Art History

Who was "Mona Lisa"?

Lisa di Antonio Maria Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo.

What is the significance of the background architecture in Pietro Perugino's Christ Delivering the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter, as related to Rome and Saint Peter?

The two triumphal arches are similar to the Arch of Constantine, alluding to the ties between the emperor Constantine and the founding of the basilica of St. Peter, over the apostle's tomb.

Which of the following is NOT true about Giotto's Arena Chapel fresco paintings?

The west wall depicts a scene of the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary.

How do many artists from Italy, such as Nicola Pisano and Leonardo da Vinci, derive their last names?

Their place of birth or their adopted hometown.

The raised platform where a priest stands while giving a sermon is known as a:

pulpit

The late medieval "best-seller" was a type of Christian religious book used for private devotion. The book contained prayers to be read at regular, specific times of the day. What was this type of book?

A Book of Hours.

Why did the Burgundian duke Philip the Bold have the Chartreuse ("charter house") de Champmol constructed?

All of these: as a ducal mausoleum, a means of securing salvation after his death, and a dynastic symbol of Burgundian power.

Andrea Palladio's Villa Rotunda employs:

All of these: symmetry, mathematical ratios, and Classical temple design. symmetry.

The frescoes in the Triumph of Death in Pisa's Camposanto depict all of the following EXCEPT:

Christ in Majesty.

Which of the following is NOT true about Florences Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo?

Duccio designed the Duomo's belltower (campanile).

Andrea Pisano's doors for the Baptistery of San Giovanni depict quatrefoil scenes of John the Baptist and Christian virtues. Who commissioned the doors?

Florence's guild of wool importers.

Who are the four servants in Dieric (Dirk) Bouts's Last Supper?

Four members of the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament, who commissioned the work.

How does Giovanni Pisano's pulpit relief panel differ from the panel executed by his father?

Giovanni's composition is loose, dynamic, and animated.

Which of the following is NOT true about Fra Filippo Lippi?

He never got into any trouble with the law. He fathered a child with a nun, and that nun may have been a model for the Virgin Mary in his painting(s). He painted Mary, Christ, and angels as if they were placed in a Florentine home, and gave Mary the look of a young Florentine woman. He joined a monastery at an early age. he never got into any trouble with the law

Which of the following is NOT true about Simon Martini?

He worked at the papal court in Rome as well as the royal court in England.

Why did engravers like Antonio del Pollaiuolo prefer parallel hatching in works like Battle of Ten Nudes?

It was better suited for anatomical studies.

Which of the following is NOT true about Veit Stoss's Death and Assumption of the Virgin?

It's a diptych

What's the setting for Conrad Witz's scene of Miraculous Draft of Fish from the Altarpiece of St. Peter?

Lake Geneva, just outside of Geneva, Switzerland (where this altarpiece was displayed). Consider how Witz (and so many other Northern Renaissance artists) would try to make a religious scene more tangible by putting it in a recognizable locale for its viewers. To compare, see my photos of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) in the PowerPoint for this chapter.

Which of the following is NOT true about the women depicted in Titian's Pastoral Symphony?

One draws water from a well; the other holds a flute/pipe. They are depicted with soft voluptuousness. They are precise studies in human anatomy. They symbolize the muses of the male figures. they are precise studies in human anatomy

Why did art historians once believe Petrus Christus's painting A Goldsmith in his Shop depicted St. Eligius?

St. Eligius was once a goldsmith, and he's the patron saint of smiths and metalworkers.

At which European courts do we first find a renewed interest in classical art?

The Courts of the Holy Roman Emperor, as well as the King of Sicily.

What's depicted on the back panels of Duccio's Maesta altarpiece?

The events associated with Christ's Passion

What is the meaning of the subject matter in Giorgione's painting The Tempest (a.k.a. The Storm)?

We just don't know. Scholars are still debating this!

When discussing Mannerism, what feature/principle is closely associated with this movement?

artifice

During the Renaissance, there was an interest and emphasis on education and expanding knowledge, in order to explore one's individual potential. This interest in learning, excelling, and civic responsibility was known as:

humanism

Nanni di Banco's Four Crowned Saints employs all of the following elements EXCEPT:

the use of Roman portraits (including the bearded visages of Roman emperors). a sense of psychological interaction among the figures. the use of a loggia. a unified spatial composition. the use of a loggia

In art and interior design, a triple-lobed form is known as a [x] arch, while a four-lobed or cloverleaf form is called a [y].

trefoil,quatrefoil

Who is Pope Leo X depicted with in his portrait by Raphael?

two cardinals, who also happen to be his Medici cousins.It's these instances of nepotism in the Catholic church that drew the complaints of individuals like Martin Luther, during the Protestant Reformation.

