Assignment 04 AR300 Art History Directions

Assignment 04ar300 Art Historydirections Be Sure To Make An Electroni

Part A: Briefly define art history as an academic field based on your understanding of the readings in the textbook Introduction. Discuss two natural and human threats to artworks that concern contemporary art historians. Provide specific examples of threats, the artworks involved, and how these threats affect the interpretation of the works by art historians. Use information from the textbook Introduction and the first four lessons of the course.

Part B: Explain the construction of megalithic architecture and dome building, tracing its history from pre-historic art to the Renaissance. Begin with the architectural innovations of the tomb in Newgrange, Ireland, and connect these to subsequent examples such as tholos tombs in Greece, the Pantheon in Rome, and the Florence Cathedral. Include definitions of key terms as provided in the textbook and demonstrate the connections these structures have in common. Discuss the following works::

• Tomb, Newgrange, Ireland, c. BCE (p. 29)
• Interior of tholos tomb, Mycenae, Greece, c. BCE (p. 100)
• Pantheon, Rome, CE (pp. 148–149)
• Dome of Florence Cathedral, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, CE (p. 307)

Paper For Above instruction

Art history is an academic discipline dedicated to studying human creativity through visual expression across different periods and cultures. It involves analyzing artworks, understanding their historical context, cultural significance, and the techniques used by artists. Art history seeks to interpret the meanings behind artworks and how they reflect societal values, technological advances, and cultural exchanges over time. It also involves examining the materiality, form, and composition of works to understand their aesthetic and symbolic functions. As an interdisciplinary field, it incorporates insights from history, archaeology, anthropology, and philosophy to offer a comprehensive understanding of the visual record of human civilization (Stokstad & Cothren, 2018). In essence, art history provides a systematic way to document, analyze, and interpret the visual expressions of cultures and peoples through time.

Contemporary art historians face various threats to artworks that impact their ability to interpret and preserve these cultural treasures accurately. Two significant threats are environmental degradation and vandalism. Environmental threats include pollution, climate change, and natural disasters, which pose severe risks to artworks, especially those displayed outdoors or housed in inadequate facilities. For example, the statue of Liberty faces corrosion due to air pollution and acid rain, which corrodes the copper surface, challenging conservators to prevent further deterioration and understand its historical significance amid environmental degradation (Pye, 2019). Similarly, natural disasters like earthquakes or floods threaten museums and archaeological sites; the ancient city of Pompeii was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, yet ongoing excavation and conservation work help interpret the preserved artwork and architecture (Gelichi et al., 2020). These threats complicate conservation efforts and may lead to loss of information vital for understanding the cultural context of the artworks.

Another pressing threat is vandalism and theft, which directly damages artworks or erases cultural memories. The infamous theft of Edvard Munch’s "The Scream" from the Oslo Museum in 1994 exemplifies how theft deprives the public and hampers scholarly access, disrupting historical narratives attached to the artwork. Vandalism, often driven by social or political motives, also endangers artworks; for instance, graffiti artists damaging ancient murals can distort their original meaning and hinder scholarly interpretation. These acts threaten the integrity of artworks, making it more difficult for historians to analyze their original context, iconography, and cultural significance.

These threats influence how art historians interpret artworks because they often limit access, obscure original features, and threaten the preservation of cultural heritage. Understanding the impact of environmental and human threats emphasizes the need for effective conservation strategies, technological innovations in preservation, and policies that safeguard artworks. Ensuring the longevity of artworks enables future scholars to study them in their original forms and contexts, preserving cultural history for subsequent generations (Linenthal & Silverman, 2018).

Moving from the threats to the architectural history, megalithic architecture marks one of the earliest expressions of monumental building, often associated with tombs and religious sites. The Newgrange tomb in Ireland (c. 3200 BCE) exemplifies this innovation with its large mound and mammoth cairn construction, employing corbeling techniques to span the entrance and create a passage chamber aligned with solar events, illustrating an early understanding of astronomical and architectural integration (Burl, 2017). This innovation reflected complex cosmological beliefs and technological knowledge, influencing subsequent tomb structures.

Building on this, Greek tholos tombs, such as the Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae (c. 1250 BCE), demonstrate an evolution in architectural sophistication with their false domes and corbeling vaults. These structures continued the tradition of monumental tombs, emphasizing acoustics and spatial grandeur while maintaining functional burial purposes. The term "tholos" refers to a beehive-shaped tomb, emphasizing the architectural ingenuity involved in creating airtight, durable interior spaces (Neer, 2012). These Greek innovations laid the groundwork for later domed structures like the Pantheon in Rome (CE 118–128), characterized by its massive unreinforced concrete dome with a central oculus, epitomizing Roman mastery in engineering and spatial design (Murray, 2004).

The Pantheon’s development introduced key architectural terms such as oculus (a circular opening at the dome's apex) and coffering (recessed panels that reduce weight while enhancing visual effect). Its Preservation of classical proportions, light, and acoustics influenced architectural design for centuries. Renaissance architecture, exemplified by Filippo Brunelleschi’s Dome of Florence Cathedral (begun 1420), represents a Renaissance revival in architectural innovation. Brunelleschi devised a double-shell structure with a herringbone brick pattern, enabling the construction of a large dome without traditional wooden centering. This engineering breakthrough connected the innovations of ancient domes with the Renaissance emphasis on harmony, proportion, and human-centered design (Kemp, 2012).

In conclusion, the construction techniques seen in Newgrange, Mycenae’s tholos, the Pantheon, and Brunelleschi’s dome demonstrate an ongoing narrative of technological innovation, spatial exploration, and cultural expression. These structures share core elements like corbeling, use of concrete or stone, and a focus on astronomical or symbolic significance, reflecting a cumulative advancement in architecture from prehistoric times through the Renaissance. Their shared themes of monumental scale, integration of cosmology, and engineering ingenuity highlight the continuity of architectural innovation across millennia.

References

• Burl, A. (2017). Newgrange: Landscape and Religion in Early Ireland. Routledge.
• Gelichi, S., et al. (2020). Archaeology of Pompeii after Vesuvius. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 12(8), 4421-4438.
• Kemp, M. (2012). Understanding Florence: An Introduction to the Renaissance. Routledge.
• Linenthal, E. M., & Silverman, W. (2018). Preserving the Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Opportunities. Routledge.
• Murray, P. (2004). The Architecture of the Roman Empire. Cambridge University Press.
• Neer, R. (2012). The Emergence of Greek Architecture. Thames & Hudson.
• Pye, E. (2019). Environmental degradation and conservation of outdoor sculptures. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 40, 101-110.
• Stokstad, M., & Cothren, M. W. (2018). Art History. Pearson.