The Art Docent Program
Quick Review
Docent Directions: Please access the timeline for this review. Access the World Map between each period of Art and Point to the location where art came from for that period.
Art of the Caves Review
Q. Where was some of the first art found approximately 100,000 years ago?
A. Some of the first art was found at the site of the Blombos Cave in South Africa on the continent of Africa. (point to this on the map)
Q. What was some of the first Art? Was it cave paintings?
A. No, It was a piece of red ocher with diagonal lines carved into it probably with an awl. (explain diagonal by having students make an X in the air) Sea shell beads with a hole in each, probably strung as bracelets or necklaces were also found.
Q. Where were the first cave paintings found approximately 32,000 years ago?
A. They were found on the continent of Europe in Southern France at Lascaux and Chauvet and Northern Spain at Altamira (point to this on the map)
Q. What did Cave Artists paint on the cave walls?
A. They painted hyenas, auroch, rhinos, woolly mammoth, deer, lions, mountain goat, ibex, horses, bulls, and cave bear. Man may have hunted the bear, but had to defend himself from it as well. Early man may have drawn the bear as therapy. They also painted handprints, both positive and negative, and the human figures, which were portrayed as stick figures.
Q. What colors did these Cave Artists use?
A. The colors they used were black from manganese oxide or charcoal, red, orange, yellow, and brown from ocher found in the earth, white, from the mineral magnesium, and a little lavender from berries
Q. Why did early modern man paint this art?
A. They possibly painted this art so they would have a successful hunt, maybe if they drew many animals the animals would multiply and they would have successful hunts to come. They may have wanted to tell their history for the members of their family who came after them or maybe they drew it as therapy, for example, if they drew the cave bear, maybe they would not be as afraid of it.
African Art and Culture Review
Q. From our Cave Art Class do you remember where some of the first Art known to have been created by man was discovered?
A. It was discovered on the southern tip of what is now the continent of Africa at the Blombos Cave – This art was from approximately 100,000 years ago.
Q. What was this Art?
A. A piece of Red Ocher with diagonal lines carved into it, (explain diagonal by having students make an X in the air) sea shell beads with a hole in each, and sharp awls which are some of the first tools used by early modern man.
Q. From our African Class what was Africa known as?
A. It was known as the “Cradle of Humanity” where modern man first started out.
Q. The African Human Creation Story about where Humans came from and the creation of the Earth plays a huge part in African Art. How are these stories told?
A. They are told by word of mouth from one generation to the next.
Q. What did the African Societies believe?
A. They believed in the idea of people living in harmony with one another and with Nature and the Spiritual World.
Q. What medium or material was Early African Art made out of?
A. Most Art was made of wood because it was the most plentiful material that they had.
Q. What did they make out of wood?
A. They made sculptures, which are carvings, of Masks, Statues of their ancestors, or family members, and of animals.
These Sculptures were given Magical Powers to protect the African People and to help them get what they needed. Africans believed that by magic, they could control the forces of nature, which were all around them and by doing this it would make their lives easier and safer.
Q. Who gave the Sculptures Magical Powers?
A. Special Africans known as Chiefs, Magicians, or Shaman were known to give the sculptures magical powers. They are types of medicine men or witch doctors who declared that the magical power entered the carving.
Q. Early African People were very superstitious. Do you know what Superstitious means?
A. Superstitious means that Early African people were afraid of the unknown. So, they made wooden fetishes or small symbols that they carried in a bag and wore around their necks. These fetishes were believed to have magical powers. So, when they wore them, they were protected from evil spirits.
Native Americans of North America the “American Indian” Review
Native Americans came to the America’s around 14,000 years ago. Their cooperation with one another within their tribe or clan helped them survive just like early modern man. Same as early Africans, they told their history from generation to generation by word of mouth by storytelling. They were very superstitious like the Africans as well. They made sculptures and other objects, like fetishes, to protect them from the evils of everyday life. Their Chiefs and Shaman gave these objects special magical powers to protect them.
Q. What art did the “Native American Indians make?
Different art became important to Native American Indians from four separate areas of America:
- Native Americans from the Northwest were great wood carvers. Totem Poles were their form of Art.
. - Natives from the Southwest were great potters, so, pottery and basket weaving were their Art.
