Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Arts and Humanities: Art of Asia
A landing page for a course on the art history of Asia.
Other
Color Theory and Mixing: 16 Lessons in Color Theory
Complete site on using color in art. Includes the history of color, psychology of color, color perspective, and how color changes depending on the medium used. Includes activities to help understand how to use color in your art.
Other
Medieval Bestiary: Animals in the Middle Ages
Bestiaries, illustrated volumes of animals and birds, were an expression of the intersection of the natural and religious worlds in medieval art and science. At this large database on the subject, you can learn about the symbolic content...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Cave Art Discovering Prehistoric Humans
By studying cave paintings, students learn about prehistoric cultures and the stories and ideas they wished to communicate to others through art. The lesson plan presented on this website aims to show young students the significance of...
The National Gallery (UK)
The National Gallery, London: Teacher's Notes Holbein
These notes provide useful background information about the featured painting 'The Ambassadors' and the artist as well as some suggestions on using the painting in the primary classroom, ideas for activities and cross-curricular links.
Canadian Museum of History
Canadian Museum of History: Gallery
This article is easy to navigate for students of all ages. Provides examples of Chinese artwork: plants and flowers, birds, mammals, landscapes, portraits, semi-realist landscapes, symbolic art, and abstract art.
Smithsonian Institution
Chant Avedissian: A Contemporary Artist of Egypt
When we think of Egypt we typically think of ancient mummies and hieroglyphics. This contemporary artists mixes both the ancient art of Egypt with modern everyday life. See his work and the symbols he likes to use.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Velasco, the Valley of Mexico
"The Valley of Mexico from the Hillside of Santa Isabel" by Velasco represents an important period in the development of Mexico's national identity and an important chapter in the history of Mexican art. Velasco's landscapes became...
The British Museum
The British Museum: Ancient India: The Buddha
Richly illustrated life of the Buddha, told in a click-through storybook format with an embedded glossary. Includes an interactive tour of the stupa of Amaravati, an early Buddhist shrine, and a matching game designed to instruct players...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Sacred Space & Symbolic Form at Lakshmana Temple Khajuraho (India)
The Lakshmana temple was the first of several temples built by the Chandella kings in their newly-created capital of Khajuraho. View some of the sculpted friezes contained within this temple.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Origins of Rock Art in Africa
Personal ornamentation and engraved designs are the earliest evidence of art in Africa and are inextricably tied up with the development of human cognition. View pictures and read about prehistoric art in Africa.
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis Inst. Of Arts: Navajo Ketoh (Wrist Guard)
Provides a brief history of the Navajo, along with text of a Navajo creation story, and a photograph of a ketoh, a wristguard worn by Navajo archers. Includes a discussion of the symbols in the ketoh, and how they reflect Navajo culture...
PBS
Pbs: Nova: Lost Treasures of Tibet: Deciphering Buddha Imagery
Interactive presentation explains the many ways that the Buddha is represented in art. Discusses the symbolic nature of his appearance as well as the Buddha's characteristic hand gestures, or mudras.
Jewish Museum
Jewish Museum: Immigration
The Jewish Museum presents a virtual array of artwork focused on Jewish immigration to the United States. Classroom activities are provided in conjection with art pieces.
Other
Egypt Art: Mythology Gallery Directory
This site is a personal site that chronicles Egyptian gods and goddesses, myths, battles, and legends which are discussed here in text that is easily understood. There is also a section on The Book of the Dead, a Glossary of Egyptian...
Other
The Face of the Beast Taotie Images
One of the great mysteries of ancient China is the origin and meaning of the terrifying animal faces on ancient Shang ritual vessels. This illustrated article surveys this Chinese bronze art decoration in great detail.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: What Was the Harlem Renaissance?
Professor Kate Rushin describes the Harlem Renaissance as a large social and cultural movement fueled by many factors in this video from A Walk Through Harlem.
Other
Atelier Saint Andre: Byzantine Iconographers
This site reveals the work of a living community of Byzantine iconographers--artists who create relgious paintings for the Eastern Orthodox Church. Features background information on their traditions, aesthetics, and techniques.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Augustus of Primaporta
The Augustus of Primaporta is one of the ways that the ancients used art for propagandistic purposes. View pictures of the statue and read about the symbolism it contains in this article.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Yayoi Kusama, Narcissus Garden
The pinnacle of Yayoi Kusama's success is the art installation "Narcissus Garden" where she staged stage 1,500 mass-produced plastic silver globes on the lawn outside the Italian Pavilion. View pictures and read the symbolism behind...
9/11 Memorial & Museum
National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Symbols of Remembrance [Pdf]
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum has partnered with the New York City Department of Education and the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education to develop a robust set of 9/11 lessons for K-12 classrooms. Each lesson is...
9/11 Memorial & Museum
National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Karyn's Wings: Symbolism [Pdf]
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum has partnered with the New York City Department of Education and the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education to develop a robust set of 9/11 lessons for K-12 classrooms. Each lesson is...
Other
Legh Mulhall Kilpin
Legh Mulhall Kilpin was an artist who emigrated to Canada from Britain in 1902, settled in Montreal in 1906 and worked there until his death in 1919. Although not well known, his art and legacy are quite remarkable. His works range from...
Other
Uss Constitution Museum: All Hands on Deck!
This thematic unit uses USS Constitution (nicknamed 'Old Ironsides') as a vehicle to explore a wide range of disciplines including language arts, reading, math, science, art, and social studies. Skills covered in the unit include...