Art Appreciation Exam 3
Pendentives
A triangular section of a masonry hemisphere, four of which provide the transition from the vertical sides of a building to a covering dome. (use in Hagia Sophia)
COLOSSAL FIGURE OF AKHENATEN From the temple Gempaaten. Sandstone with traces of polychromy, Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
Akhenaten: king who changed traditional Egyptians practices to monotheism. Sandstone
Mosaics
An art form in which small pieces of tile, glass, or stone are fitted together and embedded in cement on surfaces such as walls and floors. (Interior of Hagia Sophia)
Art Deco
Art Deco designers sought to give expression to everyday life in the twentieth century. They tended to prefer up-to-date materials such as chrome, steel, and Bakelite plastic.
Santa Costanza, Rome. ca. 354 CE.
Basilica used as tomb for Constantine's daughter, Constantia. Circular in shape and topped with a dome supported by a barrel vault. Surrounding the space is a ambulatory, which was used for ceremonial processions.
Emperor Justinian
Created an importance to architecture, began massive programs of public works. (Ex: Hagia Sophia)
Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions, from the palace complex of Assurnasirpal II, Kalhu (modern Nimrud, Iraq), ca. 850 bce
Created by the Assyrians, capital walls were decorated with elaborate reliefs. The king shooting the lion while the soldier drives him to it.
White Temple and ziggurat, Uruk, Iraq, ca. 3200 BCE
Created by the Sumerians, communication with the gods occurred in the ziggurat. The Ziggurat is a temple with consists of a pyramid shape with an outside staircase leading to a shrine at the top.
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece. Rebuilt in the second half of the 5th c BCE.
Created in a greek city state with the central building being the parthenon. Sculpture on top of pediment and Phidian style friezes.
Joseph Paxton, Crystal Palace, Great Exhibition, London. 1851. Iron, glass, and wood, 1,848 × 408'.
Created in the new age era of design, housed the great exhibition. Made from cast iron, glass and wood.
Morris and Company, Sussex Rush-Seated Chairs. ca. 1865. Wood with black varnish. Musée d'Orsay, Paris.
Created with simplicity and unity by Morris, made every furniture unique and elaborate.
Piet Mondrian, Composition, 1921/Tableua No. II 1921-1925
De Stilj Design and geometric shapes.
Byzantium
Defeated by the muslim empire
Frank Lloyd Wright, Table lamp.1903. Bronze, leaded glass.
Each piece of glass was unique and individually crafted. Made with bronze and lead glass. (The rise of design)
Ka
Egyptian culture housed the dead so that they could live on- decorated tombs, small wooden figures, ect. (Ex: The Palette of King Namar)
Calligrahy
Emphasized in Islamic art, covered walls of palaces and mosques.
Favrile glassware
Glass where design is built up (not etched or burned) "genuine glass" -Example: Louis Comfort Tiffany, Tiffany Glass & Decorating Co. (1893-1902), Corona, New York, Peacock Vase, ca. 1893-96
Funerary mask (Mask of Agamemnon), from Grave Circle A, Mycenae, Greece. ca. 1600-1550 BCE. Gold, height
Gold funerary mask for Mycenaean king who lead the Greeks in war
Victorian Gothic Style
Gothic buildings were well lit because was seen as a manifestation of the divine. -Roman precedents (round arch and barrel vault)
Polis
Greek city states. Marked the movement when western culture began to celebrate its own human strengths and powers. Gods became more "human like" and personified.
Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England. ca. 2000 BCE.
Megaliths
Sumerians
Mesopotamian culture who developed writing, schools, libraries, and written laws. Ancient Sumer consisted of over a dozen city states each had their own deity
The "Toreador" fresco, Knossos, Crete. ca. 1500 BCE.
Minoan artwork created from fresco, showing sporting event
Snake Goddess or Priestess, palace at Knossos, Crete. ca. 1500 BCE.
Minoan artwork depicted a female goddess protecting the people.
William Morris (design) and Edward Burne-Jones (illustration), Opening page of Geoffrey Chaucer
Morris designed a font, appropriately called "Chaucer," which was based on Gothic script. Showed beautiful typography.
Virgin and Child Enthroned, (Theotokos) apse mosaic, Hagia Sophia, 867
Mosaic created with tesserae stone, more realistic than fresco.
