PAINTINGS IS ONE OF THE OLDEST ART FORMS

 

Dating back to the Ice Age, its purpose has changed over the course of the centuries. but any notions about creative genius or self – expression would have seemed very alien to the first artist. Many paintings were functional – they were used rituals, they honoured the dead, they glorified god. Their appearance varied considerably; some cave paintings and Roman still Byzantines, and the celts, found symbols a more powerful way of representing the everyday world. Perhaps the greatest difference lies in the status of the artist themselves. Painting did not offer a path to fame or riches – in the ancient world most artist were regarded as craftsmen. The identities of the greatest Christian artist are unknown to us while, ironically, ancient greek artist are well documented, but their finest paintings have not survived.