Culture
Interactions with Other Cultures
Materials, Processes, & Techniques
Purpose & Audience
Theories & Interpretations
100
The images show two views of the Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater).
The Flavian Amphitheater became commonly known as the Colosseum because of the
A) massive hill that was excavated to prepare the site
B) huge crowds that could be accommodated within the structure
C) monumental statue of an emperor that stood nearby
D) important name of the wealthy family that financed its construction
C) monumental statue of an emperor that stood nearby
100
The Umayyad architects of the Great Mosque of Córdoba borrowed from the city’s Roman architectural heritage by
A) incorporating columns from older structures
B) incorporating narrative relief carvings
C) using a dome to create a central open space
D) using coffers in the ceiling construction
A) incorporating columns from older structures
100
The foreshortening of figures in the Alexander Mosaic likely affected viewers in which of the following ways?
A) It reminded viewers of the chaos of everyday life.
B) It conveyed the climactic moment of a narrative.
C) It resulted in a detached scene that appeared to occur in the past.
D) It divided the narrative into a sequence of scenes.
B) It conveyed the climactic moment of a narrative.
100
The citizens of ancient Athens likely responded to the Athenian agora with a sense of
A) enjoyment, because it was primarily a place for elaborate spectacles to entertain the crowds
B) piety, because it was the central place of the city for religious worship and sacrificial ceremonies
C) civic pride, because it represented a place of communal governance and cultural identity
D) solemn respect, because it represented a place where prominent citizens were buried
C) civic pride, because it represented a place of communal governance and cultural identity
100
The physical properties of the Ambum Stone have led scholars to propose which of the following theories about the work?
A) It must have been transported via a long distance trade network, because the specific type of stone it was made from is not quarried locally.
B) It must have held special value for its owners, because creating it would have been extremely time consuming.
C) It must have been heavily used in its original context, because some areas of the work show significant wear from repeated grinding action.
D) It most likely formed part of a larger sculptural program from a temple excavated nearby.
B) It must have held special value for its owners, because creating it would have been extremely time consuming.
200
Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Image Source © Art Resource, NYLike other paintings of the Northern Renaissance, the work shown differs from Italian paintings of the same period in that it shows
A) more concern for unified lighting and less for the narrative moment
B) a greater emphasis on anatomical accuracy and less interest in drapery
C) more emphasis on wealth and status and less on religious piety or humility
D) greater interest in the depiction of details and less concern for perspective
D) greater interest in the depiction of details and less concern for perspective
200
Sandro Botticelli’s painting Birth of Venus and Albrecht Dürer’s engraving Adam and Eve are similar in that both artists
A) combined deep space with dramatic light to create emotional scenes
B) relied on classical models to represent the concept of ideal beauty
C) set their figures in exotic landscapes that were intriguing to the viewers
D) used decorative patterning and harmonious colors to create serene images
B) relied on classical models to represent the concept of ideal beauty
200
The New Orleans Museum of Art: Museum purchase and Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Q. Davis and the Stern Fund, 74.278
The painting shown can be attributed to the Master of Calamarca (La Paz School) because of its representation of
A) a dense network of hidden symbolism
B) a form of applied enconchado decoration
C) an angel in the dress of an Andean nobleman
D) a winged figure in the uniform of a Dutch soldier
C) an angel in the dress of an Andean nobleman
200
The temple at Angkor Wat was originally designed as a
A) manifestation of the connection between the king and divine power
B) center of worship for the faithful, including towers used for the call to prayers
C) site where pilgrims could gather to offer gifts of thanks or prayers for safety
D) monastery complex with entrances oriented toward the cardinal points
A) manifestation of the connection between the king and divine power
200
Scholars believe that the sculpture of Apollo from the Temple of Minerva at Veii served as a
A) votive statue buried as an offering to the Etruscan gods
B) part of group of figures depicting a mythological narrative
C) cult statue to be placed in the inner sanctuary of the temple
D) reliquary figure containing the remains of a venerated individual
B) part of group of figures depicting a mythological narrative
300
Borobudur was designed in the form of a giant mandala in order to
A) mirror the sacred cosmic order
B) create an unconquerable fortress
C) display the grandeur of Buddhism
D) accommodate large congregations
A) mirror the sacred cosmic order
300
Constantin Brancusi’s The Kiss reflects artistic trends in early-twentieth-century Modern sculpture by
A) utilizing new materials and techniques to depict traditional subject matter
B) focusing on mathematical proportions in order to depict ideal beauty
C) utilizing dramatic movement and expressions to elicit an emotional response
D) focusing on abstraction as a way to explore the inner nature of things
D) focusing on abstraction as a way to explore the inner nature of things
300
The Ardabil Carpet demonstrates continuity with Persian artistic traditions by featuring
A) geometric motifs produced through highly detailed embroidery
B) complex patterns created through intricate hand knotting
C) narrative imagery fashioned by finely pieced quilting
D) brightly colored designs painted onto densely woven fabric
B) complex patterns created through intricate hand knotting
300
The choice of imagery on the breastplate of the individual depicted was most likely intended to elicit which of the following responses from viewers?
