Art History 1: Exam 2
When did Islam rise in Arabia?
7th century.
Which of the following is an icon that was "not made by human hands"?
Acheiropoieta.
What two animals represent the metaphor of the struggle between good and evil expressed in the Book of Kells?
Cat (good) and mouse (evil).
T/F: The Torah is the Christian Old Testament.
False. The Torah is the first five books of the Jewish Bible.
T/F: Idealization is defined as a style in which artists are concerned with capturing the exterior likeness of a person, usually by rendering its visible details in finely, meticulous manner.
False. this is the definition of verism
Who built the First Temple in Jerusalem and what did it house?
Housed: The Ark of the Covenant. Built by: Jewish King Solomon.
South Portal, Moissac
Priory Church of Saint-Pierre. c. 1115. flattened figure of Christ in Majesty dominates huge tympanum, description of the Second Coming of Christ and of Revelation.
Who is considered to be the first Bishop of Rome?
St. Peter.
Who was Thomas Aquinas and what was his contribution to Paris?
Italian theologian who made Paris the intellectual center of Europe. the foremost Scholastic.
Define Middle Ages.
1,000 years of European history b/t the dissolution of Western Roman Empire during the 5th century and the Florentine Renaissance in 15th century. period of great richness, complexity, creativity, and innovation. 3 periods: early medieval, Romanesque, and Gothic.
Cathedral of St. James, Santiago de Compostela
1078-1122. held the body of St. James.
Plate with Kufic Border
10th-12th century, Earthenware with white and black slip, and lead glaze. script's horizontals and verticals have been elongated to fill the plate's rim, stressing the letters' verticality in such a way that they seem to radiate from the bold spot at the center of the circle. fine quality of lettering indicates that a calligrapher furnished the model.
Sainte-Chapelle, Paris
1239-1248. commissioned by Louis IX to house his collection of relics of Christ's Passion, especially the Crown of Thorns. seen as the culmination of the Gothic style.
Alhambra
1354-1391. Granada, Spain. offered dramatic views of the settled valley and snowcapped mountains around it, while enclosing gardens within its courtyards. water is used as an art form.
When did Constantinople fall?
1453
Briefly describe the Five Pillars of Islam, and how is it symbolized in Islamic art?
1st: shahadah proclaims there is only one God and Muhammad is his messenger. 2nd: prayer (salat) to be performed by turning to face the Kaaba in Mecca 5 times daily; dawn, noon, late afternoon, sunset, and nightfall. 3rd: voluntary payment of annual tax. 4th: dawn-to-dusk fast of Ramadan. 5th: pilgrimage to Mecca. symbolized by an open hand with the five fingers extended. enumerate the duties required of Muslims by their faith.
Moralizing bible of Blanche of Castille and Louix IX
3 volumes, from c. 1230. dedication page shows the teenage King Louis IX and his mother, Queen Blanche of Castile. appear against a solid gold background under a multi-colored architectural framework.
What event gave rise to Constantine the Great? When did it occur? How is the event significant to Christianity?
312, he was victorious in defeating Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge at the entrance to Rome. after his victory, he showed his gratitude by ending persecution of Christians and recognizing Christianity as a lawful religion.
When was Christianity officially recognized as a religion by the Romans?
313.
What is the Pax Romana?
45 years of stability, domestic peace, and economic prosperity, meaning Roman Peace.
Hagia Sophia
532-537. Church in Constantinople, present day Istanbul. gigantic dome seemed to hang suspended on a "golden chain from heaven". innovative hybrid of longitudinal and central architectural planning. clearly dominated by hovering form of its gigantic dome. flanking conches extend the central space into a longitudinal nave that expands outward from the central dome to connect to the narthex on one end and the halfdome of the sanctuary apse on the other. processional core called the naos, is flanked by side aisles with galleries above them.
Define campanile.
A bell tower, usually built beside or attached to a church.
What is the term for a linear series of arches?
Arcade.
According to tradition, who brought the word of God to Muhammad?
Archangel Gabriel.
What is one of the earliest surviving decorated Gospels?
Book of Durrow, dating to the second half of the 7th century.
What is the literary source for the tympanum of the South Portal at St. Pierre, Moissac?
Book of Revelation.
Who was the first important group of reformers for the arts during the Romanesque?
Burgundian congregation of Cluny.
How is Byzantine art transformed during its late period?
Byzantines expelled the Christian crusaders who had occupied Constantinople for nearly 60 years. arts underwent a resurgence known as the Palaeologue Renaissance after the new dynasty of emperors who regained Constantinople. patronage of emperors, wealthy courtiers, and the Church stimulated renewed church building as well as the production of icons, books, and precious objects.
Which is the name for a Bishop's church and means "bishop's throne"?
Cathedral.
Crucifix (MAJESTAT BATLLÓ)
Christ on the Cross, Crucifix, mid 12th century. clothed, triumphant Christ. royal robes emphasize his kingship, his bowed head, downturned mouth, and heavy lidded eyes seem to convey sadness or introspection. the hem of his long, medallion-patterned tunic has pseudo-kufic inscriptions, designs meant to resemble Arabic script, a reminder that silks from Islamic Spain were highly prized in Europe at this time.
What is the issue for Christians and Jews when it comes to devotional images?
Christianity inherited from Judaism an uneasiness with the power of religious images, rooted in the Mosaic prohibition of "graven images". lingering effects of the early prosecution of Christians because of their refusal to venerate images of Roman emperors only intensified this anxiety. distinguished between idolatry and veneration. icons were accepted as aids to meditation and prayer, intermediaries between worshipers and the holy personages they depicted.
Who first introduced the Gothic style to England?
Cistercian and Norman builders and by traveling master masons.
The Arch of Constantine commemorates which event?
Constantine's victory over Maxentius.
The architecture of the Dome of the Rock imitates which of the following?
Early Christian and Byzantine martyria.
What cultures influenced the architecture of Umayyad shrines, mosques, and palaces?
Early Christian, Byzantine, ancient Roman, medieval Mediterranean.