. - The Plains Indians from middle of America were known for their Navaho blanket weaving and pictographs, which were drawings that told their stories on leather hides.
- Natives from the Northeast made Ohta dolls from wood and joined in yearly Doll Dances to ask for good fortune and good health. They also made other trinkets, which they wore around their necks to protect them from evil spirits.
. - All of these natives also made beautiful baskets.
It is important to note that most of this Native American Art was originally not made as Art, but to assist them with their everyday life. As Europeans began to appreciate the handiwork of the Native American objects, they began to collect them as Art. This trading between the Natives and Europeans only happened within the past few hundred years.
Ancient Egyptian Art and Culture Review
Q. What do you think is the difference between Pre-historic History and Ancient History?
A. Pre-historic History was not written down, for Ancient History we have written records. For Example, Cave Art is Pre-historic history and the history of Ancient Egypt is Ancient history.
Ancient Egypt began approximately 5,000 years ago. (point to Egypt on the timeline)
Q. On what continent is Egypt?
A. on the continent of Africa (point to this on your map)
Q. What is the name of the river that runs through Egypt?
A. the Nile River
Q. What was this river known as to the Ancient Egyptians?
A. their “Life Source”
Q. Why was it their “Life Source”?
A. It provided the Ancient Egyptians with drinking water, food, transportation, a means for bathing, and it overflowed to nourish their crops.
Q. What colors did the Ancient Egyptians use in their art that were inspired by the Nile River?
A. blue and green
Q. What is the name of the Egyptian writing?
A. Ancient Egyptian writing is called hieroglyphics or sacred carvings. This writing was carved into stone or written on papyrus paper by scribes.
Q. What is a Cartouche?
A. A Cartouche or nameplate is an oval shaped form that has hieroglyphics carved into it. The hieroglyphics is usually the name of a Pharaoh. It was an oval shape because it was believed to have been a symbol that the Pharaoh ruled all that the sun encircled.
Q. Does anyone remember the name of the Pharaoh who made art more real-like and worshipped only one god?
A. Pharaoh Akhenaten
Q. Who was his beautiful wife and his son?
A. His wife was Queen Nefertiti and his son was King Tutankhamun or King Tut.
Q. How did the Ancient Egyptians draw their people?
(Have your students get up and demonstrate how the Ancient Egyptians drew with you)
A. They drew the body, with their neck to their waist, or torso, facing front, their head in profile, to the side, and their legs to the side, left foot first.
Q. Why did the Ancient Egyptians draw this way?
A. They drew this way because the “After Life” was the most important thing to the Ancient Egyptians. They wanted their souls to live forever. By drawing the body this way they were saying:
“Here notice me,” give me the correct “ka” so that I can live in the spiritual world for all time to come.”
Art and Culture of Ancient Greece Review
Q. On what continent is Ancient Greece?
A. Europe (Point to this on the map)
Q. Everything about Ancient Greek Art was about what?
A. It was about the Perfect or Ideal – The Greeks believed that the body should be portrayed like their gods, perfect or ideal; so, they made their Art like this. And we say “Greek Art is Ideal.”
Q. How did the Ancient Greeks feel about themselves?
A. They thought that they were very civilized.
Q. How do we know so much about Ancient Greek life?
A. by their pottery that was dug up
Q. What stories did the Ancient Greeks tell on their pottery?
A. They were decorated with pictures showing myths and stories of historic events, great battles, sporting events or Olympics, about their gods or heroes, about love, and everyday life.
Q. Was Ancient Greek Art colorful?
A. Yes, although most Ancient Greek Art that exists today is not very colorful because of its age. Ancient Greek Art was very colorful.
Q. Did the Ancient Greeks sign their art works?
A. Yes, they were known as the first people to sign their art work, and the first to give women artists recognition as well.
Q. What were some things that the Ancient Greeks developed?
A. The Ancient Greeks developed democracy (ruled by many), mathematics, philosophy, and the Hippocratic Oath for Doctors.
Q. What was more important than riches to the Ancient Greeks?
A. “Fame and Glory” was more important than riches to the Ancient Greeks, so that their names could live on.
Art and Culture of Ancient Rome Review
The Ancient Greeks were taken over by the Ancient Romans. The Romans copied Greek art and prized it. As the Greek art was Ideal, the Romans made their look art more real.
