The History of the Arts
The history of the arts is lengthy and goes all the way back to the prehistoric era when civilization even existed. Many famous artists, like Leonardo da Vinci, captivated the world with their creations and significantly improved the area of art (Costin 4). This essay examines the Venus of Willendorf, the Tomb of the Leopards, and the Mask of Agamemnon, three ancient works of art.
Venus of Willendorf
A 25000-year-old work of art known as Venus of Willendorf was found in Austria near the banks of the Danube river. This piece of art, which is three-dimensional and is around 4.4 inches, resembles a woman without arms or legs (Kuiper). The art came from Austrian culture and was crafted using limestone. Archeologists believe that it was constructed to symbolize fertility in the ice age.
Tomb of the Leopards
The Tomb of the Leopards is a 3-D form of art that is believed to have been constructed about 470 BC. This art originates from the Etruscan culture and is made of a chamber made from mineral ores with paintings of different individuals. The tomb symbolizes how the Etruscans treated death ("The Tomb Of The Leopards, Tarquinia"). These people viewed funerals as festivities and celebrated with the deceased before burial.
Mask of Agamemnon
The Mask of Agamemnon is one of the most remarkable art discovery that dates back to between 1550-1500. The mask is believed to have belonged to King of ancient Mycenae as it was found in the royal cemetery. The technique used to craft this mask is still not known, but archaeologists believe that a replica of the electrotype technique was used (Abramitis). This 3-D gold art was used in funerals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ancient works namely the Tomb of the Leopards, Mask of Agamemnon, and Venus of Willendorf. The reason for choosing these pieces of art is the impact that their discovery made in the field of art. All the pieces of art discussed in this paper have unique features as described in this paper.
References
Abramitis, Dorothy H. “The Mask Of Agamemnon: An Example Of Electroformed Reproduction Of Artworks Made By E. Gilliéron In The Early Twentieth Century”. The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, I.E. The Met Museum, 2011, http://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/features/2011/mask-of-agamemnon.
Costin, Cathy Lynne. “Craft specialization.” The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality (2015).
Kuiper, Kathleen. “Venus Of Willendorf | Sculpture”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Venus-of-Willendorf.
“The Tomb Of The Leopards, Tarquinia”. Mysteriousetruscans.Com, 2006, http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/tarleop.html.