What formal elements of Giotto's "Lamentation" scene (in the Arena/Scrovegni Chapel) are revolutionary?

All of the answers are correct: the emotional quality of the scene, the stage-like setting, and the figures modeled using light and shadow.

What was the Or San Michele?

All of these answers are correct: a building that housed a granary, a church, and the headquarters of the Florentine guilds.

In Andrea del Castagno's Last Supper, how is the apostle who betrayed Christ, Judas, differentiated from the other apostles?

All of these, he is seated on the opposite side of the long table; he doesn't have a halo; and he has a darker complexion.

Antonio del Pollaiuolo's Hercules and Antaeus displays an interest in:

All of these: Greco-Roman mythology; anatomy and agitated movement; and a sculpture meant to be seen from multiple angles.

In Madonna with the Long Neck, Parmigianino depicts the Virgin Mary with:

All of these: a large frame, long fingers, and a small head. overly long fingers.

What classical architectural vocabulary does Leon Battista Alberti employ in Mantua's Sant'Andrea?

All of these: barrel vaulting with coffering, a temple front, and the triumphal arch.

Why did Leonardo da Vinci leave Florence for Milan?

All of these: the unstable political situation in Florence, the financial security the Duke of Milan could provide him, and the likelihood of Leonardo's skills being in greater demand in Milan.

Both Donatello's Erasmo da Narni/Gattamelata ("Honeyed Cat") and Andrea del Verrocchio's Bartolommeo Colleoni are monuments that featured figures who were condottieri. What's a condottiere?

An Italian mercenary general (a "general for hire").

Fra Angelico's Annuciation was used as a devotional image for the monks at San Marco. How does the composition encourage this prayerful mindset?

An inscription at the bottom encourages the monks to say a "Hail Mary" prayer every time they walk past it

Tintoretto's version of The Last Supper incorporates all of the following visual characteristics EXCEPT:

Christ in the center of the table, amidst his disciples. extra figures, such as servants and angelic figures. dramatic lighting, showing the scene in contrasts of dark and light. A horizontal table that is parallel to the picture plane. a horizontal table that is parallel to the picture plane

he subject matter on the Sistine Chapel ceiling includes a number of scenes. They include all of the following EXCEPT:

Christ's birth. Prophets and sibyls (female prophetesses) Stories from the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Old Testament figures such as David and Moses. Christs birth

Why did Cosimo de Medici choose Bartolommeo Michelozzo's rusticated-and-dressed palace design over a design by Filippo Brunelleschi?

Cosimo thought Brunelleschi's design was too ostentatious, particularly since the Medici had just returned to Florence after being briefly exiled.

Lorenzo Ghiberti's competition panel entry for the doors of the Florence Baptistery won over Filippo Brunelleschi's entry. There were several reasons that Ghiberti won; which of the following was NOT one of those reasons?

Ghiberti's composition was graceful and smooth. Ghiberti showed an appreciation of the nude form in his composition, as seen in the form of Isaac. Ghiberti cast his panel in only two pieces, resulting in a physically lighter (and less expensive) version. Ghiberti's composition was set within a trefoil frame. Ghiberti's composition was set within a trefoil frame.

How does Andrea Mantegna create the trompe l'oeil ("fool the eye") effect of di sotto in su ("from below, looking upward"), in the Camera Picta in the Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale) in Mantua?

He strongly foreshortens the figures within the oculus, and gives the effect as if they are looking at the viewer.

What was Giovanni da Bologna's (Giambologna's) goal with his composition of Abduction of the Sabine Women?

He wanted to create a dynamic spiraling composition that must be viewed from multiple viewpoints.

Why did Jacopo Pesaro commission the painting known as Madonna of the Pesaro Family?

He was grateful after leading a successful expedition against the Turks during the Venetian-Turkish war.

How does Michelangelo's version of David differ from Quattrocento versions by Verrocchio or Donatello?

Michelangelo implies Goliath's presence outside of the sculpture's composition

How did Michelangelo modify Donato Bramante's original plan for the new design of St. Peter's?

Michelangelo replaced the core of Bramante's "interlocking crosses" plan with a domed, compact Greek-cross-in-square plan.

An ancient school of philosophy based on the ideas of Plato, but modified by the teachings of Christianity, is known as:

Neo-Platonism

In Benvenuto Cellini's Saltcellar of Francis I, the main figures represent Neptune and Tellus. Why are they appropriate for this object, given the work's function?

Neptune references the sea (the source of salt); Tellus references Land (another source of salt, as well as pepper).

In Madonna in the Meadow, Raphael borrowed the pyramid compositional scheme that Leonardo da Vinci employed in many of his works. However, how were his colors different from Leonardo's?