Q. Where is Rome?
A. Rome is a city on the continent of Europe in the country of Italy. It is that country that is shaped like a boot. (Point to this on the map)
Q. Ancient Romans were great builders. What did they build?
A. They built great roads and structures that still exist today such as: The Coliseum, Roman Forum, temple Pantheon, and aqueducts to transport water.
Q. What Art would you find in Ancient Roman Times?
A. You would find Portraits, which are paintings of people that looked exactly like them. You would find Bust Sculptures, which are carvings, probably out of marble, of people showing their head to their chest only.
You would find Sculpture Reliefs, which are figures or forms raised from a flat background. You would find Frescoes, which are paintings where the paint is applied to wet plaster and sometimes waxed over to give them a shiny protective coating. This technique made the Frescoes last longer. Lastly, you would find many Mosaics, which are made from colorful pieces of glass, ceramic tile, or stone placed together to make a picture and then grout or mortar, a type of cement, is used to put in the empty spaces to keep the mosaic together. Most of this art was displayed in public places, such as baths. Some were displayed in private homes.
Q. What is another name for the city of Rome?
A. Another name for the city of Rome is “Eternal City,” which means the city will last forever.
Docent: Point to these visuals on the timeline: Ancient Roman Portrait of a Man and Ancient Roman Sculpture Augustus of Prima Porta on the timeline. Notice that the Romans made their art look more real! Now compare this Roman Art to the Ancient Greek Sculpture Charioteer on the timeline. The features of the face and clothing on this sculpture are perfect or ideal. This is why we say that “Greek Art is Ideal and Roman Art is Real.”
Docent: Have the students repeat this. “Greek Art is ‘Ideal’ and Roman Art is ‘Real.’ ” Have them repeat this saying. Greek “Ideal” – Roman “Real”
Docent: Explain that by knowing this fact, when they go to a Museum, they will be able to distinguish between Ancient Greek Art and Ancient Roman Art and feel proud that they know the difference.
Q. Who remembers what Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman Periods of Art are called?
A. Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman Art are referred to as the Classical Period of Art.
Art and Culture of The Middle Ages Review
Q. On what continent do we find Art of The Middle Ages?
A. throughout Europe
Q. What kind of government was there during The Middle Ages?
A. Feudalism system with Kings, Barons, and serfs
Q. What did an apprentice do?
A. He was a person who worked under a master to learn a trade.
Q. What did the knights wear when they went into battle?
A. shining armor with the coat of arms on it to represent the King that he was fighting for
Q. What kind of books were written at this time?
A. Books were written by monks and nuns in Scriptoriums. Many of these books are called Illuminated Manuscripts because they were painted with pictures using gold and beautiful colors.
Q. Besides books, what was the most important Art of The Middle Ages?
A. The most important Art from The Middle Ages is: stained glass windows, hand woven tapestries, mosaics, murals, and statues.
Q. What is Stained Glass?
A. It is pieces of brightly colored glass held together by metal to make a picture.
Q. What is a Mosaic?
A. It is many small pieces of colored stones, paper or other material that are placed together to make a picture.
Q. Where would you find this artwork during The Middle Ages?
A. This artwork would be found inside the large Cathedrals.
Art and Culture of The Renaissance Review
*Q. What does the word Renaissance mean?
A. The word Renaissance is a French word that means “rebirth” in English.
*The “rebirth” of what?
A. The “rebirth” of the Classical Period of art.
*What is the Classical Period of art?
A. The Classical Period of Art is Ancient Greek and Roman Art. The great artists of The Renaissance period looked to the past for inspiration. They studied the works of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. They began digging up the remains of the buildings and statues from these great civilizations, which had been buried for thousands of years and artists tried to copy these works and achieve their realism.
*Q. How long did The Renaissance last?
A. The Renaissance lasted from the 1300s to the 1600s A.D.
*Q. Where did the Renaissance take place?
A. The Renaissance began in Italy, especially in Florence, Italy and then spread throughout the continent of Europe. (Docent: Please point to these locations on the map)
Q. Who was the young shepherd boy who became a great artist and the “Father of The Renaissance.”
A. His name was Giotto and he was the first artist to change the way of painting from using flat images to using more lifelike images.
*Q. Who were the three most important artists of The High Renaissance Period?