Old St. Peter's Basilica
Early Christian, ordered by Constantine , new large basilican church to mark the place where Christians believed St. Peter was buried.
Who was Justinian I?
Emperor of Eastern Roman Empire during teh 6th century.
Define arabesque.
European term for a type of linear surface decoration based on foliage and calligraphic forms, thought by Europeans to be typical of Islamic art and usually characterized by flowing lines and swirling shapes.
T/F: Chartres Cathedral is the first expression of the Gothic style.
False.
T/F: A campanile is a canopy placed over an honorific or sacred space such as a throne or church altar.
False. A baldachin or baldacchino is a canopy placed over an honorific or sacred space.
T/F: A mosque is recess or niche that distinguishes the wall oriented toward Mecca.
False. A mihrab is a recess or a niche.
T/F: An Early Christian basilica, like Old St. Peter's Basilica, functioned as an administrative center and provided a magnificent setting for the emperor when he appeared as supreme judge.
False. Ancient Roman basilicas, like the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, functioned as an administrative center and provided a magnificent setting for the emperor when he appeared as supreme judge.
T/F: Gothic windows are short with rounded arches.
False. Gothic windows are tall with pointed arches.
T/F: The Cathedral of St. James at Santiago de Compostela houses the tomb of St. Peter.
False. It houses the tomb of St. James. St. Peter's tomb was at Old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
T/F: Early Christian art is meant to function naturalistically opposed to symbolically.
False. It is meant to function symbolically.
T/F: The Tetrarch was established by Constantine the Great.
False. It was established by Diocletian
T/F: The Gothic style in architecture appeared early in England, introduced by Franciscan and Italian builders.
False. It was introduced by Cistercian and Norman builders and by traveling master masons.
T/F: The groundplan of the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice is the based on the Latin Cross.
False. It's based on the Greek cross.
T/F: The emperors of the second century were was the genetic heir of the previous emperor.
False. Only Commodus was an genetic heir, Trajan, Hadrain, and Marcus Aurelius were "adopted" heirs.
T/F: The Celts were the Germanic tribes and lives around the Baltic Sea.
False. The Celts controlled most western Europe, and the Goths were the Germanic tribes.
T/F: The conches are the four triangular curving vault sections on which the dome of Hagia Sophia rests.
False. The triangular curving vault sections are known as pendentives.
T/F: Mosaics during the Middle Byzantine period are characterized by their stoic figures and disregard for the viewer.
False. They are characterized by the ability to relate to the viewer through emotion.
T/F: The mosaics depicting Emperor Justinian and Queen Theodora were made in celebration of their arrival in Ravenna shortly after conquering the city.
False. They never stepped foot in Ravenna.
T/F: The Fourth Style of wall painting in ancient Rome is defined by its illusionistic paintings of thin slabs of colored marble and projecting architectural moldings.
False. This is the definition of the First Style.
Colosseum
Flavian Amphitheater, got its nickname for its proximity to the colossal statue of Nero. 70-80 CE.
Which of the following is an architectural innovation of Gothic cathedrals that is an external arched bridge above the aisle roof that extends from the upper nave wall (where the lateral thrust is the greatest) down to a solid pier?
Flying buttress.
Which of the following is the term for a Roman town center that included temples and administrative buildings, markets, and places for citizens to gather?
Forum.
Define spolia.
Fragments of older architecture or sculpture reused in a secondary context. Latin for "hide stripped from an animal".
To what tribe did Charlemagne belong?
Franks.
Who were the Goths and what region did they control?
Germanic people. lived around the Baltic Sea. began to move south into better lands and climate around the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Who coined the term "gothic" and how was the term first used?
Giorgio Vasari. attributed by-then-old-fashioned style to the Goths.
How does the new French Gothic style combine with distinctive local materials and traditions in England?
Gothic style influenced English architecture and manuscript illumination, which were tempered by local materials, methods, traditions, and tastes.
What is the Theotokos?
Greek for "bearer of God".
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus
Grottoes of St. Peter, Vatican, Rome. c. 359. Marble. packed with figural scenes. 2 registers.
What biblical city did Gothic churches aim to evoke?
Heavenly Jerusalem.
Who was Emperor Frederick II?
Holy Roman Emperor from 1220. politically unsettling force. fought with a league of north Italian cities and briefly controlled the Papal States. fostered a Classical revival at his southern Italian court. encouraged artists to emulate the world around them.
Who standardized calligraphy in the tenth century?
Ibn Muqla, an Abbasid official who fixed the proportions of letters in each script and devised a method for teaching calligraphy that is still in use today.
Who standardized calligraphic script in the tenth century?
Ibn Muqla.
Virgin and Child with Saints
Icon, 2nd half of the 6th century. at the Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai.
What event happened between 726-843 CE that relates to images?
Iconoclasm.
Which event led to the destruction of devotional images between 726-843?
Iconoclasm.
When and where did the Gothic style originate?
Ile de France, French royal domain around Paris. mid 12th century.
Define radiating chapel.
In a church, projecting chapels arranged radially around the ambulatory of a semicircular or polygonal liturgical east end.
Define oculus.
In architecture, a circular opening. Usually found either as windows or at the apex of a dome. When at the top of a dome, it is either open to the sky or covered by a decorative exterior lantern.
How do early Islamic society and culture foster the development of new forms of art and architecture?
Islam encompassed geographical areas with a variety of long-established cultural traditions, and because it admitted diverse peoples among its converts, it absorbed and combined many different techniques and ideas about art and architecture. the result was a highly sophisticated artistic eclecticism.
What three cities were the holiest places of Christendom and were the destinations for pilgrimages during the Romanesque period?
Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela.
The decoration of the Book of Kells, which is characterized as swirling spirals and interlaced tangles of stylized animal forms have their roots in which medium?
Jewelry.
What three religions arose in the Near East that still dominate the Western world today?
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
What are the books used by each religion?
Judaism: Torah Christianity: The Bible Islam: Qur'an
What is different from how the Julio-Claudian rulers were selected opposed to the emperors in the second century?
