Write a paper on the Art pre history.

Write a paper on the Art pre history.
Visit a museum that houses artworks created between pre-history up to the mid-18th century
(Baroque).
• Kimble art museum
• DMA
Choose a specific piece of artwork (2 or 3 dimensional) and do a short formal analysis of the art
work. (800- 1000 words MAX)
• 4 RESEARCH SOURCES REQUIRED. (Google and Wikipedia are not allowed as sources)
• MLA format.

Guidelines for Analysis of Art
Knowing how to write a formal analysis of a work of art is a fundamental skill learned in an art appreciation-
level class. Students in art history survey and upper-level classes further develop this skill. Use this sheet as a
guide when writing a formal analysis paper. Consider the following when analyzing a work of art. Not
everything applies to every work of art, nor is it always useful to consider things in the order given. In any
analysis, keep in mind the following: HOW and WHY is this a significant work of art?
Part I – General Information
In many cases, this information can be found on a label or in a gallery guidebook. There may be an artist’s
statement available in the gallery. If so, cite (MLA style) in your text where you got the information. (One
paragraph)
1. Subject Matter (Who or What is Represented?)
2. Artist (What person or group made it? Often this is not known. If there is a name, refer to this person
as the artist, not “author.” Refer to this person by their last name, not familiarly by their first name.)
3. Date (When was it made? Is it a copy of something older? Was it made before or after other similar
works?)
4. Provenance (Where was it made? For whom? Is it typical of the art of a geographical

5. Location (Where is the work of art now? Where was it originally located? Does the viewer look up at it,
or down at it? If it is not in its original location, does the viewer see it as the artist intended? Can it be
seen on all sides, or just on one?)
6. Technique and Medium (What materials is it made of? How was it executed? How big or small is it?)
Part II – Brief Description
In a few sentences describe the work. What does it look like? Is it a representation of something? Tell what is
shown. Is it an abstraction of something? Tell what the subject is and what aspects are emphasized. Is it a
non-objective work? Tell what elements are dominant. This section is not an analysis of the work yet, though
some terms used in Part III might be used here. This section is primarily a few sentences to give the reader a
sense of what the work looks like. (One paragraph)
Part III – Form
This is the key part of your paper. It should be the longest section of the paper. Be sure and think about
whether the work of art selected a two-dimensional or three-dimensional work is. Only discuss the things
that apply to the artwork. (Two + paragraphs)
Art Elements
1. Line (straight, curved, angular, flowing, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, contour, thick, thin, implied etc.)
2. Shape (what shapes are created and how)
3. Light and Value (source, flat, strong, contrasting, even, values, emphasis, shadows)
4. Color (primary, secondary, mixed, complimentary, warm, cool, decorative, values)
5. Texture and Pattern (real, implied, repeating)
6. Space (depth, overlapping, kinds of perspective)
7. Time and Motion
Principles of Design
1. Unity and Variety
2. Balance (symmetry, asymmetry)
3. Emphasis and Subordination
4. Scale and Proportion (weight, how objects or figures relate to each other and the setting)
5. Mass/Volume (three-dimensional art)
6. Rhythm
7. Function/Setting (architecture)
8. Interior/Exterior Relationship (architecture)
Part IV – Opinions and Conclusions

Last Completed Projects