Greece
Rome
Early Christian and Byzantine
Islam
vocab terms
100
nude marble statue from the archaic period that resembles statues from Ancient Egypt?
What is Kouros?
100
This bronze sculpture is a symbol of Rome's defeat of the Etruscans. It is the other statue in the book that shows us the orator's pose (addressing an audience). It is Etruscan only in name - he wears Roman clothing and is fully a part of Roman culture.
What is Aule Metele?
100
This mosaic from a Roman catacomb tells the story of Jonah and the whale. Its composition is circular and Jesus in the middle holds a lamb over his shoulders, which is important symbolism in Christianity.
What is The Good Shepherd, the story of Jonah?
100
This wall niche facing Mecca has calligraphic script from the Koran, (specifically the Sacred Pillars of Islam) and elaborate designs in blues, red and white.
What is Mihrab from Madrasa Imami?
100
1. a semicircular recess (or indent) in the wall of a church, commonly where the altar is 2. central area of a basilica (main body of the church) 3. the part of a church with an axis that crosses the body of the church like the cross part of the letter T
1. apse 2. nave 3. transept
200
marble statue from the Early Classical period that introduces the weight shift and naturalism that characterizes classical sculpture? This was one of the first statues to show us this newfound understanding of human anatomy and realism.
What is Kritios Boy?
200
This Frieze that we saw a presentation on is from the second style of wall painting and shows us the activities of a religious gathering that was comprised of mostly women. It is a tribute to a cult that worshiped the Roman god of wine. BONUS: show me some other second style wall paintings and tell me what makes them part of the second style.
What is Dionysiac Mystery Frieze? (also acceptable is Mystery Frieze of Dionysus) BONUS: replaces walls with the illusion of a three dimensional world. You're supposed to be able to picture the walls as an extension of reality.
200
This mosaic tells a bible story about Jesus miraculously providing stuff. The beardless Christ is depicted here wearing the regal colors purple and gold and has a halo around his head, symbolizing his divinity.
What is Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes?
200
Since Muslims cannot usually depict human or animal figures, many of their most elaborate art is done in the form of decorative writing. This leaf from their holy book is an excellent example done with ink and gold on vellum in the 9th century.
What is Koran Page?
200
1. a portrait or image of holy figures from the Byzantine period that are objects of veneration (meaning you would pray to them for various reasons) 2. the destruction of aforementioned images, in fear that the images themselves were seen as deities
1. icon 2. iconoclasm
300
bronze sculpture from the Classical period that was found off the coast of Italy. He is missing his shield, spear and helmet.
What is Riace Warrior?
300
This is a monument to the emperor who really liked propaganda and wanted to show everyone that he was awesome because he established a long period of peace in an empire that had formerly seen so much turbulence. We talked about this served another purpose - to inspire Romans to procreate and make lots of little Romans due to a low birth rate. Part II: a detail of this monument is a frieze that depicts recognizable members of the imperial family moving across the composition with children in tow.
What is Ara Pacis? Part II: What is the Procession Frieze?
300
This mosaic from San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy focuses on the leader of the church and state and his importance. This ruler emphasizes his royalty by showing himself wearing the regal colors purple and gold, and is depicted with a halo. The figures are all arranged purposefully according to status (look at their feet), and look directly at the viewer as if they were participating in worship at the church. By this point in history, artists had abandoned the classical ideals of correct anatomy and proportion and instead focus on depicting the divinity of the subjects. BONUS: another mosaic from San Vitale shows this person's wife, who is depicted similarly regal and divine, despite her status as a woman and former prostitute.
What is Justinian and Attendants? BONUS: What is Theodora and Attendants?
300
This work of art depicts a man trying to escape the King's wife who is chasing him around an elaborate complex of doors and various rooms. As he flees, he opens each of the seven doors and locks it behind him.
What is The Seduction of Yusuf?
300
blending of cultural images and ideas.
What is syncretism? examples? the swastika.
400
This marble sculpture epitomizes the High Classical obsession with perfection in human movement and proportion. The sculptor Polykleitos was very focused on making a perfectly cross-balanced composition. Hint: He is missing the object he is holding, which is part of the name of the piece.
What is Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)?
400
This building was a temple to all of the gods (which now serves as a Catholic church) to the Romans. It is built out of concrete, and mesmerized many people due to the elements of its construction including the great dome and its oculus, which illuminated the interior during the day. Also, give me the DATE!
What is the Pantheon, from 125 CE?
400
This small painting was an icon from the sixth or seventh century. It depicts Madonna and baby Jesus between two important figures. Each of these holy figures has a halo to symbolize their divinity. PART II: This is an icon from Russia that looks pretty beat us because it was carried all over the place, including battles. Madonna has a very unhappy look on her face because she knows the fate of her son, and the baby Jesus has a very adult face to show that he was never truly an innocent infant.
What is Virgin and Child between Saints Theodore and George? PART II: What is Vladimir Virgin?
400
What palace in Spain is intended to conjure the image of paradise? This building's courtyard has a fountain depicting beasts, which is unusual in Islamic art, given that artwork should not depict anything with a soul. PART II: This dome resembles the Hagia Sophia due to the row of windows that line the base. This dome catches and reflects sunlight due to the stalactite-like tiers that make up its ceiling. It has been described as "architectural lace".
What is Court of the Lions? FROM SPAIN PART II: What is the Muqarnas dome? Both from Palace of the Lions!
400
"weight shift" The Greeks figured out how to use this concept in the Classical period to make their sculptures wholly realistic.
What is contrapposto?
500
This building is perhaps the best known example of Greek architecture. It is part of a city that sits on a hill (this city is called the Greek word that means "high city", Acropolis) and was a temple to Athena.
What is the Parthenon?
500
This sculpture immortalizes the ruler who made history by shifting Rome's government from a Republic to an Empire. By using political and religious symbolism, he lets viewers know that he is the ultimate badass and breaks the fourth wall (meaning he addresses us, the viewers) with that really important gesture called the Orator pose. Also give me the DATE!
What is Augustus of Prima Porta, from 20 BCE?
500
This church is in Istanbul, Turkey and was later converted to a mosque. The ingenuity of the building's architecture allows for the illusion that the dome is floating on a string of light, provided by forty windows around the base of the dome. It was said to look as though it were suspended by a golden chain from heaven.
What is Hagia Sophia?
500
Perhaps the most recognizable building in Islamic art is this golden topped mosque in Jerusalem. This building sits on a site holy to all three religions of the Book. The significance is largely due to the stone that sits embedded in the middle of the mosque, which is significant to each of the Abrahamic religions. It is lavishly decorated with calligraphy in blue and gold.
What is Dome of the Rock?
500
Super-realistic. Depicting things exactly as they are in life in art. Seen in Roman sculptures of family members.
What is verism?
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