History of art 211

 The art piece I chose to write about is called “The black death.”  The piece is a depiction of the black plague, with the plague personified as the black plague.  In the piece arrows are used to strike those around her, specifically in the neck or the armpit areas likely where the infection would spread.  Black death appeared in Europe around 1348, and it killed nearly a quarter to half the regions population.   The black plague victims would experience flu-like symptoms at first and then would see, “a swell beneath their armpits and their groins.”  The disease worked fast and killed fast.  Normandy had lost nearly 70-80 percent of its population.   The pandemic ended up killing approximately half of Europe’s population of all trades.   Young, old, rich, poor, religious or not.   During the time of the pandemic, William Langland, wrote in a poem saying, “God is deaf nowadays and will not hear us.   And for our guilt her grind good men to dust.”   With social stability in pieces and sl

  Both artworks display religious change.   In the 1300s, Akhenaten changes the state religion from the worship of the god Amun to a new god or sun god Aten.   Akhenaten used a change of sculpture art when transitioned into the worshipping of Aten.   Egyptian art used rectilinear forms and then he used curvilinear form.   From what I read the transition of the religion was to be distinct in differences of art, but also its meaning.   The transition of religion does not make sense to me.   I was not able to find enough information to understand the need in change of religion.   Based on a reading from, “Akhenaten: The Mysteries of Religious Revolution,” it describes that Akhenaten came to power as the pharaoh in mid-1300’s.   Ruled for 13 year and changed his name to, “better reflect his religious ideas.”     The Egyptian religion, art, and writing were changed toward the steps of the new religion, but for what reason?   Why?   Did this change happen purely because he was the Pharaoh?  

  The artwork I chose to write about are Coins of faith and power now at the British museum.   These coins were used for trading, but the inscriptions held messages.   These coins would hold messages of their language, and even religion.   The coins hold information of the ruler, and who minted the coin.   Larger coins hold the proclamation of faith along the front side and the back displays the name the ruler would use.   The Coins come off as very simplistic piece of art that a subtle meaning in comparison to many larger artworks.   Given that these are made of metal material it is no surprise that they would retain over such a long period of time.   The coins are important because through time we can see the rise of the Arab identity as well as the formation of the Islamic world.   Some of the very first coins made were made of copper to display the transitional period that preceded Abd- al-malik’s coinage reform which removed images from the coins all together.   Based on the coins

  I found the Egyptian statue very interesting finding out that the Pharaoh at that time was female.   At first glance at looking at the statue of Hatshepsut I would not have been able to tell you this was of a female king.   What I found interesting about the Egyptian king Hatshepsut was the amount of dedication in leaving her mark in the afterlife.   In the video from smart history is it said that she had commissioned many temples and sculptures in her image and is unknown to why it is seen that there was an effort to destroy everything with her image.   From my perspective the Egyptian people, or really Hatshepsut, is humble as a king.   I think this because if she really wanted to display power, she could have had monuments built about war like the ones built by Romans.   I think a display of her being humbled as a king comes with the statues made of granite holding pots, almost like an offering.   Again, in smart history they say that it is very uncommon for a Pharaoh to kneel and

  The art piece I chose to write about is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus.   The actual piece is being held in the treasury and the Vatican has a copy that is held in their museum.   This was an early opening to the Christianity religion and the depiction of Christ is represented as a young boy with a scroll.   Under Christ there is a depiction of a water entity that embraces roman culture.   Early expressions represented in the bible are shown on the sarcophagus along with Christ.   The way the sarcophagus was made shows the bridge between classical roman art and transition to Christianity art being developed.   The columns, arches and the material used to make this are all commonly used in roman art.   Around the mid fourth century, Christianity had attracted many through urban populations and one being Junius Bassus.   Junius was a member of a senatorial family and had held the position of praefectus urbi for Rome.   Junius was responsible for the administration of the city of Rome

  The Parthenon sculpture seems to be a very controversial subject to this day.   From what I have heard based on only SmartHistory, the video on, “who owns the Parthenon sculptures,” explains that Lord Elgin had used his own money to extract the sculptures from the Parthenon 1812.   As an ambassador of the Ottoman empire.   Elgin was a prime representative of the British during the time that he asked for funding to extract art.   Elgin’s intent was to create copies, molds, drawings of the pieces.   Everywhere you look is an accusation that Elgins motives were purely for his personal gain.   Elgin went through a legal way in securing a permit to work and handle objects of the Parthenon.   In the permit that has survived, it states, “ Elgin’s men were allowed to draw, make casts, erect scaffolding, and excavate.”   Then at the end of the permit it says,”No one should,…take away any pieces of stone with inscriptions and figures.”       With the knowledge I have I would think that if the