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A SHORT HISTORY OF WESTERN PAINTING西方繪畫藝術(shù)簡史 Art is influenced by the customs and faith of a people. 藝術(shù)是受著人民生活習(xí)俗和信仰的影響的。 Styles in Western art have changed many times. 西方的藝術(shù)風(fēng)格經(jīng)歷了多次變革。 As there are so many different styles of Western art, it would be impossible to describe all of them in such a short text. 由于西方的藝術(shù)風(fēng)格多種多樣，在短短的一篇課文里不可能進(jìn)行全面的描述。Consequently, this text will describe only the most important ones, starting from the sixth century AD.因此,本文只談及從公元6世紀(jì)以來最主要的幾種藝術(shù)風(fēng)格。The Middle Ages (5th to the 15th century AD) 中世紀(jì)(公元5世紀(jì)到15世紀(jì)) During the Middle Ages, the main aim of painters was to represent religious themes. 在中世紀(jì),畫家的主要任務(wù)是把宗教的主題表現(xiàn)出來。 A conventional artist of this period was not interested in showing nature and people as they really were. 一個(gè)傳統(tǒng)的藝術(shù)家無意于如實(shí)地展現(xiàn)自然和人物。A typical picture at this time was full of religious symbols, which created a feeling of respect and love for God. 那個(gè)時(shí)期的典型的繪畫充滿了宗教的(象)特征,體現(xiàn)出了對上帝的愛戴與敬重。 But it was evident that ideas were changing in the 13th century when painters like Giotto di Bondone began to paint religious scenes in a more realistic ,很顯然到了13世紀(jì)時(shí),觀念發(fā)生變化,像喬托這樣的畫家開始以一種比較現(xiàn)實(shí)的風(fēng)格來畫宗教場景。The Renaissance (15th to 16th century) 文藝復(fù)興時(shí)期( 15世紀(jì)到16世紀(jì)) During the Renaissance, new ideas and values gradually replaced those held in the Middle Ages. 在文藝復(fù)興時(shí)期,新的思想和價(jià)值觀逐漸取代了中世紀(jì)的思想和價(jià)值觀。 People began to concentrate less on religious themes and adopt a more humanistic attitude to life. 人們開始較少關(guān)注宗教主題而采取一種更人性化的生活態(tài)度。 At the same time painters returned to classical Roman and Greek ideas about art. 同時(shí)畫家們回到了羅馬、希臘的古典藝術(shù)理念上。 They tried to paint people and nature as they really were. 他們力爭如實(shí)地畫出人物和自然。Rich people wanted to possess their own paintings, so they could decorate their superb palaces and great houses. 富人們想擁有自己的藝術(shù)品并用來裝飾自己的高級宮殿和豪宅They paid famous artists to paint pictures of themselves, their houses and possessions as well as their activities and achievements.,他們出價(jià)聘請著名藝術(shù)家來為自己畫像,畫自己的房屋和其他財(cái)物,以及他們的活動(dòng)和成就。 One of the most important discoveries during this period was how to draw things in perspective. 在此期間,最重要的發(fā)現(xiàn)之一就是如何用透視法來畫出事物。 This technique was first used by Masaccio in 1428. 這一手法是1428年由馬賽其奧第一次使用的。When people first saw his paintings, they were convinced that they were looking through a hole in a wall at a real scene. 當(dāng)人們第一次看到他的畫時(shí),還以為是透過墻上的小洞來觀看真實(shí)的場景,并對此深信不疑。If the rules of perspective had not been discovered, no one would have been able to paint such realistic pictures. 如沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)透視法,人們就不可能畫出如此逼真的畫。 By coincidence, oil paints were also developed at this time, which made the colours used in paintings look richer and deeper. 巧合的是這一時(shí)期油畫顏料也得到了發(fā)展,它使得繪畫的色彩看上去更豐富、更深沉。 Without the new paints and the new technique, we would not be able to see the many great masterpieces for which this period is famous. 沒有新的顏料和新的(繪畫)手法,我們就不能看到很多使這一時(shí)代著名的杰作。