The Warrior Vase, Mycenae. ca. 1200 BCE. Ceramic, Athens.
Mycenaean art (people after the Minoans) large focus on military values, the vase depicted Mycenaean people marching to war
Queen Nefertiti, Tell el Amarna.ca. 1365 BCE. Painted limestone, height 19-5/8". ÄgyptischesMuseum, Berlin. Acc. No. AM21300.
Naturalistic and idealized proportions (type of new art under Akhenaten's rule) attention to detail.
Beaker with ibex, dogs, and long-necked birds, from southwest Iran. ca. 5000-4000 BCE. Baked clay with painted decoration, height 11-1/4".
Neolithic painted pottery with highly stylized animals (ceramic.)
Bi
Ritual jade disk, found in burials, made to symbolize heaven. (Ex: "Ritual disk (bi) with dragon and phoenix motif", from Jincun, Henan Province, Eastern Zhou Dynasty (771-256 bce)
contrapposto
The disposition of the human figure in which the hips and legs are turned in opposition to the shoulders and chest, creating a counter-positioning of the body. Ex: "Apoxyomenos" (The Scraper)
5 Pillars of Islam
The duties every believer of Islam must preform (Ex: "Tile mosaic mihrab", from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Persia (Iran), ca. 1354 (restored)
Arts and Craft movement
dedicated themselves to functional objects of high aesthetic value for a wide public. (John Ruskin, William Morris and Charles Rennie Mackintosh)
Mirhab
A niche set in the wall of a mosque indicating the direction of Mecca.
Minbar
A stepped pulpit for a preacher on the qibla wall of a mosque.
Hellenism
The culture of ancient Greece, dominated the ancient world.
Louis Comfort Tiffany, Water-lily table lamp. ca. 1904-15. Leaded Favrile glass, and bronze, height 26-1/2"
"Favrile" or fabrile (handmade) glassware. The glass was built up to create design. Form of art nouveau. Brought new sense of vibrance to interior space.
Koran
"Recitations" The Scripture of Islam
King Khafre, Giza, Egypt. ca. 2530 BCE. Diorite, height 5' 6-1/8".
(Egyptian statue) King Khafre sitting upon a throne, a position of power.
Woman (formerly a.k.a. the Venus of Willendorf), Lower Austria. ca. 25,000-20,000 BCE. Limestone, height 4-1/2"
(Neolithic) reflected a less natural and more abstract representation. Connection to fertility and child-bearing. Carved limestone.
Wall painting with horses, Chauvet Cave, Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, Ardèche gorge, France. ca. 30,000 BCE. Paint on limestone
(Paleolithic) Cave painting (paint on limestone) depicted animal and showed the ability for people in the age to perceive and create. Might have served as a ritual space.
Basilica plan and central plan churches
-Basilica plan: a church loosely based on the Roman design, but entered through one of the short ends, with an apse at the other end. -Central plan: church with design with a primary central space surrounded by symmetrical areas around each side.
De Stilj Movement
A Dutch art movement of the early twentieth century that emphasized abstraction and simplicity, reducing form to the rectangle and color to the primary colors—red, blue, and yellow.
Aegean (Minoan and Mycenean)
-Minoan: Earlier Aegean culture, used bull as a sacred creature (Ex: "Toreador" fresco) and worshiped female deities -Mycenaean: built stone fortresses on the hilltops of the Peleponnese and their culture was dominated by military views. (Ex: The warrior vase) Buried their dead in gold (Ex: "Funerary mask")
Prehistoric (Paleolithic and Neolithic) period
-Paleolithic: "The Stone Age" Figures either portable (figurines carved with rock or clay) or cave paintings -Neolithic: Produced large quantities of pottery with paint/color.
Constructivism
A Russian art movement, fully established by 1921, that was dedicated to nonobjective means of communication.
Byzantine Empire
-circular forms -early christian empire -Santa Costanza
Ritual disc (bi) with dragon and phoenix motif, Chinese, from Jincun, Henan Province. Eastern Zhou Dynasty, (771-256 BCE). Jade, diameter: 6-1/2".
Bi: Ritual disk used for different purposed in the Chinese culture. This specific one was believed to signify heaven.
