Met Museum’s “Timeline” is a portal to the world of art history
Have you ever found yourself in front of a painting in a museum, wondering about the societal influences on the painter, or what was going on in his part of the world when he made that particular painting – or, in fact, what was going on in the rest of the world at that time? If so, the Metropolitan Museum of Art had you in mind when its Timeline of Art History was created.
The Timeline of Art History is a chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world, as illustrated especially by the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. The Museum’s curatorial, conservation, and education staff—the largest team of art experts anywhere in the world—research and write the Timeline, which is an invaluable reference and research tool for students, educators, scholars, and anyone interested in the study of art history and related subjects. First launched in 2000, the Timeline now extends from prehistory to the present day.
The site is extensively indexed and cross-referenced. Say, for example, that you started with a time period: 1600 to 1800. Click on that period, and the first thing you’ll see is a map of the world with thumbnails of representative art from many different areas: a Vermeer from Europe, a gilt-painted screen from Japan, a Spanish-influenced Madonna from South America, wood tribal figures from Africa. Click on one of these, for example the Japanese screen, and now you have an expanded map of the area, with additional art examples from different cultures. Click on one of those, and now you have a more detailed timeline, with political background and historical highlights. You could happily wander forever, following a geographical path, a thematic path, a history path….whatever pleases you.
In addition, there are special topics in the Timeline which focus on specific themes in art history. They cover subjects such as artistic movements and periods, archaeological sites, empires and civilizations, recurrent themes and concepts, media such as painting, sculpture, and ceramics, and artists. Special Topics often demonstrate the cross-fertilization of civilizations and include additional maps, architectural site photography, and links to relevant websites. Each page has links to related themes and timelines.
The site is a garden of delights. You may never want to leave!
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