Narrative art

Some of the earliest evidence of human art suggests that people told stories with pictures.

A number of reliefs in the European Bronze Age Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin show monoscenic narratives of hunting or battle, the former sometimes indicating the movements of hunter or prey with indications of their tracks in a way similar to modern diagrammatic illustrations.

In Christian art the Life of Christ in art and Life of the Virgin supplied the most common subjects, based around the incidents celebrated in the major feasts of the church calendar, but the lives of saints gave many others.

In narrative art, the artist chooses how to portray the story, represent the space, and how to shape time within the artwork.

It can focus on geometric or abstract designs as well as the placement or arrangement of items within the artwork.

Simultaneous narratives concentrate on repeatable patterns and redundant systems with a focus on dualities.

Landscapes and portraits however do not meet the criteria of the definition provided, though they might be, depending on the artist's intention.

This monoscenic narrative illustrated on this amphora exemplifies a vital part of the Trojan saga.

Due to this tragedy, Achilles refuses to fight and from this many consequences arise that eventually could be linked to his demise.

A line of development of narrative art begins with William Hogarth, the English painter.

His monoscenic depictions of crucial moments in a narrative were taken up in the 19th century by other British painters.

Multiple actions and scenes are portrayed in a single visual field without any dividers.

[17] The narrative reflects a partisan Norman view of the events of the conquest of England.

Though the tapestry seems to be framed because it is separated by registers, horizontal lines, it is still a continuous narrative.

Synoptic narratives typically provide visual cues that convey the sequence, but still might be difficult to decipher for those unfamiliar with the story.

The medallion is meant to present the reader with the story of Buddha's previous birth as the elephant Chaddanta.

In the far left two giants attack Zeus in his chariot, who is no longer visible due to deterioration.

However, multiple actions are taking place in order to convey a passing of time in the narrative.

A progressive narrative is not to be interpreted as a group of simultaneous events but rather a sequence that is dependent on its location.

Diana and Callisto by Rubens , c. 1635. A classic history painting with a subject from Greek mythology . It shows the moment when the pregnancy of Callisto is discovered.
Laocoön and His Sons a sculpture of the 1st century BC or AD, with a scene from classical mythology
Scene of "Rich man giving a rice ball to the monk", from the 12th-century Japanese Shigisan-engi handscroll
The two sides of the Narmer Palette
16th-century Italian cycle of the Life of Christ in art in fresco with 21 scenes from Annunciation to Resurrection: Top row: Annunciation, Nativity, Visit of the Three Magi, Flight to Egypt, Baptism of Christ, Raising of Lazarus, Entry to Jerusalem, Last Supper. Middle row: Washing of feet, Agony in the Garden, Arrest of Christ, Trial before the Sanhedrin, Trial before Pilate, Flagellation. Bottom row: Ecce homo, Carrying the cross, Christ falls, Crucifixion, Deposition from the cross, Harrowing of Hell, Resurrection.
Trajan's Column is an example of a continuous narrative
Section of the Bayeux Tapestry
Illustrates how the medallion is meant to be read.
Detail of the north frieze of the Siphnian Treasury at Delphi
A page by Rodolphe Töpffer