Julio-Claudian were deified by decree and by lineage. Emperors of the 2nd century "adopted" their successors, not depending on lineage or genetics.
Which of the following is a structure built over the grave of a martyr?
Martyrium.
Who are the four evangelists?
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
Which of the following is a book of selected scriptural passages that are paired with allegorical or moralized interpretations, which also includes both the use of pictures as well as words to convey the message?
Moralizing Bible.
What style emerges from the synthesis of early Christian and Islamic traditions in the Mozarabic manuscripts of early medieval Spain?
Mozarabic.
How does the portrait style of the Imperial period differ from that of the Republican period?
Much more idealized. Drillwork was used. quite lifelike.
What is significant about the year 610 CE in the life of Muhammad?
Muhammad received revelations that led him to found the religion called Islam.
The Dome of the Rock is a shrine dedicated to which of the following events?
Muhammad's Night Journey.
Briefly describe the Islamic attitude towards figural imagery.
Muhammad's act of emptying the Kaaba of its pagan idols instituted the fundamental practice of avoiding figural imagery in Islamic religious architecture. Figural imagery is frequent in palaces, and illustrated manuscripts, and Islamic artists also elaborated a rich vocabulary of nonfigural ornament, including complex geometric designs and scrolling foliate vines, which were appropriate in all contexts.
What is considered to be the first mosque?
Muhammad's house in Medina.
Which of the following is considered to be the first mosque?
Muhammad's house in Medina.
What are the geographical and historical backgrounds for Romanesque art and architecture?
Normandy invaded England, becoming one of Europe's most powerful domains. Christians helped ensure the spread of Christianity and supported monastic communities with grants of land. secular and religious authority became tightly intertwined. pilgrimages and crusades helped stimulate trade.
Define orant.
Of a standing figure represented praying with outstretched and upraised arms.
How did the city of Paris change during this period?
Paris became a center of Gothic creation and intellectual center.
Where did the Gothic style originate?
Paris.
Which of the following was not a major destination for pilgrimages during the Romanesque period?
Paris.
What is a moralizing bible?
Parisian book in which selected scriptural passages are paired with allegorical or moralized interpretations, using pictures as well as words to convey the message.
What was the "Court Style"?
Parisian style of the period. associated with the court of St. Louis.
Which of the following served as liturgical objects for rite of the Eucharist, which is depicted in the mosaics from San Vitale?
Paten and chalice.
Which of the following is not a Christian Evangelist?
Peter.
What unique architecture element for its time was utilized at the Abbey of Notre-Dame, Fontenay?
Pointed barrel vaults.
Which of the following served as the visual prototype (or visual source) for the Augustus of Primaporta?
Polykleitos's "Doryphoros".
The characteristic finish of lusterware of the ninth century was meant to resemble which of the following?
Precious metal.
What city became the capital of the Western Empire under Justinian I?
Ravenna
Arch of Constantine
Rome, 312-315 CE. Next to the Colosseum. commemorates Constantine's victory over Maxentius.
What did pilgrims were to denote they were on a pilgrimage?
Scalloped shells.
What is significant about the rise of universities during this period?
Scholasticism emerged from universities, intent on reconciling Christian theology with Classical philosophy. made Paris an intellectual center.
What is the difference between Shi'ites and Sunni Muslims?
Shi'ites: followers of Ali, regard him alone as the Prophet's rightful successor. Sunni: recognize all the 4 caliphs as "rightly guided".
What is the term that describes fragments of older architecture or sculpture reused in a secondary context?
Spoila.
Which of the following founded a mendicant order that espoused an ideal of poverty, charity, and love, and they dedicated themselves to teaching and preaching while living among the urban poor?
St. Francis of Assisi.
Page from the Qur'an, ninth century
Syria. 9th century. Black ink, pigments, and gold on vellum. red diacritical marks accent the dark brown ink; the Surah title is embedded in the burnished ornament at the bottom of the sheet.
Which of the following is not included in a Gospel Book?
The Book of Genesis.
The Bayeux Tapestry chronicles which of the following?
The Norman Conquest of England.
What is significant about the date of 27 BCE? And why does it mark the beginning of the Imperial period?
The Senate conferred on Octavian the title of Augustus. Augustus led the state and the empire for 45 years, established efficient rule and laid the foundation for extended period of stability, domestic peace, and economic prosperity, Pax Romana.
What event does the Arch of Titus commemorate?
The capturing of Jerusalem.
Define Eucharist.
The central rite of the Christian Church, from the Greek word for "thanksgiving". Also known as the Mass or Holy Communion, it reenacts Christ's sacrifice on the cross and commemorates the Last Supper. According to traditional Catholic Christian belief, consecrated bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ; in Protestant belief, bread and wine symbolize the body and blood.
Define chalice.
The cup where the wine is placed.
What doors in Rome inspired Bishop Bernward to commission the doors at Hildesheim?
The doors at Santa Sabina.
What occurred in 79 CE? And what is its significance?
The eruption of Vesuvius. the walls of the House of Vettii were repainted and Fourth Style Decoration was discovered. preserved houses along the city streets of Pompeii and the Villa of The Mysteries.
Define ambulatory.
The passage (walkway) around the apse in a church, especially a basilica, or around the central space in a central-plan building.
How are the Roman cities similar to their Etruscan counterparts?
They were designed on a grid with 2 bisecting main streets crossing at right angles to divide the layout into quarters.
T/F: A colophon is the last page of an illuminated manuscript or book where scribes or artists signed and dated their work.
True.
T/F: An icon is an image representing a sacred figure or event in the Byzantine Church.
True.
T/F: Chartres was the site of a pre-Christian virgin-goddess cult, and later, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it became one of the oldest and most important Christian shrines in France.
True.
T/F: Emperor Constantine the Great commissioned the construction of Old St. Peter's Basilica.
True.
T/F: In the Equestrian portrait of Marcus Aurelius, his hair and beard are suggestive of a Greek Philosopher.
True.
