About the book
The WINDOWS ON HUMANITY book project began with the initiative and support of Peter LePort, Founder of LePort Schools in Orange County, CA, for a book that reflects the author's teachings on art history. His initial idea was for a textbook, but by the final draft of the manuscript, he saw the book’s potential for a much wider readership. This book offers two additions to the modern corpus of introductory art history surveys. It is written from the perspective that art reflects philosophical ideas and embodies some philosophical outlook about life and our world. And it is written by an artist. What has resulted to-date is the first of potentially a 3-volume series on the history of the visual arts of Western civilization. The content follows the chronology of people's varied and changing outlooks on life as those views were expressed in the visual arts of prehistoric Europe, ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the ancient Aegean, Greece and Rome.
The INTRODUCTION highlights the value of studying art history as a visual record of thought and values. Basic premises of the book are stated: that art originates from and embodies a metaphysical view about life and the world. The nature of art is demonstrated and the rational method of inquiry is introduced to provide a basic context for study. The benefit of using art to better understand general history is raised. Emphasis on dating and attribution methods gives readers a sense of how the facts that they will be exploring were established and that those facts are a legitimate basis for the observations and inferences that readers can make.
Subsequent CHAPTERS proceed chronologically with reference to prior chapter content. The text provides general historical and intellectual context for each period and touches on the relevance of historical arts and ideas to modern culture. Content is presented in comprehensive segments that can be used to frame lessons. Chapters feature same-page footnotes to clarify content. Maps and timelines help readers relate the location and timeframes of artworks to the wider history of mankind. Chapter summaries and questions focus on key concepts and invite the reader to examine topics in greater depth and make their own inferences. Chapters are rich with images curated for their relevance and clarity. The glossary describes technical and abstract terms in a conversational style.
IMAGES provide clear views of the artworks. Sample artworks demonstrate the conceptual content of the text and enable the reader's first-hand evaluation. Image captions describe each work, including their location in international collections. Sample artworks include master works that exemplify cultural trends, as well as lesser known works. SIDEBARS highlight important topics or target related information. HISTORIC QUOTES poignantly express cultural and intellectual trends, and indicate that there is a background of historical literature that supports the study of art.
The INTRODUCTION highlights the value of studying art history as a visual record of thought and values. Basic premises of the book are stated: that art originates from and embodies a metaphysical view about life and the world. The nature of art is demonstrated and the rational method of inquiry is introduced to provide a basic context for study. The benefit of using art to better understand general history is raised. Emphasis on dating and attribution methods gives readers a sense of how the facts that they will be exploring were established and that those facts are a legitimate basis for the observations and inferences that readers can make.
Subsequent CHAPTERS proceed chronologically with reference to prior chapter content. The text provides general historical and intellectual context for each period and touches on the relevance of historical arts and ideas to modern culture. Content is presented in comprehensive segments that can be used to frame lessons. Chapters feature same-page footnotes to clarify content. Maps and timelines help readers relate the location and timeframes of artworks to the wider history of mankind. Chapter summaries and questions focus on key concepts and invite the reader to examine topics in greater depth and make their own inferences. Chapters are rich with images curated for their relevance and clarity. The glossary describes technical and abstract terms in a conversational style.
IMAGES provide clear views of the artworks. Sample artworks demonstrate the conceptual content of the text and enable the reader's first-hand evaluation. Image captions describe each work, including their location in international collections. Sample artworks include master works that exemplify cultural trends, as well as lesser known works. SIDEBARS highlight important topics or target related information. HISTORIC QUOTES poignantly express cultural and intellectual trends, and indicate that there is a background of historical literature that supports the study of art.
about the author
Sandra Shaw has studied art and its history for over 30 years. Her research and analysis of the arts of Western civilization inspired her lectures for college students and adult audiences. Her study of the history of philosophical ideas informs her writing. Sandra has a master's degree in Philosophy with studies in ancient Roman art and graduate studies in Hellenistic culture (University of Toronto). She augmented her knowledge of art with studio training at the National Academy of Art in New York. Her experience as a professional sculptor gives her writing an artist's first-hand perspective on the creation and meaning of art -- a feature that is new to the tradition of art history survey texts.