Raphael used lighter and brighter hues/tonalities.

The French term used to describe the history of culture and art from the 14th through the 16th centuries is:

Renaissance

What is the central theme of Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece (as exemplified by the interior panels)?

Salvation and human redemption through Christ.

Why was Cimabue's Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets significant?

Stylistically, his work was one of the first to break away from Byzantine art (although still showing Byzantine influences). notes= Good. The flat, gold background is distinctly borrowing from earlier Byzantine art, but the throne displays a sense of three dimensions.

Paolo Veronese's large-scale painting of the Last Supper got him into trouble with the Holy Office of the Inquisition, forcing him to change the painting's title to Christ in the House of the Levi. Why did the Holy Office complain about this painting?

The Office felt that it wasn't fair to include dogs in the painting, and not cats. The Office believed Christ should have been painted larger to draw more attention to him. The Office believed the painting should be even bigger. The Office believed Veronese was impious for painting "lowly creatures" so close to Christ during the Last Supper. The Office believed Veronese was impious for painting "lowly creatures" so close to Christ during the Last Supper.

One of Michelangelo's early works was a marble sculpture known as the Pieta. What's the subject matter of a Pieta?

The Virgin Mary mourning over the body of her dead son, Christ

Which of the following is NOT true about the Ghent Altarpiece?

The altarpiece is quite small, 5 feet by 7 feet, when opened.

Which of the following is NOT true about Raphael's School of Athens?

The artist employs linear perspective, drawing our attention to Plato and Aristotle's debate. The fresco is located in the Church of St. Peter's. The image references humanist interests in Classical philosophy, art, and architecture. Raphael employed portraits of his contemporaries for some of the Greek philosophers (e.g., Michelangelo, Bramante, a self-portrait of Raphael, etc.) The fresco is located in the church of st Peters. It's located in the Room of the Signature (Stanza della Segnatura), in the Papal Apartments. According to tradition, this was the room where all official papal documents are signed. The frescoes in this room show the four major branches of knowledge. Please consult the interactive diagram under "Links and Videos" to better understand this room.

Which of the following is NOT a symbolic element in Robert Campin's Merode Altarpiece?

The couple on the left panel symbolize the grandparents of Christ. yes. The couple on the left actually are the commissioners (donors) of the painting, Peter Inghelbrecht and Margarete Scrynmakers.

Which of the following is NOT true about Titian's Venus of Urbino?

The dark curtain draws attention to her pelvic area (through the implied vertical line). The artist based his composition on an earlier painting by his master, Giorgione. The painting contains a visual reference to wooden marriage chests, called cassoni. The painting was commissioned by Isabella d'Este. the painting was commissioned by Isabella d'Este

Which of the following is not true about Donatello's bronze statue of David?

The figure displays relaxed contrapposto. The subject matter of David--the underdog who defeats the giant Goliath--had resonance for both the entire city of Florence as well as the Medici, the powerful Florentine banking family (who owned this statue). The figure of David is old, worn, and has a fatigued look on his face. The statue revives the classical freestanding nude. The figure of David is old, worn, and has a fatigued look on his face.

Which of the following is NOT true about Michelangelo's Tomb of Guiliano de'Medici?

The figure of Night may have been based on a male model. The figures of Day and Night may allude to the cycle of life/death and the passage of time. The sculpture of Giuliano is an exact likeness of him. It was located in the Medici Chapel at San Lorenzo. the sculpture of Giuliano is an exact likeness of him

Michelangelo painted the Last Judgment on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel over 20 years after completing the ceiling. He depicts Saint Bartholomew, one of Christ's disciples, just to the lower left of Christ. What's noteworthy about the representation of Bartholomew?

The flayed skin that he holds is actually a self-portrait of Michelangelo.

Sandro Botticelli depicts golden apple trees in the background of Primavera, an allusion to the patron of the painting, the Medici family. How did this compositional detail refer to the Medici family?

The fruit are "mela medica", meaning "medicinal apples"; Medici means "doctors", a symbolic reference to the family name.

What's the setting for the two panels in Hans Memling's Diptych of Martin van Nieuwenhowe?

The home of Martin van Nieuwenhowe (with the coat of arms, stained-glass windows, and view of Bruges).

What's not true about Michael Wolgemut's Nuremburg Chronicle?

The images are made using an engraving process.

What element of Orvieto Cathedral does NOT borrow from French Gothic architecture?

The marble revetment exterior and timber roof

Which of the following is NOT true about Leonardo's Last Supper?

The painting is an example of a true buon fresco technique and is well-preserved. The use of linear perspective draws the viewer's focus to Christ. Leonardo organizes the disciples into four groups of three across the horizontal table. Christ's disciples emotionally react to the news that one of them will betray him. the painting is an example of a true Buon fresco technique and is well preserved

Which of the following is NOT true about Hugo van der Goes's Portinari Altarpiece?