T/F: In the Great Mosque at Cordoba, the marble columns and capitals in the hypostyle prayer hall were recycled from the regional Christian and Roman structures.
True.
T/F: Intuitive perspective is a method of giving the impression of recession by visual instinct, not by the use of an overall system.
True.
T/F: Muhammad's act of emptying the Kaaba of its pagan idols instituted the fundamental practice of avoiding figural imagery in Islamic religious architecture.
True.
T/F: Octavian claimed that his family descended from Venus, which is evidenced by the inclusion of Cupid riding a dolphin in the Augustus of Primaporta.
True.
T/F: The Arch of Constantine was the first triumphal arch to commemorate a victory over a non-foreign enemy.
True.
T/F: The Bronze Doors at Hildesheim are notable as they were both the most ambitious bronze-casting since antiquity and each door was cast as a single piece.
True.
T/F: The central, octagonal plan of Charlemagne's Palace Chapel recalls the church of San Vitale in Ravenna.
True.
T/F: The robes worn by Christ in the Crucifix (MAJESTAT BATLLÓ) are suggestive of his kingship.
True.
T/F: The type represented by the Reliquary of St. Foy - which takes the form of a statue of the saint—was quite popular in the region around Conques.
True.
T/F: The use of light in Gothic cathedrals, such as the one at Chartres, was viewed in the Gothic period as an expression of the Divine.
True.
T/F: Unlike Early Christian basilicas, the exteriors of Tuscan churches during the Romanesque period were richly decorated with green and white marble.
True.
What are the salient features of Roman art and architecture at the height of imperial power and expanse?
Used concrete. dense building plan. mosaics became popular for decorating homes. portraits are objects of propaganda.
Who were the Flavians? And what marks the beginning of their dynasty?
Vespasian seized control of the government in 69 CE, founding the Flavian dynasty. Led by practical military men who inspired confidence and ruled for the rest of the first century, restored imperial finances and stabilized the frontiers. return of old age enhancement to project sense of wisdom and accomplishment in art.
What natural resource is highlighted by the architecture at Alhambra?
Water.
Which of the following is the monumental, west-facing entrance section to a Carolingian, Ottonian, or Romanesque church?
Westwork.
What happened in 1066 in England?
William II of Normandy invaded England and became that country's new king, Norman nobles replaced the Anglo-Saxon nobility, and England became politically and culturally allied with Normandy.
Define chi rho.
XP, Greek letters chi and rho, standing for Christos.
Define chi rho iota?
XPI. Greek letters, abbreviate the word Christi, which starts the Latin phrase Christi autem generatio.
Define forum.
a Roman town center; site of temples and administrative buildings and used as a market or gathering area for the citizens.
Define mosque.
a building used for communal Islamic worship.
Define baldacchino
a canopy suspended over a sacred space, also called a ciborium.
Define pilgrimage church.
a church that attracts visitors wishing to venerate relics as well as attend religious services.
Define hall church.
a church with nave and aisles of the same height, giving the impression of a large, open hall.
Define martyrium.
a church, chapel, or shrine built over the grave of a Christian martyr.
Define trumeau.
a column, pier, or post found at the center of a large portal or doorway, supporting the lintel.
Define reliquary.
a container, often elaborate and made of precious materials, used as a repository for sacred relics.
What is the Kaaba? And how is it significant to the faith of Islam?
a cubelike, textile draped shrine said to have been built for God by Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma'il (Ishmael) and long the focus of pilgrimage and polytheistic worship. the symbolic center of the Islamic world, the place to which all Muslim prayer is directed, and the ultimate destination of Islam's obligatory pilgrimage, the hajj.
What is an ancient Roman basilica?
a large rectangular building. Often built with a clerestory, side aisles separated from the center nave by colonnades, and an apse at one or both ends. Originally Roman centers for administration, later adapted to Christian church use.
Define idealization.
a process in art through which artists strive to make their forms and figures attain perfection, based on pervading cultural values and/or their own personal ideals.
Define mihrab.
a recess or niche that distinguishes the wall oriented toward Mecca (qibla) in a mosque.
Define hemicycle.
a semicircular interior space or structure.
Define arcade.
a series of arches, carried by columns or piers and supporting a common wall or lintel.
Who was Julius Caesar?
adopted Octavian as his son and heir. murdered by group of conspirators after refusing the imperial crown from the Senate.
What are the characteristics of the "First Romanesque" style?
all-masonry. building platform stabilized by strongly buttressed retaining walls. early stone vaulted buildings.
What is the alpha and omega and how does it relate to Christian iconography?
alpha and omega letters that signify the beginning and the end of time, combined with the image of Christ, symbolically represent an idea-the everlasting dominion of the heavenly Christ.
What traditions of Byzantine art and architecture are established during its middle period?
ambitious projects of restoration and renewal, redecorating church interiors with figural images and producing new icons in a variety of media for the devotional practices of the faithful. saw a renewal in expansion of the power and presence of monasteries in the Byzantine world. patronage of the Macedonian dynasty stimulated new golden age. intensified interest in styles and themes of Classical art. taste for multiplicity of geometric forms, for verticality, and for rich decorative effects both inside and out.
What is a madrasa?
an Islamic institution of higher learning, where teaching is focused on theology and law.
Define transverse arch?
an arch that connects the wall piers on both sides of an interior space, up and over a stone vault.
Define flying buttress.
an arched bridge above the aisle roof that extends from the upper nave wall, where the lateral thrust of the main vault is greatest, down to a solid pier.
Define Icon.
an image representing a sacred figure or event in the Byzantine Church. venerated by the faithful, who believe their prayers are transmitted through them to God.
Who were the Cistercians?
an order whose reform began in 1098 with the founding of the abbey of Citeaux. led by the commanding figure Abbot, later St. Bernard of Clairvaux, advocated strict mental and physical discipline and a life devoted to prayer and intellectual pursuits combined with shared manual labor. depended on the work of laypeople. settled in reclaimed swamps and wild forests.
What is a synagogue?
any large room where the Torah scrolls are kept and read; site of communal social gatherings. Jewish.