Harriet Meserole, Corset, Vogue. October 25, 1924
Boyish silhouette became popular in fashion, hair was short and boyish. Form of Art Deco
China
China (the Qin) conquered the other states and built the wall of china to discourage nomadic invaders.
Tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi. 221-206 BCE. Painted ceramic figures
Chinese ceramic work used to bury Emperor Qin (this emperor came up the idea to create the Great Wall of china)
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.532-37.
Church meaning holy wisdom, byzantine architecture. Half dome arches, circular/central plan, dome was supported by four pendentives. Interior was decorated with mosaics
Plan of Stonehenge and Its Surrounding Settlements. Reconstruction Drawing of Durrington Walls. 2600 BCE.
Circular shape with megaliths around it
El Lissitzky, Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge. 1919. Lithograph.
Constructivism by use of formal design with propagandistic aims. (sexuality- men are red, women white.)
Romans
Copied many greek artworks, the greek gods were adapted to the roman religion. Also copied greek architecture, this can be seen through the highly decorated corinthian order.
Palette of King Narmer (front and Back), Hierakonpolis, Upper Egypt.ca. 3000 BCE. Slate, height 25"
Example of a Ka, but this platelet was considered a gift to the deity instead.
Great Exhibition
Exhibit to show bad art had become in Britain
Louis Comfort Tiffany, Peacock Vase. ca. 1893-96. Favrile glass
Favrile glasswork. Art nouveau characteristics- organic features, wavelike line of feathers, asymmetrical.
Egyptians
Flourished along the nile, which helped production and made it one of the most successful civilizations.
Megaliths
From the Greek meaga meaning "big," and lithos, meaning "stone." A huge stone used in prehistoric architecture. Constructed without the use of mortar, made by human ability. (Ex: Stonehenge)
Mesoamerica
From the southern tip of Mexico to Honduras and El Salvador.
Le Corbusier, Pavillon de l'Esprit Nouveau, Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Paris. 1925.
Geometric shape was a characteristic of avant-garde, experimental techniques and styles.
Worshipers and deities from the Abu Temple, Tell Asmar, Iraq. ca. 2900-2600 BCE. Limestone, alabaster, and gypsum, height of tallest figure 30".
Group of statues found in the shrine room of the White Temple ziggurat. Depicts worshippers giving sacrifices and prayers.
Spouted ritual wine vessel (Guang). Shang dynasty, early Anyang period, 13th century BCE. Bronze
Guang (ritual wine vessel) decorated with figures that represent royal authority. Used during ancestor worship (Shang dynasty)
Model of a Multi-Storied Tower. Eastern Han dynasty, 1st c CE.
Han dynasty, house found in a tomb for afterlife to live in. Ceramic model
Apoxyomenos (The Scraper), Roman copy of an original Greek bronze by Lysippus, ca. 350-325 bce
Hellenism (culture of Ancient Greece) roman copy of original greek sculpture
Edouardo Benito, Cover of Vogue. May 25, 1929
Impulse to simplicity and modern (fashion embraced new geometric look.) Art Deco
Mosque
Islamic place of worship (Ex: the Great Mosque of Damascus, 705-16)
San Vitale, Ravenna. Dedicated 547. Italy.
Justinian era church modeled on the churches of Constantinople. Octagonal exterior, circular interior. Only the alter and apse are similar to western basilica style churches. Beautiful Justinian mosaics located on the side walls of the apse.
Justinian and His Attendants, San Vitale. ca. 547. Mosaic, each 8' 8" × 12'.
Justinian mosaic located in San Vitale, greek idealistic art. Each person is unique (some attendants have beards others do not.)
Theodora and Her Attendants, San Vitale. ca. 547. Mosaic, each 8' 8" × 12'.
Justinian mosaic located in the San Vitale, greek idealistic art. Each person has unique features.
Islam
Means to submit/surrender to God or "Allah"
Colossal head, Olmec culture. ca. 900-500 BCE. Basalt, La Venta Park
Olmec statue, believed to be olmec rulers (proportions showed that they were closer to gods)
Nike, from the balustrade of the Temple of Athena Nike. ca. 410-407 BCE. Marble, Acropolis Museum, Athens.
Phidian style (natural style: relaxed or effortless pose) depicting the goddess of victory located in the acropolis.
