Art of Europe
European art spans prehistoric cave paintings to postmodern movements.
The art of Europe, also known as Western art, encompasses the history of visual art in Europe. European prehistoric art started as mobile Upper Paleolithic rock and cave painting and petroglyph art and was characteristic of the period between the Paleolithic and the Iron Age. Written histories of European art often begin with the Aegean civilizations, dating from the 3rd millennium BC, but a consistent pattern of artistic development becomes clear only with Ancient Greek art, which was adopted and transformed by Rome and carried across much of Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.
- field
- Visual art
- known_for
- Encompassing prehistoric cave painting, Classical Greek sculpture, Renaissance painting, and modern movements
- periods
- Prehistoric, Classical, Byzantine, Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Modern, Postmodern, New European Painting
Lore & Background
European prehistoric art is divided into Stone Age, Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age periods. Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin focuses on human figures in groups, depicting battles, dancing, and hunting. Prehistoric Celtic art survives mainly as high-status metalwork with abstract designs, and after Roman conquest it largely vanished except in the British Isles, where it revived in the Insular style of the Early Middle Ages.
Reader's Guide
The art of Europe is significant as a continuous tradition that shaped global visual culture. Its influence began with Ancient Greek art, adopted and spread by the Roman Empire across Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. The Classical period's influence waxed and waned over two thousand years, re-emerging in the Renaissance and later in Neo-Classicism and Post-Modernism. Before the 1800s, the Christian church was a major source of commissions, though themes from classical mythology and great wars also appeared. Most art of the last 200 years has been produced without reference to religion, often influenced by political issues. European art is arranged into overlapping stylistic periods including Classical, Byzantine, Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Modern, Postmodern, and New European Painting. The Minoan civilization of Crete is regarded as the oldest civilization in Europe, and its art is marked by imaginative images and a sense of movement, though it is often less naturalistic than Ancient Egyptian art. Ancient Greek marble sculpture is often described as the highest form of Classical art, and pottery painting provides insight into society.
Did You Know?
- Minoan art from Crete is regarded as the oldest civilization in Europe and often depicts marine life in a 'Marine Style' of pottery.
- Before the 1800s, the Christian church was a major influence on European art, providing the major source of work for artists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Art of Europe in the Art Movements & Styles canon?
Art of Europe is the umbrella entry covering the entire visual-art tradition of the European continent, from prehistoric cave and rock paintings all the way through postmodern and New European Painting. It is the broadest single category in the 1–19 list and is often simply called Western art.
Which periods does Art of Europe span?
The canon runs from the Paleolithic and Iron Age through Classical, Byzantine, Medieval, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, Modern, Postmodern, and New European Painting. Written histories usually start with Aegean civilizations in the 3rd millennium BC, though a clear developmental line only emerges with Ancient Greek art.
Where did Art of Europe actually begin?
Its earliest forms are mobile Upper Paleolithic cave paintings, rock art, and petroglyphs made by prehistoric peoples. A more recognizable and continuous artistic tradition appears with Ancient Greek art, which Rome later adopted, transformed, and spread across Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.
What is Art of Europe most famous for?
Fans most often point to prehistoric cave painting, Classical Greek sculpture, Renaissance painting, and the succession of modern movements as the defining highlights. Together these achievements give the entry its reputation as the foundational canon of Western visual culture.
How does Art of Europe connect to art outside Europe?
Ancient Greek artistic conventions were absorbed and reworked by Roman culture, then carried into much of North Africa and Western Asia. That cross-regional transmission seeded patterns that later European periods—Byzantine, Medieval, Renaissance, and beyond—continued to build upon.
More in Art Movements & Styles 1-19
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