Anastasis (from the Church of the Monastery of Christ, Chora)
apse of the funerary chapel. c. 1321. Fresco. drawn from the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus-Jesus demonstrates his powers of salvation by descending into limbo after his death on the cross to save his righteous Hebrew forebears from Satan's grasp.
Why is monumental architectural stone sculpture revived in the Romanesque period, and how is the style extended into works in wood and bronze?
architecture provided the physical context for the revival of stone sculpture. mute facades were transformed into speaking facades with richly carved portals that projected bold symbolic and didactic programs to the outside world. painted wood was used when abbey and parish churches of limited means commissioned statues. wood was cheap, lightweight. bronze sculpture was produced for only the wealthy aristocratic and ecclesiastical patrons. drew on variety of stylistic sources including Byzantine and Italian, and Classical.
How do the Gothic architecture and sculpture of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire compare with the foundational monuments in France?
architecture: increasing importance of the sermon in church services led architects in Germany to develop the hall church. characterized by a nave and side aisles of equal height. sculpture: powerful current of realism. polychromy.
From where does the name Byzantine originate?
art historians apply the term to the art and architecture of Constantinople whose ancient name was Byzantium before Constantine changed it.
Who were the Normans?
astute and skillful administrators who formed a close alliance with the church.
Briefly outline the explanations for Byzantine Iconoclasm?
b/t 726 and 730, Emperor Leo III imposed iconoclasm, initiating systematic destruction of images of saints and sacred stories on icons and in churches, and persecution of those who made them and defended their use. Constantine V enforced these policies and practices with more fervor, but at the end of the reign of Leo IV, his widow Empress Irene put an end to iconoclasm in 787 through a church council held in Nicea. Leo V instituted a 2nd phase of iconoclasm in 813, and it remained imperial policy until March 11, 843, when the widowed Empress Theodora reversed her husband Theophilus's policy and reinstated the central place of images in Byzantine devotional practice.
What characterizes the metalworking traditions of migrating people from the east who settled in the former territory of the Western Roman Empire?
barbarian groups were superb metalworkers and created magnificent, colorful jewelry with precious metals and inlays of gems. most motifs were geometric or highly abstracted natural forms. casting their general shape into two-piece molds, refining and chasing them with tools, and inlaying cut garnets to provide color and sparkle.
What are the geographical and historical backgrounds for the early art and architecture of the European Middle Ages?
barbarians. metalwork with animal geometric ornament. wooden architecture.
What are the mendicant orders?
begging monks. espoused an ideal of poverty, charity, and love, and they dedicated themselves to teaching and preaching while living among the urban poor.
Cathedral of St. Mark
begun 1063, Venice. designed as a Greek cross, with arms of equal length. a dome covers each square unit- five domes in all, separated by barrel vaults and supported by pendentives. complex space.
Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Pisa
begun 1063. dedicated to the Virgin Mary. designed as a cruciform basilica by the master builder Busketos.
Dome of the Rock
begun 691. Israel. built over the rock from which Muslims believe Muhammad ascended to the presence of God on the "Night Journey" described in the Qur'an, as well as the site of the First and Second Jewish Temples. 1st great monument of Islamic art. imitates centrally planned form of Early Christian and Byzantine martyria. crowned by a golden dome that dominates the skyline.
Great Mosque, Cordorba
begun 785/786. Spain. interior incorporates spoila columns of slightly varying heights. horseshoe arches.
When was the story of Jesus's life and collections of his teachings recorded?
between about 70 and 100 CE in four Gospels at the beginning of the New Testament.
What is Kufic script?
blocky and angular, with strong upright strokes and long horizontals.
What characterizes the early formation of Islamic art and architecture?
borrowed artistic styles from Rome, Byzantium, Persia, India, and China.
What elements of the massive building campaign define the Imperial period?
building programs of unprecedented scale and complexity, mandating the construction of central administrative and legal centers (forums and basilicas), recreational facilities (racetracks, stadiums), temples, markets, theaters, public baths, aqueducts, middle-class housing, and even entire new towns.
Great Mosque, Damascus
built in 706 through the patronage of the Umayyad caliph al-Walid I. large rectangular space divided into a courtyard surrounded by arcaded porticos on 3 sides and a broad hypostyle prayer hall oriented towards Mecca. incorporation of large minarets that stand as powerful signs of Islam's presence in the city. recall Roman and Byzantine architecture. ancient Roman sanctuary platform was reused for its foundation, and Roman columns and carved stonework were incorporated into the building fabric.
Villard de Honnecourt, Geometric figures
c. 1230. ink on vellum.
Four Tetrarchs
c. 300 CE, Porphyry. nearly identical, the senior Augusti have beards, the junior Caesars are clean-shaven. Dressed in military garb, clasping swords at their sides, embrace each other in a show of imperial unity.
Church of Santa Costanza
c. 350. central plan Christian building, tomb of Constantina, Constantine's daughter, consecrated as a church in 1256, dedicated to Santa Costanza.
Church of Santa Sabina
c. 422-432. Rome, constructed by Bishop Peter of Illyria.
What are the birth and death dates for Muhammad?
c. 570-632 CE.
Arch of Titus
c. 81 CE. concrete and white marble. free standing gateway whose passage is covered by a barrel vault.
Define Triumphal Procession
celebration of triumph.
How do Roman traditions influence the development of art and architecture during the Carolingian Empire?
central octagonal plan recall church of San Vitale in Ravenna. large masonry audience hall and chapel facing each other across a large square (reminiscent of Roman forum). Capitals in illustrated books were continued from Roman inscriptions.
What is the St. Gall plan and what was its aim?
conceptual plan for the layout of monasteries. to house a monastic community.
Cathedral of Notre-Dame, Chartres
constructed in several stages beginning mid 12th century. dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Who were the Celts and what region did they control?
controlled most of western Europe.
Book of Kells
dense thicket of patterns derived from metalworking traditions that embellish the Chi Rho monogram of Christ.
