During different periods in history, and in various countries and empires, art has survived and thrived under the dictates and auspices of the aristocracy, prelates, the kings and the court. It has been used as a symbol of power and wealth, since early times, and will probably continue to be. Only a few examples are given here.

The following are excerpts from `A World History of Art' by Gina Pischel.

 

Three thousand years B.C.

"... Egyptian civilization, from the earliest times, needed to create, and continually perfect, a comprehensive and efficient bureaucratic apparatus. By this means it could always exercise or ensure, by one means or another, strict control over the life of the society, the work of its people and the country's economic resources. Out of these circumstances, too, arose the need to establish the concept of the king-pharaoh as a god, elevated above the people, - wielding unlimited power and, most important of all, having complete possession of the land." (178)



Twelve hundred years B.C.

"Enriched by the spoils of war and by an unlimited mass of slaves, the Assyrian cities of Assur, Nineveh and Chorsabad found new magnificence. Homage to the gods was there in plenty. Multi-level ziggurats rose to unprecedented heights, with paths spiralling to the summit. But of equal importance was the glorification of the king and the grandiose pomp of the court. Immense royal palaces arose." (179)



Five hundred years B.C.

"... various Persian kings founded their splendid royal cities... royal palaces were built of stone and magnificently decorated." (180)
Around the time of the birth of Christ



Agustus "assumed the office of `pontifex maximus' or high priest... aware that he represented the greatest empire on earth, he was determined to give Rome the splendour due to her as `mistress of the world'. She must become the centre of culture and, through her art, exalt imperial might." (181)



Three hundred to eleven hundred years A.D.

"The fundamental and enduring characteristics of Byzantine art were splendour... it was the expression of aristocratic culture..." (182)



Fifteen hundred years A.D.

"... the full impact of Mannerism occurred in France, where it became an expressive medium for the Italian style and revived the splendours of the court and the great families." (183)



Fifteen hundred years A.D. in Spain

"It was the moment of wealth and power, but above all - particularly in so far as it concerned artistic development - it was the time when the court was at its most magnificent, the aristocracy strong and the prelates great. It is not surprising, therefore, that architects were called upon to create buildings which for size, appearance and magnificence has never before been attempted on such a scale. It also explains why decoration, which echoes Gothic and Moorish styles, predominated, at times covering the entire building, as for instance on the monastery of St. Mark at Leon." (184)



Sixteen hundred years A.D. in England

"Van Dyck's greatest portraits were painted in London; these were not only for the royal family, but for a large number of nobles and officials, who wanted to see themselves transfigured..." (185)
 

Seventeen hundred years A.D. in Vienna

"The imperial palace of Schonbrunn is Fischer Von Erlach's best known work." (186)




178. Gina Pischel, A World History of Art, (New York, Golden Press, 1968), p. 48
179. ibid., p. 31
180. ibid., p. 38
181. ibid., p. 130
182. ibid., p. 153
183. ibid., p. 454
184. ibid., p. 458
185. ibid., p. 515
186. ibid., p. 504