Fine Arts Chapter 13 and 14 Review Questions *Incomplete*
When was the Christian religion made legal by the Roman emperor Constantine?
313 A.D.
What were the catacombs?
Catacombs were underground passageways that were used to hold religious services and bury their dead.
Explain why early Christian paintings showed little interest in the beauty, grace, and strength of the human body.
Christian art was intended to illustrate the power and glory of Christ.
List two elements and two principles of art used by the artisans who designed the dome before the mihrab in the mosque at Cordoba
Color, Shape, Balance, and Harmony
What is the significance of the mihrab?
It indicates the direction of Mecca
Why did the Christians select the Roman basiclica as a model for their church?
It was long and spacious
Give examples of symbolism used by manuscript illustrators.
Matthew was symbolized by an angel; Mark, by a lion; Luke, by a bull; and John, by an eagle
What is monasticism? Where and when did it originate?
Monasticism is a way of life in which individuals gathered together to spend their days in prayer and self-denial. It originated in the Near East in the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D.
What are piers? How did the use of piers affect the design of church interiors?
Piers are massive vertical pillars. They allow the builder to erect thinner walls and add more windows.
What are symbols and what part did they play in early Christian art?
Symbols are familiar figures or signs that are used to represent something else. In early Christian art, symbols were used as a code.
What is the Alhambra? Name and describe the architectural feature found at the heart of the Alhambra.
The Alhambra is a fortress-palace. The Court of the Lions is found at the heart of the Alhambra
What type of art did the Church favor during the Medieval period?
The Church favored art that could teach and inspire the people in their faith.
Discuss the historical importance of Muhammad.
The Islam religion is based off of his teachings
What is the Koran, and what role did Muhammad play in its creation?
The Koran is the holy scripture of Islam. The messages that Muhammad received from God are in the Koran.
What was the primary purpose of a Romanesque castle?
The castle was a symbol of authority.
What is the most important part of a mosque? Describe its appearance.
The mihrab is the most important part of a mosque. It is a niche in the wall that points to the direction of Mecca
What brought about the fall of Rome? When did this happen?
The western empire was conquered by barbarians. This happened around 330 A.D.
Why were huge churches decorated with mosaics on the inside walls?
The works of art needed to have bright colors and be large enough to be seen from great distances, and mosaics met those requirements.
Describe the interior appearance of the mosque at Cordoba.
There are paintings, but there are no living creatures in the paintings. Instead, they use features such as geometric patterns
Explain the symbolism behind the great open hand and the key above the Justice Gate at the Alhambra.
They represent Moorish law and faith
What types of images were Islamic book illustrators allowed to depict?
They were allowed to depict images that would never be represented in a mosque.
Name and describe the decorations used on early medieval manuscript pages.
They were delicate miniature paintings done in silver, gold, and rich colors
What name was given to the Eastern half of the Roman Empire after the fal of Rome in italy?
the Byzantine Empire