Author's Page at amazon
Author's Page at amazon
partial table of contents
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Why study art history? Art embodies a metaphysical view Where do art trends come from? Our study of art strengthens our understanding of history Historically, art has been viewed as crucially important in life What does this book explore? THE RATIONAL METHOD How do we know the history of art? CHAPTER 2 PREHISTORIC ARTS PALEOLITHIC ART Introduction Who invented art? Why did prehistoric people invent art? The Cro-Magnons' achievement Cave art represented stylized versions of Early Man's top values The nude female form embodied early ideas about human beings Prehistoric art is distinguished from tribal art NEOLITHIC ART Introduction Neolithic art reflects greater interest in human beings Idols and votives stood for nature spirits and their worshipers CHAPTER 3 MESOPOTAMIAN ART Introduction SUMERIAN BEGINNINGS Sumerian art was the foundation of Mesopotamian art The art of idolatry continued in the Bronze Age Sumerian Adorers followed the Neolithic canon, with innovations The Neolithic canon persisted for millennia The Sumerian art of hero-worship embodied an early idea of human greatness The Gilgamesh motif represented an ideal hero AKKADIAN AND BABYLONIAN DEVELOPMENTS Succeeding cultures inherited and altered Sumer's heroic vision The royal "portrait" was developed to embody strength and nobility Artists expressed ideas of the heroic and the divine The female figure embodied an ideal of feminine excellence Art gained from Bronze and Iron Age technologies After the Akkadian period, Mesopotamian art lacked fundamental innovation Certain ideas undercut artistic innovation after the Akkadian period THE ASSYRIAN FINALE The Mesopotamians equated human greatness with the power of divinely invested kings, and they dramatized this view in art Assyrian art portrayed a malevolent world CHAPTER 4 EGYPTIAN ART Introduction PREDYNASTIC ART The Nile dwellers inherited achievements from the Near East FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW KINGDOMS Egyptian art served the dead Egyptian art was other-worldly in its orientation Art reflected Near East influences, and closely imitated Egyptian writing Egyptian art denied change, and did not change for three thousand years Egypt's art formulae and methods inhibited innovation Egyptian artists attempted some degree of realism THE AMARNA PERIOD Artists responded to a revolutionary idea Amarna's studio produced the first Golden Age of Art After the Amarna Period, art returned to the old order and stagnated CHAPTER 5 THE PRE-GREEK ARTS OF THE AEGEAN & THE ARCHAIC PERIOD OF GREEK ART Introduction THE PRE-GREEK ART OF THE AEGEAN Cycladic art shows interest in the carved nude Minoan frescoes were focused on life Minoan sculpture reflected a view of man in command of beasts Mycenaean art transmitted Minoan art to mainland Greece -- without innovation The Greeks emerged from their Dark Age making rudimentary artworks THE GEOMETRIC PERIOD Geometric Period art features simple, rectilinear figures THE ARCHAIC PERIOD Art of the Archaic Period advanced in quality Advances in art reflected the Greeks' intellectual growth Painting advanced from geometric patterns to pictures of the visible world The Greeks' glorification of the nude reflects their man-worship Statuary began with, then abandoned, the Egyptian canon The ideal figure in action was developed in relief sculpture Development of the female figure in the Archaic Period |
CHAPTER 6 THE CLASSICAL AGE
Introduction Preamble: The evidence THE FIFTH CENTURY APEX Greek art in the Classical Age achieved a new order of excellence Classical Age art reflects the Greeks' devotion to reason Art gained objective standards and principles:
Art fully embodied an ideal of human efficacy The female nude emerged in the Classical Age Portraiture combined individuating realism with the Greek ideal Painting gained greater realism Drawing more accurately described a three-dimensional world Color and tonal values were developed to re-create solid, lit objects White-ground vases display the best of Classical Age painting The art of the Parthenon exemplifies the Greeks' Classical aesthetics The Classical sense of life THE FOURTH CENTURY SHIFT Skepticism altered the Classical outlook The Greeks began to lose sight of their heroic ideal CHAPTER 7 THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD Introduction HELLENISTIC ACHIEVEMENTS Art benefited from Classical learning and advances in the natural and applied sciences Painting continued to advance technically The climax of portrait sculpture Figures gained greater realism and expressivenenss HELLENISTIC DECLINE The Classical vision faded The Greeks surrendered their art CHAPTER 8 ROMAN ART Introduction Preamble: The sources Roman art was derived from Greek art ROMAN BEGINNINGS Pre-Republican tribes based their art on Greek models REPUBLICAN AND IMPERIAL ARTS The Romans gained from Greek culture Greek art often served as decoration and propaganda Art in the Early Empire Period reflected a view of the good life The Romans combined styles from different periods and cultures Roman art mixed borrowed styles with Naturalism The Roman view of life and the world Roman portraiture was based on Naturalism and the Stoic sense of life LATE EMPIRE PERIOD DEVELOPMENTS Portrait sculpture was altered Funerary painting embodied an ideal of the afterlife The Romans lost sight of the world: relief sculpture declined Art was transformed in Christianized Rome Pagan art was repurposed to represent Christian subjects and themes Changes in Christianized painting paralleled those in relief sculpture WINDOWS ON HUMANITY -- RECAP APPENDIX A: WHAT IS ART? The value of contemplating art APPENDIX B: WHY IS THERE ART?