Architecture of San Vitale
designed as a central domed octagon surrounded by 8 radiating exedrae (wall niches), surrounded in turn by an ambulatory gallery, all covered by vaults.
Augustus of Primaporta
discovered in Livia's villa at Primaporta. Early 1st century CE. marble, originally painted with color. idealized.
Who was St Augustine of Hippo and what was his contribution to Romanesque architecture?
early theologian. the numerical and proportional systems guiding the design of such seemingly simple buildings are saturated with the sacred numerical systems outlined by such theologians.
Who was Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim?
emerged as an important patron under Henry II and Queen Kunigunde. skillful goldsmith who closely supervised the artists working for him. Bronze doors were made under his direction for the abbey church of St. Michael in Hildesheim and installed by him in 1015. represented the most ambitious bronze-casting project undertaken since antiquity.
Reliquary of St. Foy
encased relic of the skull of Sainte Foy. gold and jeweled statue whose unusually large head was made from a reused late Roman work.
Define Gospel book.
essential for spiritual and liturgical life within established monasteries and for the missionary activities of the Church. often bound in gold and jeweled covers, placed on church altars, carried in processions, and even thought to protect parishioners from enemies, predators, diseases, and other misfortunes. produced by monks in local monastic workshops called scriptoria.
Who was Charlemagne?
established a dynasty and an empire known as Carolingian. descended from a family that had followed the Merovingians in the late 7th century as rulers of the Franks in northern Gaul.
Define Augustus.
exalted or sacred.
Define porphyry.
extremely hard, purple stone from Egypt that was reserved for imperial use.
Define minuscule.
extremely small; tiny.
Abbey Church of St. Denis
first Gothic building. founded in the 5th century over the tomb of St. Denis. housed tombs of the kings of France, the regalia of the French crown, and the relics of St. Denis, patron saint of France. construction began in 1130s. Suger.
Who was Octavian?
first Roman emperor born in 63 BCE. at 18 he was adopted by Julius Caesar. Caesar was murdered and Octavian took the imperial crown.
Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Marburg
first true Gothic hall church, one of earliest Gothic buildings in Germany. early German form with choir and transepts of equal size, each ending in apses. nave and aisles of equal height.
Who was St. Francis of Assisi?
founded the first mendicant order Franciscans. son of a wealthy merchant gave away his possessions and devoted his life to God and the poor. he wrote a simple rule for his followers, who were called brothers or friars, and the pope approved the new order in 1209-1210.
Stave Church, Borgund, Norway
four corner staves supporting the central roof, with additional interior posts that create the effect of a nave and side aisles, narthex, and choir.
What is Muhammad's night journey?
from Mecca to Jerusalem. As alluded to in the Qurʾān (17:1), a journey was made by a servant of God, in a single night, from the "sacred place of worship" (al-masjid al-ḥarām) to the "further place of worship" (al-masjid al-aqṣā).
What is significant about the Edict of Milan?
granted freedom to all religious groups.
How is architecture transformed across Europe during the Romanesque period?
great construction activity in Europe. New castles, manor houses, churches, and monasteries arose everywhere. inflected regionally, and the style varied in character from place to place. stone masonry. portals were often encrusted with sculptures that broadcast the moral and theological messages of the Church to a wide public.
Define conches.
halfdomes.
Define illuminated manuscript.
hand-written books with painted decoration that generally includes precious metals such as gold or silver.
How is the city of Byzantium significant to Constantine?
he made it the new capital of Roman Empire and renamed it after himself: Constantinople.
What happened to Charlemagne in 800 CE?
he was crowned emperor in a ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the successor of Constantine, the first Christian emperor.
Define paten.
holds the Eucharist bread.
Define horseshoe arch. Also, how does it differ from a Roman-style arch?
horseshoe arch: an arch of more than a half-circle; typical of Western Islamic architecture. the center point is above the level of the arch's springing point, so that it pinches inward above the capital.
Coronation Gospels
idealized, lifelike representation of the Greco-Roman Classical tradition. early 9th century.
Mosaics of San Vitale
in halfdome of the sanctuary apse St. Vitalis and Bishop Ecclesius flank an image of Christ enthroned. other sanctuary images relate to its use for the celebration of the Eucharist. lunette on north wall shows an altar table set for the meal that Abraham offers to 3 disguised angels, and next to it is a portrayal of his near-sacrifice of Issac. Emperor Justinian and His Attendants: North wall of the apse. Empress Theodora and Her Attendants: South wall of the apse.
Define tympanum.
in medieval and later architecture, the area over a door enclosed by an arch and a lintel, often decorated with sculpture or mosaic.
How do stylistic aspects of "barbarian" metalworking traditions continue in the Early Christian art of the British Isles?
influenced illuminated manuscript. inlay of jewels and gems. also influenced the monumental stone crosses erected in Ireland during the 8th century called high crosses.
Bronze doors at Hildesheim
installed in 1015. each door was cast as a single piece using the lost-wax process.
What happens to the Roman empire in the fifth century?
it fell.
What features characterize Islamic art and architecture under the Ottoman and Safavid dynasties?
large-scale architectural projects, the decorative arts flourished, chief among them, ceramics, particularly tiles. Iznik tiles, named for the city in Anatolia where they were produced, developed a trademark style of curling vines and flowers rendered in beautiful shades of blue and turquoise. silks and carpets.Ottoman mosque architecture itself is marked by the use of domes, widely used earlier in Byzantium, and towering minarets. The Byzantine influence draws primarily from Hagia Sophia, a former church that was converted into a mosque.The art of manuscript illumination was highly prized in the Safavid courts, and royal patrons made many large-scale commissions. Perhaps the most notable of these is the Shahnama (or 'Book of Kings,' a compilation of stories about earlier rulers of Iran) from the 1520s. While painting in this context did not have the same prominent and longstanding tradition as it does in Western art, the illustrations exhibit masterful workmanship and an incredible attention to detail. carpets and other luxurious furnishings.
How does English Gothic architecture differ from French examples?
less emphasis on height than in France. English churches have long, broad naves and screen-like facades.
