunate association, because although the Romans did indeed borrow a great deal from the Greeks, they also had their own equally vital traditions in art. Therefore, to suggest that Roman art is merely a debased and lifeless copy of Greek models is to misunderstand Roman intentions. There is much to recommend the art of ancient Rome, as we will see when we explore the following periods in Roman art:

Republic| the ancient Romans distinguished themselves both politically and artistically at this time - in art, portrait sculpture that realistically depicted individuals was perfected during the Republican Period

Early Empire | the Early Roman Empire was a time of great architectural projects; one of the most famous of these works is the Flavian Amphitheatre, which is also more commonly known as the Colosseum.

Late Empire | the decline of the Roman Empire is reflected in changes in the appearance of art - an example dating to the late Empire is the monumental Arch of Constantine

Medieval Art | the Middle Ages come to life when we explore the majestic contributions of Romanesque and Gothic art

Romanesque Art | massive works of architecture were constructed during this period, which later were judged to resemble ancient Roman buildings - hence this period was dubbed "Romanesque"

Gothic Art | the Gothic period was in many respects the Age of the Cathedral - during this time, the most magnificent cathedrals were constructed, each reflecting the glory and power of the Church

Renaissance Art | the masters of Italian Renaissance art were rivaled by their European counterparts during this influential period in art history

Italian Renaissance Art | Italy is the place where it all started - the Renaissance, that is; here you will find such titans of art history as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael

Early Renaissance | Sandro Botticelli and Donatello both represent the potential of painting and sculpture, respectively, during this time of artistic innovation

High Renaissance | the triumvirate of High Renaissance artists were Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo; but there were other painters, sculptors, and architects that contributed to this magnificent moment in Renaissance Italian art. The phrase "Renaissance person" has come to mean someone who is a master of several subjects, and for good reason - many artists who worked during the fruitful period known as the Renaissance were equally proficient as architects, designers, painters, and sculptors. A splendid example of this is Michelangelo, who excelled at artistic pursuits in a number of media. Therefore, do not be surprised to see Michelangelo listed in more than one of the following categories of High Renaissance art and artists.

Venetian Painting | the works of the painters Titian, Giorgione, and Giovanni Bellini demonstrate the incredible artistic achievements that took place in Venice during the Renaissance

German Renaissance Art | Northern European artists also made significant contributions during that time of artistic rebirth known as the Renaissance - Hans Holbein and Albrecht Dürer are two German masters

Baroque Art | the grandeur of the style known as Baroque is revealed in this look at an era of artistic opulence

Dutch Baroque Art | a trio of remarkable painters - Rembrandt, Hals, and Vermeer - demonstrate the significance of Holland as an artistic center during the Baroque period.

Flemish Baroque Art | in this section, see why Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Jacob Jordaens were three of the most important Baroque artists in Flanders.

French Baroque Art | in France, the painters Poussin and Claude Lorrain are two of the big names during the Baroque period; but France also contributed a legendary masterpiece of Baroque architecture - Versailles

Italian Baroque Art | the brilliant sculptor, architect, and painter Gianlorenzo Bernini embodies the spirit of Baroque art in Italy - but Bernini shares the spotlight with some other famous names...

18th Century Art | engaging Eighteenth century styles, such as Rococo and Neoclassicism, are explored through images and words.

Rococo Art | this playful style reflects an aristocratic preoccupation with leisure and frivolity; François Boucher and Antoine Watteau were two of the artists who created fashionable Rococo works

Neoclassical Art | stern, somber, and spartan - these words describe the Neoclassical style that became the rage at the end of the Eighteenth Century; and the hero of Neoclassicism was Jacques-Louis

19th Century Art | the Nineteenth Century was a time of "isms" - including Romanticism, Impressionism, and Symbolism

Romanticism | the paintings of Eugene Delacroix embody the spirit of Romanticism in the visual arts - they are passionate, rich in color, and dynamic; but other artists developed their own Romantic styles as well...

Realism | as depictions of reality became more popular in literature, so too the visual arts reflected this desire to portray the "real world"; Gustave Courbet was a champion of Realism in painting

Impressionism | the Impressionist artists are a diverse group - learn why painters as different as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir were all referred to as "Impressionists" in this section

Post-Impressionism | this "group" features an interesting - and eclectic - collection of artists, including Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Cézanne

Pre-Raphaelite Art | Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Morris, and Edward Burne-Jones are three artists who were associated with this influential 19th century art movement

Symbolism | this art movement drew inspiration from literature and poetry, but also relied heavily on the use of symbolic meaning - see how artists such as Odilon Redon and Gustave Moreau incorporated symbols into their works. Of all of the "isms" in Nineteenth century art history, Symbolism is probably the most difficult one to explain and identify. This is because of the nature of Symbolism - it is an elusive and somewhat mysterious art movement. Depending on which authority one consults, one is likely to get widely different interpretations of this style. To some art historians, the term "symbolist" can be used to describe artists as dissimilar as Paul Gauguin, Aubrey Beardsley, Gustav Klimt, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. To others, symbolism is a specific, short-lived but important phase in art history. For our present purposes, let us establish Symbolism as a style in (primarily) painting in vogue briefly during the 19th century. Artists involved with the symbolist movement illustrate best what this style was about, and so therefore it is to the major artists that we will now turn.

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