GLOSSARY INDEX |
testimonials
In 2017, the WINDOWS ON HUMANITY manuscript was given to a focus group for feedback about the end-user reading experience. The group included freshmen college students, college teachers, adult professionals and a retiree. In addition to their input about the structure and clarity of the content, readers gave unanimously positive responses to the book. Here are some of their remarks:
" This book is magnificent and in itself has been fuel for the soul for me. ... Reading this has been a labor of love. ... My overall takeaway, is you have given me a profoundly deeper love of high Classical art, and the magnificence of man, and you have inspired me to dig deeper into my creative process and integrate all this new knowledge of art! Thank you. ... I want to share with you that the summary drew tears. Eloquent, magnificent and tragic."
-- Fawaz A., San Francisco, CA
"The book is immediately interesting as the text jumps right into evaluating artist's intentions and lifestyle based on the first known art. Prehistoric art never seemed interesting to me until reading this book and seeing what a true historian and art historian can find in a simple cave painting. The way the book builds on itself as each time period is addressed is fascinating. Being able to see the connections between Cro-Magnon art and Egyptian art and so forth connects not only art but history in a whole new way. ... I have learned an abundance about the major civilizations of western history, as well a better connection / understanding of the timeline of western history. Specifically, the relationship between Greek and Roman history, as well as the connection between Egyptian and Greek history." -- Marissa S., Indian Trail, NC
"The text and images create a nice balance -- too much of one or the other is not well suited for art history." -- Deanna M., Seattle, WA
"I was very impressed with the scope of this book and how well researched it is. And you have some great quotes! I learned a great deal from your book. It's very powerful and I find myself using this information as a base for news or art I run across. " -- Ginger C., Los Palos Verdes, CA
"The entire book was wonderful help in understanding not only art history, but history in general. ... Your subheadings were helpful indicators of what is to come. The questions at the end of each chapter are thought-provoking and challenging. I can't wait to have my own copy of this book!"
-- Catherine D., San Diego, CA
"All of the book is well integrated in support of the main ideas." Brad B., San Francisco, CA
"... I came away with what I think is a clear understanding of the value of the art in understanding each historical period ... I'd recommend it to art or history teachers at high school and college level and to homeschooling parents or other adults with a strong interest in art or history ... "
-- Molly J., Eastsound, WA
"I learned a lot about the origins of art, through the Cro-Magnon to Mesopotamia and Egypt. I found the role of economic / philosophical freedom in the development and destruction of art, as well as the relationship between the technical abilities and greatness of man, particularly interesting. ... I really enjoyed this text -- it was a very interesting and comprehensive look at the historic trends in art and in culture. ... I look forward to purchasing the finished copy." -- Hayden M., Tuscaloosa, AL
" This book is magnificent and in itself has been fuel for the soul for me. ... Reading this has been a labor of love. ... My overall takeaway, is you have given me a profoundly deeper love of high Classical art, and the magnificence of man, and you have inspired me to dig deeper into my creative process and integrate all this new knowledge of art! Thank you. ... I want to share with you that the summary drew tears. Eloquent, magnificent and tragic."
-- Fawaz A., San Francisco, CA
"The book is immediately interesting as the text jumps right into evaluating artist's intentions and lifestyle based on the first known art. Prehistoric art never seemed interesting to me until reading this book and seeing what a true historian and art historian can find in a simple cave painting. The way the book builds on itself as each time period is addressed is fascinating. Being able to see the connections between Cro-Magnon art and Egyptian art and so forth connects not only art but history in a whole new way. ... I have learned an abundance about the major civilizations of western history, as well a better connection / understanding of the timeline of western history. Specifically, the relationship between Greek and Roman history, as well as the connection between Egyptian and Greek history." -- Marissa S., Indian Trail, NC
"The text and images create a nice balance -- too much of one or the other is not well suited for art history." -- Deanna M., Seattle, WA
"I was very impressed with the scope of this book and how well researched it is. And you have some great quotes! I learned a great deal from your book. It's very powerful and I find myself using this information as a base for news or art I run across. " -- Ginger C., Los Palos Verdes, CA
"The entire book was wonderful help in understanding not only art history, but history in general. ... Your subheadings were helpful indicators of what is to come. The questions at the end of each chapter are thought-provoking and challenging. I can't wait to have my own copy of this book!"
-- Catherine D., San Diego, CA
"All of the book is well integrated in support of the main ideas." Brad B., San Francisco, CA
"... I came away with what I think is a clear understanding of the value of the art in understanding each historical period ... I'd recommend it to art or history teachers at high school and college level and to homeschooling parents or other adults with a strong interest in art or history ... "
-- Molly J., Eastsound, WA
"I learned a lot about the origins of art, through the Cro-Magnon to Mesopotamia and Egypt. I found the role of economic / philosophical freedom in the development and destruction of art, as well as the relationship between the technical abilities and greatness of man, particularly interesting. ... I really enjoyed this text -- it was a very interesting and comprehensive look at the historic trends in art and in culture. ... I look forward to purchasing the finished copy." -- Hayden M., Tuscaloosa, AL
Image Credits. Top: Marine procession. Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus. Image: Cassius Ahenobarbus (CC BY-SA 3.0). Bottom: Census Scene. Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus. Image: Jastrow. (CC PD-self)
