Early European and Colonial American Art, 200–1750 CE

Use point arches standard Mesoamerican constructions despite their rarity Mediterranean architecture.

Reliance solely post-and-lintel construction ignoring developments such vaulted ceilings domes originating older times.

Use classical columns capitals adapted suit larger scale required hold up extensive roofs common churches region.

Complete avoidance decorative friezes entablatures even though they widely prevalent ancient Greco-Roman buildings.

Representation of Christian iconography in art

Critique of European colonial expansion

Influence of Asian culture on European art

Illustration of scientific taxonomy in Renaissance Europe

Integration of Christian iconography with indigenous materials and techniques.

Strict adherence to pre-Columbian sculptural themes without European influence.

Use of traditional European bronze-casting methods without local influences.

Predominant adoption of naturalistic European sculpture forms by indigenous artists.

Rembrandt van Rijn utilized etching to mass-produce images meeting demand from bourgeois collectors

Peter Paul Rubens adopted etching techniques allowing him to reproduce his baroque paintings widely

Jan Van Eyck favored detailed etchings aligning his work with consumers’ desires for precision

Hieronymus Bosch utilized surreal imagery which gained popularity in newly established print markets

Less religious iconography and more secular themes were favored.

Increased use of classical mythology figures was prevalent in ecclesiastic art.

More grandiose and ornate depictions of Catholic saints were created.

There was a shift towards Byzantine styles and religious subjects in artistry.

To depict everyday life of common people

To teach religious stories and glorify Christian doctrines

To document historical events contemporaneous to their creation

To serve as functional doors for cathedral chambers

It depicted the king as a humble monarch by dressing him in simple clothing.

It showed Louis XIV's divine right to rule through his regal pose and luxurious attire.

The painting presented Louis XIV as an approachable leader mingling with his subjects.

It highlighted democratic principles by placing him within a group of common people.

Promote Protestant Reformation ideas through imagery

Showcase Spanish royal power and patronage

Depict the impact of the Black Death on society

Reflect democratic values in seventeenth-century Spain

Mission Church at San José de Tumacácori.

Chartres Cathedral stained glass windows.

Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius from Rome.

The School of Athens fresco by Raphael.

Societies were challenging religious authority by focusing on earthly rather than heavenly spaces.

The trend highlighted a growing preference for abstract thought over representational accuracy.

There was an increased emphasis on mathematical orderliness, mirroring societal valuing of rationality and science.

Artists desired to depict narratives from multiple viewpoints simultaneously as a form of visual complexity.