History of Sculpture, Part I

About this course:

Humans have made three-dimensional art ever since they were able to use tools. As civilization evolved, the look of this sculpture changed dramatically in size, materials, and use. In this course, we consider the development of European sculpture beginning with our earliest surviving examples of hand-held forms in ancient Greece. We then explore political art from the Roman Empire, the religious images from the medieval period, and the humanistic figures of the Early Renaissance.  We consider why sculpture was made, what its purpose was, and who paid for it. We also look at the influence of culture on this important evolution.