A) Reverence for his status as only prophet of a single true deity
B) Appreciation of his services as protector of peace and prosperity
C) Empathy for his display of humility and earthly suffering
D) Fear of his power to hand out judgment and punishment to his people
B) Appreciation of his services as protector of peace and prosperity
300
The variety of t’oqapu designs covering the All-T’oqapu tunic indicates to scholars that
A) the garment was pieced together from many smaller pieces.
B) the garment was a royal tunic that symbolized the power of the Sapa Inka.
C) the garment was an offering to Inti, the Inka sun god and chief deity.
D) the garment was created during the colonial period and traded to the Spanish.
B) the garment was a royal tunic that symbolized the power of the Sapa Inka.
400
The Fang peoples of southern Cameroon sculpted byeri figures to guard containers holding their ancestors’ relics, in part because the Fang
A) were historically a nomadic people and did not practice earthen burials
B) believed the remains of their deceased would otherwise be stolen by colonists
C) believed in reincarnation and felt a responsibility to be symbolically present for the rebirth
D) wanted the sculptures to inspire spiritual believers to offer blessings and tithes
A) were historically a nomadic people and did not practice earthen burials
400
The Byzantine mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora from the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna differ from classical Roman mosaics in that they
A) focus on realism, illustrating the concern of Byzantine art for making religious subject matter more relatable
B) employ diagonal lines and stacked bodies, showing the focus of early Christian art on drama and emotional impact
C) portray secular leaders, demonstrating the preference of Byzantine art for historic over religious subject matter
D) favor stylized figures against a gold-leaf background, reflecting the emphasis of early Christian art on spirituality
D) favor stylized figures against a gold-leaf background, reflecting the emphasis of early Christian art on spirituality
400
©Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, USAMuseum purchase funded by The Brown Foundation, Inc. and the Brown Foundation Accessions Endowment Fund/Bridgeman Images
The combination of repeated patterns, vertical lines, and contrasting colors enabled the artist of the work shown to convey a sense of
A) stability and strength
B) dynamism and energy
C) dignity and calmness
D) aggression and chaos
B) dynamism and energy
400
The use of imported materials such as tiny colored glass beads and silk ribbons on Bandolier bags were intended to show the
A) desire for the bags’ materials to reflect light during ceremonial dances
B) extinction of the animals that had provided traditional materials
C) political power of the wearer, who received the materials as tributes
D) function of the bags as indications of the wearers’ social status
D) function of the bags as indications of the wearers’ social status
400
Although Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait has traditionally been interpreted as representing a wedding, the painting has more recently been interpreted as representing a
A) betrothal ceremony between a wealthy merchant and his future bride
B) ritual marking a young woman’s entry into a convent
C) family portrait of a father and a daughter in a domestic interior
D) biblical story regarding the Virgin Mary’s presentation at the temple
A) betrothal ceremony between a wealthy merchant and his future bride
500
Because of the context in which it was found, the beaker with ibex motifs from prehistoric Susa is believed to have functioned in a way that was most similar to which of the following works?
A) The black-on-black ceramic vessel by Maria and Julian Martínez
B) The Sika dwa kofi (Golden Stool) of the Ashanti peoples
C) The funeral banner of Lady Dai (Xin Zhui)
D) The 'ahu 'ula (feather cape) from Hawaii
C) The funeral banner of Lady Dai (Xin Zhui)
500
© British Library Board / Robana / Art Resource, NY
The cross-carpet page of the Lindisfarne Gospels demonstrates both continuity and change through the use of
A) indigenous styles to express new religious meaning
B) religious imagery in a secular manuscript to appeal to a wider audience
C) classical references to serve a propagandistic purpose
D) cloisonné enamel in lavish manuscript production to increase its worth
A) indigenous styles to express new religious meaning
500
© Terra Museum of American Art
The print shown can be attributed to Mary Cassatt because of its
A) vigorous realism and highly modeled shapes
B) neoclassical subject and angular composition
C) domestic subject and reference to Japanese prints
D) restricted tonalities and abstract figuration
C) domestic subject and reference to Japanese prints
500
Used by permission
Which of the following is a characteristic of the work shown that allows it to be attributed to the Edo peoples of Benin?
A) The carved wood, which is a material reserved for depictions of the oba.
B) The naturalism of the depiction, which shows personal characteristics of the oba.
C) The painted terra cotta, which represents the strength of the oba.
D) The beaded coral neck rings and crown, which were associated with the oba.
D) The beaded coral neck rings and crown, which were associated with the oba.
500
Scholars believe that the design of the Silla gold and jade crown suggests the form of a
A) sacred tree in the royal precinct
B) dragon to symbolize power
C) map of conquered territories
D) temple to show royal piety
A) sacred tree in the royal precinct