A. The three most important artists of The High Renaissance Period were Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo.
Q. What are these artists famous for?
A. Leonardo is famous for his portraits, especially that of the Mona Lisa.
Raphael is famous for many paintings. He had a very agreeable nature, even his portraits show people with calm, peaceful faces, especially those of Madonna and Child.
Michelangelo is probably the most famous Sculptor of all time. One of his famous sculptures is the Pieta, a sculpture of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, holding his body in her arms. Other famous sculptures by Michelangelo are the statues of David and Moses. He is also known for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy.
“The Age of Impressionism” Review
Q. Where and when did “The Age of Impressionism” begin?
A. “The Age of Impressionism” began in the middle of the 1800s in Paris, France. (Docent: Point to this location on the map)
Q. What does “The Age of Impressionism” mean?
A. The Age of Impressionism was a time when certain artists in France broke the rules from the way painting had been done for hundreds of years and chose to paint using new techniques or ways of painting. Instead of sketching their subjects first and then going back to their studio to paint using a black canvas and blending all their colors, the Impressionist artists painted directly on a white canvas outdoors capturing the ‘real’ world and the way the sun shone on their subjects at a glance.
Q. What was the new invention that is said to be largely responsible for the “Impressionist” style of painting?
A. The soft metal paint tube, invented in 1841 by John G. Rand, allowed artists to carry already prepared colors out of doors.
Q. How did the Impressionist artists paint that was different from any painting before?
A. The Impressionists had the idea of painting directly from nature, taking white canvases into an open air location. This is called “en plein air” and then they completed a picture on the spot. Before artists sketched their images and brought them back to the studio to paint them.
Q. Who were the first Impressionist artists?
A. Monet is known as “The Leader of Impressionism.” The other artists were Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley, Degas, and Berthe Morisot. All showed their work at their first exhibit in 1874.
Q. What painting by Monet is responsible for the name “Impressionism.”
A. Monet’s Impression: Sunrise is where the name “Impressionism” came from.
Q. Was Impressionism the beginning of “Modern Art?”
A. Yes, Impressionism is the beginning of “Modern Art.”
Q. Why do we say Seurat-Dot?
A. Seurat is the Neo-Impressionist or New-Impressionist who developed “Pointillism.” This is a way of painting by painting small dots of pure color intended to combine and blend instead of brushstrokes.
Q. Which Post-Impressionist or After-Impressionist artists have we learned about?
A. Vincent Van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin were two famous Post-Impressionist painters and they were also good friends with some of the Impressionists, and also very good friends with each other. Gauguin and Van Gogh often painted together. Gauguin loved to paint people and exotic tropical scenery from the Island of Tahiti.
Van Gogh painted thick dashes and swirls of color. He painted interiors, or inside paintings, portraits or pictures of people, and many landscapes, which are paintings from nature or outdoors.
Hispanic and Latin American Art and Culture Review
Q. What do we know about the first people who came to Latin America from Europe and Asia?
A. The first people who came to Latin America from Europe and Asia built great palaces, painted large murals, and made many sculptures. The Olmec sculpted small figurines from jade and colossal heads from stone. The Maya are known for their circular calendar, which was used for farming. The Aztec decorated skulls of their captives, made sculptures, large mural paintings on the walls of their temples, masks, pottery, and tattoos.
Gold was very important to the Inca. They made many gold plates to represent their Sun god called Inti. The Inca were known for their architecture, especially for the architecture of Machu Picchu Palace in Peru.
Q. What Art did the Europeans bring with them when they landed in Latin America?
A. The Europeans brought with them the Art of Portrait Painting when they landed in Latin America.
Q. Who are some of the most important Latin American Artists from the Twentieth Century?
A. One of the most important artists from Mexico is Frida Kahlo. She is a Surrealist Artist who painted many portraits of herself showing symbols of suffering in her own life. Diego Rivera, who was the husband of Frida Kahlo, is also from Mexico and is famous for his large murals about Mexico.
Q. What type of Art might we see from Latinos who were from Latin America, but now live in the United States?
A. Latinos who live in the United States have fond memories of the countries they leave behind. Many times Latino Artists will paint Genre paintings of everyday life from their old country. These paintings may include their old country houses, churches with steeples from their old country, people, and animals that the artists may remember.