Define mandorla.
light encircling, or emanating from, the entire figure of a sacred person.
Study the architectural terms for both the groundplan and elevation of Old St. Peter's Basilica.
longitudinal-plan arrangement that has characterized Christian basilican churches. an atrium, or courtyard, in front of the basilica and a narthex across its width at the entrance end provided a place for people who had not yet been baptized. 5 doorways-large central portal into the nave and 2 portals on each side- gave access to the church. columns supporting an entablature lined tall nave, forming a nave colonnade, and above the entablature windows within the upper walls brought light directly into the nave space. running parallel to nave colonnade on each side was another row of columns that created shorter double side aisles; columns supported round arches rather than entablature. roofs of both nave and aisles were supported by wooden rafters. sarcophagi and and tombs lined the side aisles and graves were dug under the floor. at the apse end of the nave, architects added innovative transept-perpendicular hall crossing in front of the apse, giving the plan a T-shape.
What is the difference between a longitudinal-planned building versus a centrally-planned structure?
longitudinal: any structure designed with a rectangular shape and a longitudinal axis. central: any structure designed with a primary central space surrounded by symmetrical areas on each side.
What significant innovation is associated with Islamic ceramics in the ninth century?
lusterware.
Before the invention of printing from movable type in the mid-1400s, how were books made?
made by hand, one at a time, by monks.
Why did Paris become a center of production of illuminated manuscripts?
manuscript painters flocked to Paris from other regions to join workshops supervised by university officials who controlled the production and distribution of books.
Nicola Pisano, Pisa Baptistery Pulpit
marble. 1260. Nicola identifies himself in an inscription. columns topped with leafy Corinthian capitals support standing figures and Gothic trefoil arches. illustrate New Testament subjects, each framed as an independent composition.
How did metalwork influence monumental stone crosses in Ireland?
modeled on metal ceremonial or reliquary crosses, outlined with rope like convex moldings and covered with spirals and interlace. the large bosses which form a cross within this cross, resemble the jewels that were similarly placed on metal crosses.
What is significant about monasteries throughout the Middle Ages and across Europe?
monasteries were principal centers of art and learning.
Why was there a boom in glassmaking in Egypt and Syria?
mosques and other small establishments required hundreds of lamps.
How does the Gothic style originate at the monastery of Saint-Denis in the 1140s and develop in France over the next century?
new choir. stained glass windows that are taller and pointed. rib vaulting.
How were commemorative ivory diptychs used?
new consuls would send notices of their election to friends and colleagues by inscribing them in wax that filled a recessed rectangular area on the inner sides of a pair of ivory panels carved with elaborate decoration on the outside. Christians adapted the practice for religious use, inscribing a diptych with the names of people to be remembered with prayers during the liturgy.
How do Islamic art and architecture develop in Egypt, Spain, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan?
new dynasties. new functional buildings such as tombs, madrasas, public fountains, and urban hotels. inns were constructed for traveling merchants. complex architecture. central courtyard framed by four large iwans.
What changes and innovations in art and architecture take place when Rome becomes an empire?
new form of Roman idealism that revived Greek Classical ideals. enriched portraiture in both official images and representations of private individuals, recorded contemporary historical events on public monuments, and they contributed to Roman imperial propaganda.
What defines Macedonian Renaissance?
new golden age of Byzantine art. marked by intensified interest in the styles and themes of Classical art, as well as by a general revitalization of intellectual life.
What are the cultural and historical backgrounds for Gothic art and architecture?
new style emerged with monarchy as powerful centralizing force. advances in building technology allowed progressively larger windows and ever loftier vaults.
How did the Ottonian ideology take visual form on the ivory Otto I Presenting Magdeburg Cathedral to Christ?
on an ivory plaque. hierarchic scale, the mighty emperor is the smallest figure and the saints and angels are taller than Otto but smaller than Christ. Otto is embraced by the patron saint of this church, St. Maurice, a 3rd century military commander who was martyred for refusing to worship pagan gods. Otto holds cathedral that is a basilica with prominent clerestory windows and a rounded apse.
Lindisfarne Gospels
one of most extraordinary manuscripts. full pages of ornament set within cross-shape frameworks, complex visual puzzles that require patient and extended viewing. portraits of the evangelists. Carpet pages.
How does early Byzantine Art develop in the Eastern Roman Empire?
onset of the iconoclast controversy that led to the destruction of religious images.
Define chasing.
ornamentation made on metal by incising or hammering the surface.
What are the two new cultural forces fostered by the church during this period?
pilgrimages and crusades.
How does the tympanum at the Church of Saint-Lazare differ from that on the South Portal at St. Pierre?
portrays the Last Judgement. stylized figures that are thinner and taller than Moissac, stretched out and bent at sharp angles. powerfully expressive and hauntingly beautiful. surrounding figures are not arranged in regular compartmentalized tiers. posture and placement conform to their involvement in the story they enact.
Where did early Christians worship?
private apartments or houses or in buildings constructed after domestic models. worship became more ritualized and complex, they developed special buildings- churches and baptisteries.
How did monasteries contribute to the intellectual life of Europe?
provide valuable social services, including caring for the sick and destitute, housing travelers, and educating the elite.
Charlemagne's Palace at Aachen
provides an example of the Carolingian synthesis of Roman, Early Christian, and northern styles.
What are the characteristics of portraiture during the Late Imperial period?
radically, new, hard style of geometricized abstraction. no clear sense of likeness. militaristic, severe, and abstract rather than suave, slick, and classicizing.
Who was Abbot Suger?
rebuilt the abbey church of Saint-Denis. divine luminosity. light could transport people to the divine.
Define coffers.
recessed decorative panels used to decorate ceilings or vaults. the use of coffers is called coffering.
What was Scholasticism?
reconciling Christian theology with Classical philosophy. used a question and answer method of argument and arranged their ideas into logical outlines.
What important relic was house in Venice since 828/829?
relics of St. Mark the apostle.