Impressionism (late 19th to early 20th century)印象派時(shí)期( 19世紀(jì)后期到20世紀(jì)初期) In the late 19th century, Europe changed a great deal from a mostly agricultural society to a mostly industrial one. 19世紀(jì)后期,歐洲發(fā)生了巨大的變化,從以農(nóng)業(yè)為主的社會(huì)變成了以工業(yè)為主的社會(huì)。Many people moved from the countryside to the new cities. 許多人從農(nóng)村遷入到新城市。There were many new inventions and social changes. 有著許多新發(fā)明,還有許多社會(huì)變革。Naturally, these changes also led to new painting styles. 這些變革也自然而然地促成了新的繪畫風(fēng)格。Among the painters who broke away from the traditional style of painting were the Impressionists, who lived and worked in 。 The Impressionists were the first painters to work outdoors. 印象派畫家是第一批室外寫景的畫家。They were eager to show how light and shadow fell on objects at different times of day. 他們急切地想把一天中不同時(shí)間投射到物體上的光線和陰影呈現(xiàn)出來。However, because natural light changes so quickly, the Impressionists had to paint quickly. 然而由于自然光的變化很快,印象派畫家們必須很快地作畫,Their paintings were not as detailed as those of earlier painters. 因此,他們的畫就不像以前那些畫家們的畫那樣細(xì)致了。 At first, many people disliked this style of painting and became very angry about it. 起初,許多人都不喜歡這種畫法,甚至還怒不可遏。They said that the painters were careless and their paintings were 、粗枝大葉,而他們的作品更是荒謬可笑。Modern Art (20th century to today) 現(xiàn)代藝術(shù)(20世紀(jì)至今) At the time they were created, the Impressionist paintings were controversial, but today they are accepted as the beginning of what we call modern art.在印象派作品的創(chuàng)建初期,它們是存在著爭議的,但是如今己被人們接受而成為現(xiàn)在我們所說的“現(xiàn)代藝術(shù)”的始祖了。This is because the Impressionists encouraged artists to look at their environment in new ways. 這是因?yàn)橛∠笈晒膭?lì)畫家用一種嶄新的視角看待他們的環(huán)境。There are scores of modern art styles, but without the Impressionists, many of these painting styles might not exist. 如今,現(xiàn)代藝術(shù)風(fēng)格有好幾十種,然而如果沒有印象派,那么這許多不同的風(fēng)格就不可能存在。 On the one hand, some modern art is abstract。 that is, the painter does not attempt to paint objects as we see them with our eyes, but instead concentrates on certain qualities of the object, using colour, line and shape to represent them. 一方面,有些現(xiàn)代藝術(shù)是抽象的,也就是說,畫家并不打算把我們眼睛看到的東西如實(shí)地畫出來,而是集中展現(xiàn)物體的某些品質(zhì)特性,用色彩、線條和形狀把它們呈現(xiàn)出來。On the other hand, some paintings of modern art are so realistic that they look like photographs. 而另一方面,有些現(xiàn)代派的藝術(shù)作品卻是那么寫實(shí),看上去就像是照片。These styles are so 。Who can predict what painting styles there will be in the future?誰能預(yù)言將來會(huì)有什么樣的繪畫藝術(shù)風(fēng)格? 1 THE BEST OF MANHATTAN’S ART GALLERIES曼哈頓藝術(shù)畫廊薈萃The Frick Collection (5th Avenue and Street) 弗里克收藏館(第5大道和第70街大道之間) Many art lovers would rather visit this small art gallery than any other in New York. 在紐約,比起其他藝術(shù)館許多藝術(shù)愛好者都更樂意參觀這家小型藝術(shù)陳列館。Henry Clay Frick, a rich New Yorker, died in 1919, leaving his house, furniture and art collection to the American people. 亨利克萊弗里克是紐約的一位富豪,于1919年去世,把他的房子、家具和藝術(shù)收藏品全部留給了美國人民。 Frick had a preference for pretwentieth century Western paintings, and these are wellrepresented in this excellent collection. 弗里克對20世紀(jì)以前的西方繪畫有偏愛,而在這個(gè)陳列館的珍藏品里這些繪畫得以很好展出。 You can also explore Frick39。s beautiful home and garden which are well worth a ,它們是很值得一看的。Guggenheim Museum(5th Avenue and 88th Street)古根海姆博物館(第5大道和第88街交匯處) This museum owns 5,000 superb modern paintings, sculptures and drawings. 這家博物館擁有5000幅非常好的現(xiàn)代油畫