Full Course Available for Purchase by 01-May-2019
History of the Arts - Course Overview
An Art History (Plus!) curriculum, designed for high school students as they desire to see the big picture of art through history. After studying individual artists for eight years, students are ready to engage in the discussion of how each movement or era began, how it was a part of the times they lived in, how each era changed the way the world was seen, most visible through the fine arts.
This class is primarily an Art History course, with a few extras. It is designed to do several things. Firstly, it is a one-term crash course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern times. Each week puts the spotlight on a new era in art. Secondly, this course highlighted one specific artist from the era of the week. It goes into the story of the artist’s life, and closely looks at one artwork. Thirdly, it takes a step back and asks who were the most influential artists of the era, and what were their most influential pieces of art reflecting that time. Lastly, we branched out to study how other artist expressed their world in each age – the poets, authors, composers, musicians, and film-makers. Understanding the literature and music as well as the art in each movement gives a fuller understanding to the spirit of the age.
Students are required to obtain a copy of 75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know by Terry Glaspey (Baker, 2015) Many chapters are required reading.
This curriculum includes 12 lessons, each requiring 90 minutes of instructions and discussion. Additionally, notebook work will take the student approximately two hours during the week before the next lesson. Alternatively, each lesson could be halved and taught in 24 lessons of 45-minute duration.
Students are to keep a hardcover, bound notebook for their weekly work. All assignments go into their notebook and must be works of careful attention.
The layout plan for each weekly assignment is the same.
Page 1 & 2 are an open spread page, as are 3 & 4. Each are set up in the same format for each week so that at a glance it is easy to figure out what era you are discussing, who the featured artist is, who are the most famous of the era, and what other bright lights were shining during this time.
Page 1: Name of Era – Description of the era; approximate dates
- Featured Artist – Written narration should include life story, how their art is a reflection of the time, how it is a reflection of their faith.
- Picture of Artist, name and dates.
Page 2: Title of Artwork
Artwork – full colour, fills 2/3rds of the page. Label it correctly:
- Title, date
- Thumbnail Prints of other important artworks by this artist.
Page 3: Most Famous Art of this Era.
Thumbnail prints of the most famous artists - (title, artist, and a brief description if necessary)
Page 4: Other Bright Lights in the Era.
List names from Literature, Drama/Film, Music History that you are acquainted with (draw from your lessons in Geography, Science, English, History, Book of Centuries, Picture Study, Composer Study etc.). Focus on one to write a paragraph about.
- Give a brief bio on their life
- Tell how their work reflects their time.
Write out one of the following from the era - be sure that the poem you choose to memorize and present is written in full.
- Hymn Lyrics
- Song Lyrics
- Excerpt, quote, phrase