Art in the Stone Age
Stonehenge contains this type of architecture.
Post and lintel system
What is a block statue?
In ancient Egyptian sculpture, a cubic stone image with simplified body parts
Thera
What is a cella?
The chamber at the center of an ancient temple
Paleolithic cave paintings that show unusually advanced stylistic development, despite being older than any previously discovered mural paintings
Chauvet Cave Paintings
What is conceptual representation?
The representation of the fundamental distinguishing properties of a person or object, not the way the figure or object appears in space and light at a specific moment.
An ancient Egyptian rectangular brick or stone structure with sloping sides erected over a subterranean tomb chamber
What is Grave Circle A?
What is a stoa?
In ancient Greek architecture, an open building with a roof supported by a row of columns parallel to the back wall. A covered colonnade or portico.
Lascaux Cave Paintings
What was the form and function of the Lamassu?
The Lamassu were depicted with five legs in order to represent them from every angle. The side view of the Lamassu shows their legs in motion, while the front view represents them standing still.
What is repousse?
Formed in relief by beating a metal plate from the back, leaving the impression on the face.
In ancient Greek mythology, the battle between gods and giants
Gigantomachy
How were Stone Age animals represented?
What was the purpose of votive statuettes?
Votive statuettes represent the donors of the gods' gifts. These figures sometimes are inscribed with specific prayers to the deity on the owner's behalf.
What is fresco?
Painting on lime plaster, either dry or wet.
Describe how the Parthenon was the ideal Greek temple.
The Parthenon corresponded to the Greek ideal of a temple in its harmonic proportions that corresponded to a 9:4 ratio. This could be seen in the ratio of length to width, the number of columns on long and short sides, and the relationship between the diameter of the column and space between columns.
Describe the new innovations of the Neolithic period and their effect on art.
Humans began to domesticate plants and animals and to settle in fixed abodes. Many groups changed from hunters to herders and farmers and townspeople. Community living was organized in villages and cities. Agriculture and livestock became major food sources. These changes impacted art and architecture as cities were built that contained art and shrines, such as the Jericho heads from Jericho and the wall paintings found in Catal Hoyuk. Human action and narratives become central themes in art.
Describe the reign of Akhenaton and the Armana period and its effect on art. Give at least one example of the art of this period in your answer.
The reign of Akhenaton and the Armana period is characterized by a change in religion from worshiping the traditional gods to the sun disk Aton. Akhenaton was the son and sole prophet of Aton. This change in religion can be seen in the statue of Akhenaton from Karnak, Egypt. Akhenaton is represented with an effeminate body with curving contours.
Give three examples of changes in Hellenistic figurative sculpture (from Archaic and Early/High Classical sculpture):
- Sculptural interaction with environment (Nike of Samothrace)
- Baroque style of figures: swirling drapery, intense emotion, etc.
- New subject matter: reinvention of old themes (Seated boxer), sensuality (Sleeping satyr), and showing those who are aging or common