Who was Diocletian and what was his contribution to the government of Rome?
restored real order to the empire, divided the empire into 2. he would rule in the East with the title of "Augustus", and another Augustus, Maximian, would rule in the West. 293 CE he devised form of govt, tetrarchy, "rule of four", each Augustus designated a subordinate and heir who held the title of "Caesar". Four individuals would rule Roman Empire, now divided in 4 quadrants.
What are the important developments in Italian sculpture and painting during the late Middle Ages?
sculpture: classicizing and naturalistic style. Classical in inspiration. painting: imported style "maniera greca", "The Greek Manner" influenced 13th and 14th century Italian painting in style and technique and introduced new emphasis on pathos and emotion.
What stylistic characteristics define the mosaics at the Monastery Church of the Dormition at Daphni?
seem to have conceived by their compositions in relation to an intellectual ideal. eliminated all "unnecessary" detail to focus on the essential elements of a narrative scene, conveying its mood and message in a moving but elegant style.
What are the distinctive ornamental styles and enduring timber architectural traditions of the Vikings?
ships: sleek sea serpents, used them for burials as well as sea journeys. symbolize the dead warrior's passage to Valhalla. originally painted black, white, red, brown, and yellow. all women worked in the fiber arts. Vikings erected large memorial stones, covered with inscriptions, called rune stones, figural decoration on them meant they were picture stones. were originally painted in bright colors. timber architecture: two forms of timber construction evolved, one that stacked horizontal logs, notched at the ends, to form a rectangular building; and another that stood the wood on end to form a palisade or vertical plank wall, with timbers set directly in the ground or into a sill. modest buildings consisted of wooden frames filled with wattle-and-daub. typical buildings had a turf or thatched roof supported on interior posts.
What are the characteristics of Cistercian architecture?
simplicity, austerity, and purity.
What are the characteristic features of the Romanesque style in painting in textiles and manuscript painting?
small in scale. enamel and jewel encrusted. moralizing.
What are the stylistic characteristics of Romanesque architecture?
solid masonry walls and rounded arches and vaults characteristic of imperial Roman buildings. timber remained common, but builders mostly used stone masonry since it was stronger and more durable. stone towers sometimes marked the church as the most important building in the community. portals were often encrusted with sculptures that broadcast the moral and theological messages of the Church to a wide public.
Define sarcophagus.
stone coffin. Often rectangular and decorated with relief sculpture.
Bayeux Tapestry
strip of embroidered linen that recounts the history of the Norman Conquest of England.
Define caliph.
successor of Muhammad.
Pantheon.
temple to Mars, Venus, and the divine Julius Caesar. c. 110-128 CE.
Define pendentives.
the concave triangular section of a vault that forms the transition between a square or polygonal space and the circular base of a dome.
Define colophon.
the data placed at the end of a book listing the book's author, publisher, illuminator, and other information related to its production.
Define triforium.
the element of the interior elevation of a church found directly below the clerestory and consisting of a series of arched openings in front of a passageway within the thickness of the wall.
Who were the Nasrids?
the last Spanish Muslim dynasty.
Define westwork.
the monumental, west-facing entrance section of a Carolingian, Ottonian, or Romanesque church. The exterior consists of multiple stories between two towers; the interior includes an entrance vestibule, a chapel, and a series of galleries overlooking the nave.
Define cathedral.
the principal Christian church in a diocese, the bishop's administrative center and housing his throne.
Define naos.
the principal room in a temple or church. in ancient architecture, the cella. in a Byzantine church, the nave and sanctuary.
Why did Muslims, in general, treat Christians and Jews with protected status?
they were "People of the Book".
Equestrian Portrait of Marcus Aurelius
thick curly hair and full beard, resembles traditional "philosopher" portraits from the Greek world. c. 176 CE. bronze. wears no armor and carries no weapons.
What methods did Charlemagne use to restore the Western Empire as a Christian state?
turned to Benedictine monks and nuns. became his cultural army. "the Renewal of the Roman Empire".
Define diptych.
two panels of equal size hinged together.
Why was the faith of Islam able to spread quickly across many regions?
under the leadership of its founder Prophet Muhammad and his successors, it spread rapidly.
How do architecture, sculpture, and painting develop in Ottonian Europe?
unity of the Church and state, takes visual form on an ivory plaque. Early Christian and Carolingian architecture was used. sculptors worked in ivory, bronze, wood, and other materials rather than stone. illuminated manuscript was like their Carolingian predecessors.
What features of late antique Jewish and Christian art and architecture derive from Roman conventions?
use epic historical presentation, a Roman tradition. built meeting places designed on the model of the ancient Roman basilica. Christians: derives style and imagery from Jewish and Roman visual traditions. Christian catacomb paintings resemble murals in houses such as those preserved in Pompeii and Rome. Classical forms taken from the Romans. used basilicas as churches.
Define relic.
venerated object or body part associated with a holy figure, such as a saint, and usually housed in a reliquary.
Who was Constantine the Great?
victorious against Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. ended persecution of Christians and recognized Christianity as a lawful religion. issued the Edict of Milan, early model of religious toleration, in 313 CE. made Byzantium new capital of Roman Empire and renamed it Constantinople.
What is significant about the qibla wall?
wall of prayer hall that is closest to Mecca.
Why was wood used as a medium for statues?
was cheap and lightweight.
Who was Louis IX?
young king (ruled 1226-1270). gifted the rose window to Chartres Cathedral.
Who rises to power in Europe after the fall of the Roman empire?
The Celts.
Define stave church.
a Scandinavian wooden structure with four huge timbers (staves) at its core.
Define minbar.
a high platform or pulpit in a mosque.
Define scriptorium.
a room in a monastery for writing or copying manuscripts.
Who was Ecclesius?
bishop of Ravenna.
What is the difference between veneration and idolatry?
veneration: respect or awe inspired by the dignity, wisdom, dedication, or talent of a person. idolatry: the worship of idols.
Define tetrarchy.
"rule of four", each Augustus designated a subordinate and heir who held the title of "Caesar". 4 individuals would rule the Roman Empire, divided into 4 quadrants.