The painting was kept in the Church of St. Bavo in Ghent. It was actually transported back to Florence, Italy (Portinari's hometown), and kept in the family chapel in the church of Sant-Egidio. Several Italian artists were struck by Hugo's realistic style of painting.

Which of the following is NOT true about Bronzino's Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time?

The painting was made as a gift for Lorenzo de'Medici. It places all of the figures close to the front picture plane The painting contains allusions to deceit and envy. It depicts Cupid fondling his mother, Venus.The painting was made as a gift for Lorenzo Medici

Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus references Classical antiquity in several ways, EXCEPT:

The subject matter depicts a Roman goddess. The painting includes an image of the Virgin Mary. The post of the figure recalls an ancient Greek sculpture of Aphrodite. The main figure is nude, similar to other female figures from antiquity. THE PAINTING INCLUDES AN IMAGE OF THE Virgin Mary

Which of the following is incorrect about Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise on the east side of the Florence Baptistery?

The title "Gates of Paradise" was Ghiberti's idea from the outset of the project.

Why was Piero della Francesca's scene of Christ's Resurrection apt for the town hall (Palazzo Comunale) of the town of Borgo San Sepolcro?

The town supposedly received a piece of the tomb of Christ from the Holy Land.

Which of the following is NOT true about Rogier van der Weyden's Deposition?

The work was commissioned by Duke Jean of Berry. This is an instance where we have a group, rather than an individual patron, commissioning the work. Here, it's a guild (union) of archers.

Which of the following is NOT true about Martin Schongauer's Saint Anthony Tormented by Demons?

To create depth and shadows, Schongauer employed a parallel hatching technique

Leonardo da Vinci employs all of the following elements in the work Madonna of the Rocks EXCEPT:

a pyramid/triangular composition. tempera paint. interlocking gestures and tender faces. chiaroscuro. tempera paint

Who was Agnes Sorel?

all of these answers here are correct: the mistress of King Charles VII who bore three of the king's children, who also served as the model for the Melun Diptych's Virgin Mary.

Giovanni Arnolfini was:

an Italian financier from Lucca, Italy, who had moved to Flanders

With its fluid, natural draperies and naturalistic bodies, the figures on Nicola Pisano's Annunciation/Nativity/Adorationpulpit panel seem to borrow from what source?

classical relief sculpture, especially those seen on ancient Roman sarcophagi

Both of Donatello's sculptures for the Or San Michele, St. George and St. Mark, display a slight weight shift or counterbalance in the human body, to suggest a form that is relaxed while standing. This counterpositioning is known as:

contrapposto

A portrait of a person who commissioned a work of art (especially a religious work of art) is called a:

donor portrait

In the Tribute Money scene of the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine,Tommaso Masaccio ("clumsy/oafish Tom") employs several techniques to create the sense of illusionism. They include all of the following except:

hierarchical scale. modeling the figures with chiaroscuro, based on a single light source. atmospheric perspective in the background hills. linear perspective, with the building's elements merging to a single vanishing point (located at Christ's head). hierarchical scale

A luxurious handmade book with painted illustrations and decorations is called a(n):

illuminated manuscript

In Entombment of Christ, Jacopo Pontormo incorporates all of the following visual characteristics EXCEPT:

light, bright colors. linear perspective. figures "floating" in space. elongated limbs and distorted poses. linear perspective

Masaccio's Holy Trinity employs all of the following visual elements EXCEPT

linear perspective a classical barrel vault filled with square coffering. gilding. balance (organizing the figures in an implied isosceles triangle). gilding

Two key artistic developments during the 15th century in Northern Europe were the development of [x]-based painting and the blossoming of [y] as a major art form.

oil, printmaking

In the January calendar page of the Tres Riches Heures (by the Limbourg Brothers), one can see all of the following elements EXCEPT:

peasants sowing seeds in the fields.

Giovanni Bellini's oil painting San Zaccharia Altarpiece depicts a group of saints surrounding the Virgin and Child, all joined together in one space. This iconographic motif is known as:

sacra conerasione. Please note that these "holy conversation" paintings are also common in Northern Europe. Saints in these paintings were often chosen based on the devotional interests of the patron(s).

In several of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings--such as the Madonna of the Rocks and Mona Lisa--he employs a hazy mist that blurs the edges of forms and creates a rich atomsphere. This smoky, hazy effect is known as:

sfumato

A painting technique that uses pigment mixed with egg yolk is known as:

tempera

The Doge's Palace in Venice has all of the following architectural elements EXCEPT:

wooden columns on the lower level.