A SHORT HISTORY OF WESTERN PAINTING

What is Western art? It is hard to give a precise definition. As there have been so many different styles of Western art, it is impossible to describe them all in a short text. Perhaps the best way to understand Western art is to look at the development of Western painting over the centuries.

During the Middle Ages, the purpose of Western art was to teach people about Christianity. Thus, artists were not interested in painting realistic scenes. Their works were often primitive and two-dimensional, and the main characters were often made much larger than everyone else to show their importance. This began to change in the 13th century with Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337). While his paintings still had religious themes, they showed real people in a real environment. In particular, his paintings are set apart from other paintings by their realistic human faces and deep emotional impact.

New ideas and values gradually replaced old ones from the Middle Ages. As a result, painters concentrated less on religious themes. They began to adopt a more humanistic attitude to life. An important breakthrough during this period was the use of perspective by Masaccio (1401-1428). Influential painters such as Leonardo da Vinci(1452-1519), Michelangelo(1475-1564), and Raphael (1483-1520) built upon Giotto and Masaccio's innovations to produce some of the greatest art that Europe had ever seen.

Another innovation was the use of oil paints. With their deep colours and realism, some of the best oil paintings look like photographs. While painters as early as Da Vinci had used oil, this technique reached its height with Rembrandt(1606-1669), who gained a reputation as a master of shadow and light.

In subject matter, the emphasis increasingly shifted from religious themes to people and the world around us. Kings, nobles, and people of high rank wanted to purchase accurate pictures of themselves and the people they loved. Others wanted paintings showing important historical events or stories from mythology. Finally, most clients wanted paintings that were beautiful and interesting to look at.

The development of Western art slowed until the invention of photography in the mid-19th century. After that, paintings were no longer needed to preserve what people and the world looked like Hence, painters had to find a new way of looking at their art. From this, Impressionis emerged in France. The name of this new movement came from the painting by Claude Monet (1840-1926) called Impression, Sunrise. In this work, Monet's aim was to convey the light and movement in the scenethe subjective impression the scene gave him-but not a detailed record of the scene itself.

While many Impressionists painted scenes of nature or daily life, others, such as Renoir (1841-1919), focused on people. Unlike the cold, black-and-white photographs of that time period, Renoir’s paintings are full of light, shadow, colour, and life. He sought to show not just the outer image of his subjects, but their inner warmth and humanity as well.

After Impressionism, subsequent artists began to ask, "What do we do next?" Painters such as Picasso (1881-1973tried to analyse the shapes which existed in the natural world but in a new way, with Cubism. Others gave their paintings a realistic but dream-like quality. Still others turned to abstract art. What they attempted to do was no longer show reality, but instead to ask the question, “What is art?”

The text mainly tells us _______ major styles of _______________, showing the __________________ of it.

It is hard to give a precise     1     (definite) about what Western art is. Maybe the best way     2     (understand) Western art is to look at the development of Western painting over the     3     (century). The goal of Western art was to teach people about Christianity during the Middle Ages. New ideas and values     4     (gradual) replaced old ones from this period. During the Renaissance,     5     important breakthrough was the use of perspective. Another innovation was the use of oil paints. In subject matter, the emphasis     6     (increasing) shifted from religious themes to people and the world around us. The development of Western art     7     (slow) until the invention of photography in the mid-19th century.     8    , painters had to find a new way of looking at the art. From this, Impressionism     9     (emerge) in France. After Impressionism,     10     the artists attempted to do was no longer show reality, but instead to ask, “What is art?”

6 . 听双语新闻—语法填空

Dinosaur footprints discovered in Hebei

More than 4,300 dinosaur footprints have been discovered in Zhangjiakou, North China’s Hebei province, the most found in one spot in the country, according to the Department of Natural Resources of Hebei, which recently disclosed     1     (relate) survey results.

From the footprints,     2     (scientist) can determine how dinosaurs walked, calculate their length, weight and size, and even estimate their walking speed. The site in Zhangjiakou has surpassed the record set at a site in Sichuan province that has over 900 dinosaur footprints. The site has been covered up for     3     (protect) after experts carried out three-dimensional imaging and cast molds of the footprints, according to Hebei’s natural resources department.

7 . 听双语新闻—填词

Dinosaur footprints discovered in Hebei

More than 4,300 dinosaur footprints have been discovered in Zhangjiakou, North China’s Hebei province, the most found in one     1     in the country, according to the Department of Natural Resources of Hebei, which recently disclosed related survey results.

From the footprints, scientists can     2     how dinosaurs walked, calculate their length, weight and size, and even     3     their walking speed. The site in Zhangjiakou has surpassed the record set at a site in Sichuan province that has over 900 dinosaur footprints. The site has been covered up for protection after experts carried out three-dimensional imaging and cast molds of the footprints, according to Hebei’s natural resources department.

9 . ANCIENT CHINESE ART ON SHOW

The Richfield Museum of Fine Art is proud to present our new exhibition, “From Shang to Qing: Chinese Art Through the Ages.” Join us as we explore more than 3,000 years of wonderful art from the Middle Kingdom. From bronze bowls to ceramic vases, and jade sculptures to ink wash paintings, our goal is to display the Chinese artistic genius from ancient times.

The highlight of this exhibition is the painting Clearing After Snow on a Mountain Pass, one of the great works of Tang Yin(1470－1524). Born during the Ming Dynasty, Tang sought and failed to gain entry into the civil service, so he turned to painting instead. In time, he gained recognition as one of the greatest artists China has ever known. This painting, showing high mountains, trees, and houses covered in snow, was made with extraordinary skill. Though it is over 500 years old, it looks as fresh and full of life as the day it was created.

Also of primary note is a collection of nearly 100 bronze objects from the Shang Dynasty(1600 BCE－1046 BCE). While the artists who made these great works are not known, they showed great skill in creating these beautiful pieces. Some of the items on display are thought to have come from the collection of Emperor Qianlong(1711－1799), a great admirer of Shang Dynasty bronze.

Finally, we have many fine examples of Tang Dynasty (618－907) sculptures. Most of these are of Buddhist origin. Even though Buddhism entered China much earlier, it did not really begin to show expansion until the seventh century.

During this same period, trade along the Silk Road also boomed. Chinese sculpture thus found itself highly influenced by Buddhist art brought from India and Central Asia through the Silk Road. These works were intended to spread Buddhism and they are of exceptional beauty and quality. Looking at the faces of the figures in these sculptures, one sees the faces of the past. History is brought to life.

This is just a small taste of what is in store for you in this exhibition. We guarantee that “From Shang to Qing: Chinese Art Through the Ages” will transport you to another time with its amazing collection of works.

“From Shang to Qing: Chinese Art Through the Ages” will run until November 25.

Opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from Tuesday to Sunday (the museum is closed on Mondays). No one will be admitted into the exhibition after 4:30 p.m.

Admission: $10 for adults: $8 for students; $5 for children under 12; free for children under 5.

No photos or food and drink are allowed in the museum.