Plan and view of Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisia, 836-875
Place of Islamic worship containing a hypostyle place (large interior characterized with columns supporting roof,) qibla (wall facing Mecca,) minbar (podium for preacher,) and mihrab (niche used to point the direction of Mecca.) Contains courtyard and large prayer hall.
Zigguart
Pyramidal temple structure consisting of successive platforms with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. Was considered to be the bond between heaven and earth.
She-Wolf. ca. 500 BCE. Bronze
Renaissance additions to bronze, Romans believed the she- wolf showed loyalty and power of their motherland.
Philip Webb, The Red House, Bexleyheath, U.K. 1859.
Renewal of medieval craft spirit, created in the new age era. Inspired manufacturers to design and manufacture there works. Created with traditional red brick.
Triumphal arch
Roman arches designed for triumphant armies to march through, usually composed of a simple barrel vault enclosed within a rectangle, and enlivened with sculpture and decorative engaged columns. (Ex: Arch of Titus)
Augustus of Primaporta. ca. 20 BCE. Marble, height 6' 8".
Roman rulers began to model themselves almost exactly like deities, the extended arm showed the rulers plan for political aspirations (The pose is directly indebted to the Doryphoros of polyclitus)
Hypostyle prayer hall
Roofed structure supported by columns (Ex: Great Mosque of Kairouan)
Assyrians
Ruled the land after the Babylons, built the magnificent capital at Kahul on the Tigris river. Designed to assert the power of the king.
Tesserae
Small pieces of glass or stone used in making a mosaic.
Paul T. Frankl, Skyscraper bookcase. ca. 1927. Maple wood and Bakelite
Sought to give expression to everyday life, used modern material (maple wood and Bakelite.) Form of Art Deco Art, modern art.
The Great Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India, view of the West Gateway. Founded 3rd century BCE, enlarged ca. 150-50 BCE.
Stupa (burial mound) became important home for relics of Buddha himself and remains of Buddhist holy people. Hemispherical dome shape that represents the world itself, circular railing encompassing the sphere with relics placed in the middle.
Gerrit Rietveld, Red and Blue Chair. ca. 1918. Wood, painted
Summation of De Stilj designs (primary colors and geometric shape.) Arms and base of chair are locked in a vertical and horizontal grid.
Attributed to Apollodorus, Column of Trajan, Rome.
Symbol of Roman power, 2 relief sculptures representing Roman victories.
Art Nouvea
The art and design style characterized by undulating, curvilinear, and organic forms that dominated popular culture at the turn of the century, and that achieved particular success at the 1900 International Exposition in Paris.
Qibla
The wall of a mosque that, from the interior, is oriented in the direction of Mecca, and that contains the mihrab.
Olmec
They built huge ceremonial precincts in the middle of their communities and developed many of the characteristic features of later Mesoamerican culture, such as pyramids, ball courts, mirror-making, and a calendar system.
Arch of Titus, Rome. ca. 81 CE. Concrete with marble facade.
Triumphal arch (roman arches used for triumphant armies to march through) memorial arch in dedication to king Titus, composed of simple barrel vault and decorative engaged columns.
Tile mosaic mihrab, from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Persia (Iran). ca1354
Use of calligraphy, inscriptions from the Koran. The 5 pillars, inscriptions, and the rewards to those who build mosques. Symmetry and beauty.
Horseshoe arches
Used in the Interior Sanctuary of the mosque at Córdoba, Spain
Guang
Used in the Shang dynasty, ritual vessel, wine vessel. Showed wealth and status. (Ex: "Spouted Ritual Wine Vessel" (Guang), Shang dynasty, early Anyang period, 13th century bce)
Constantine the Great
Wanted to make early christian places of worship unlike as temples as possible- chose a rectangular building type called the basilica, which the ancient Romans had used for secular public functions.
Voussoir
Wedged shaped stone to build an arch (Used to build the Interior of the Sanctuary of the mosque at Córdoba (altering between red brick and stone.)
Jan Toorop, Poster for Delftsche Slaolie (Delft Salad Oil). 1894. Dutch advertisement poster
Wrought iron grill work in women hair- characteristic of art nouveau. Salad oil, indescribable writing and whirling lines.