Ancient and Medieval Period

Ancient and Medieval Period

Roman and Greek Wall Paintings:

Typically depicting mythological or historical scenes, these murals reflect the cultural and artistic aspirations of ancient civilizations.

Medieval Paintings:

Often religious and symbolic, characterized by bright and golden colors to emphasize spiritual and ideological themes.

Renaissance (14th to 17th Century)

Italian Renaissance:

Artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael pioneered more realistic techniques and perspectives in their artworks.

Northern Renaissance:

In regions such as Flanders, artists like Jan van Eyck and Pieter Bruegel focused on meticulous detail and realism.

Baroque (17th Century)

Caravaggio and Rubens:

Masters of the Baroque era who utilized dramatic contrasts of light and shadow (chiaroscuro), capturing movement and emotion vividly.

Rococo (18th Century)

François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard:

Paintings featured light-hearted and romantic subjects, emphasizing beauty and ornamentation.

Neoclassicism (Late 18th to Early 19th Century)

Jacques-Louis David and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres:

A return to classical ideals with an emphasis on precision in drawing and composition.

Romanticism (19th Century)

This movement emphasized emotion and individualism, often portraying dramatic and exotic subjects. Artists like Francisco Goya and Eugène Delacroix are notable for their expressive and vibrant works.

Impressionism (Late 19th Century)

Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir:

Characterized by loose brushwork and an emphasis on light and its changing qualities, Impressionism focused on capturing moments and scenes from everyday life.

Post-Impressionism (Late 19th to Early 20th Century)

Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin:

Building on Impressionism, these artists introduced more emotional, symbolic, and abstract elements into their paintings.

Modernism (Early to Mid-20th Century)

Movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism pushed the boundaries of traditional painting, exploring new forms and philosophies. Artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Jackson Pollock were pivotal in these developments.

This timeline gives a broad overview of the major movements and shifts in Western painting, highlighting how styles evolved in response to changing cultural, technological, and philosophical contexts.