RHHISTORIC ART; OR. THl^. ORIGIN OF ART AS MANIFI:STI:I) 

 IN THE AVORKS OF PREHISTORIC MAN. 



By Thomas Wilsox, 

 Curator, J>ivi8io>i of Prehistoric Archwoloc/i/, U. S. Xational Museum. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Art aud science have, in these hiter days, come to he closely connected. Artists 

 of all countries aud periods are conditioned hy the circumstances in which their 

 lives are passed, and by the ideas prevalent among their iieoples. Thus Art history 

 becomes a function of social history, and can not wiselj' he disregarded by the 

 student of the history of the human race. Ancient works of art bring us into con- 

 tact with hygone peoples, and are often the only avenue wherebj^ we can approach 

 far-distant civilizations lying silent on the verge of time. Thus the study of Art 

 history becomes a branch of Scientitic inquiry. It has to be pursued by Scientific 

 methods. Its results are of Scientific importance. It is a chapter, and perh;ips 

 the most pregnant chapter, of the Science of (Prehistoric) Anthropology, which 

 seems destined in the near future to no insigniticant growth. (Conway: "Art and 

 Science.'") 



Art is the manifestation of liuraan emotion externally interpreted by 

 expressive arrangements of line, form, or color, or by a series of gestures, 

 sounds, or words, governed by particular rhythmical cadences.^ 



Art is the harmonious expression of human emotion.- 



These detinitions are general, and include all kinds of art. Emotions, 

 whether grave or gay, are thus manifested or interpreted; when by 

 color, the art is painting; when by line, drawing or engraving; when 

 by form, sculpture; and a combination of these may produce architec- 

 ture. When the emotion is manifested by gesture or rhythmic move- 

 ment it produces the dance; when by rhythmic notes, music; when by 

 rhythmic words, poetry. These are the exterior signs by which the 

 liuman emotions are manifested. 



Each art is the peculiar language of a more or less extensive category 

 of ideas and sentiments, to which it alone is able to give adequate 

 expression. 



Certain of the arts appeal to the brain through the organ o si^ht — 

 painting, sculpture, engraving, architecture, and the dance; while cer- 

 tain others appeal through the organs of hearing — poetry, music, and 



•Thore, Salon de 1874, title Delacroix; Ve'ron, Esthetics, p. 89. 

 2 W, J. Stillmau, " Old Rome aud the New." 



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