Art History Exam #2
Artist? Woman Holding a Balance
Johannes Vermeer - Dutch Republic
Artist? Calling of Saint Matthew
Caravaggio - Italy
Artist? Flower Still Life Country?
Rachel Ruysch - Dutch Republic
How were non-Europeans viewed and depicted during the 18th and 19th centuries? What is Orientalism?
- As we saw in 18th and 19th century European Art, people from other cultures were often depicted as exotic curiosities - generally viewed Native Americans (and many other cultures) as less advanced and sometimes depicted as violent - popular idea of the "noble savage". Orientalism is exotic, foreign things appealed to the imagination - as Europeans came in more contact with other cultures in Asia and Africa - artists became interested in highlighting the cultural differences, sometimes emphasized aspects of these cultures that reflected certain Europeans prejudices and assumptions about them.
Characterize the Rococo style and its context. Where and why did the Rococo style develop? Who was it about and directed towards?
- Began in France...occurs after Louis XIV dies, 1715: regency (1715-1723) and reign of Louis XV (r. 1723- 1774) ...peoples who lives have been dominated by his whole rule. The characteristics of Rococo are emphasis on pastel colors (pinks, blues, light greens, purples), - Delicate and curving forms for designs (might see flowers or vines) called arabesques, Delicate figures (rosy cheeks and always smiling), Lighthearted mood (patrons want to see leisure's and good times). The patrons of Rococo art are the aristocrats - and the figures were often portrayed in the paintings as having a good time, having parties, and all the things they typically do. Was not well liked by people of lower classes - was criticized by a lot of enlightenment philosophers.
Artist? Cornelia Pointing to Her Children as Her Treasures
Angelica Kaufmann (Swiss)
Artist? Hundreds of Birds Admiring the Peacocks (silk hanging scroll)
Hong Yin
What are the main themes and concerns in Aztec and Inca art? How do the themes in their art compare with those of Renaissance Europe? How were they affected by European contact?
- Status, power; religious belief; design values; gender divisions are all common themes around the world in artwork. In the renaissance these were also common themes in Europe especially status and power in patron works. The Aztecs and Incans were decimated by the Europeans due to disease, being pushed off their land ,conquering of their tribes by the Europeans.
What are the main themes and concerns of the North American peoples? What were the different regional expressions, materials, and functions of art?
- The Northwestern tribes made wooden masks, totem poles, structures, and other works in wood; textiles. Totem poles: a pole on which totems are hung or on which images are carved - represent a hierarchy and commemorate ancestry, histories, people, or events. Created out of malleable wood (red cedar) and would erected to be visible within a community. Their themes include animal imagery is common; works reflect religious beliefs and familial histories and affiliations. - The Great Plains tribes made portable items including tipis (portable dwellings), leather goods (from the animals they hunted) with quill and bead designs, body painting, weapons. Their themes were to display affiliations and status; depict stories like battles. - The Southwestern tribes made ceramics, sand paintings, textiles, metalwork, some groups known for their apartment-like adobe dwellings, called pueblos, "villages" by the Spanish conquistadors. - The Eastern Woodlands tribes made works in shell, quillwork; basketry, and beadwork; body adornment (tattoos, body paint, dress). These groups had the earliest contact with European settlers, and some of their works reflect the trade that occurred between them.
Generally, what characterizes the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties?
- Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368 (Mongols) Marco Polo: China was invaded and taken over by the Mongols and established a dynasty...created a capital in Beijing - not that big of a cultural difference when they overtook. Great wall was created to keep the Mongols out. Marco Polo was a European explorer and came to China during this time...created a travel log and claimed to have met the emperor of China...inspiration for the age of exploration later in the 15th century. - Ming Dynasty, 1368 - 1644: A period of greatness in Chinese history. The Mongols are kicked out and Chinese rule comes back into play...an explosion of Chinese culture with art and porcelain. -Qing Dynasty, 1644 - 1911 (Manchus): Manchus from Manchuria come and invade the Chinese...the culture stays the same, but lots of political conflict. There is more influence with the Europeans. In 1911 there is a revolution, and it becomes a republic, and the emperors are no more.
What was the Grand Tour? What are vedute?
A grand tour is almost like study abroad...you go live in an area or country for awhile to observe the different things of a place - similar to empiricism. Upper- and middle-class people would go there and visit certain cities that are famous and culturally significant...a teacher or tutor would go around and help the "students" learn and get around. A vedute is views of famous sites that people visited...almost like postcards! Very appealing to tourists...not always what you really see but still significant for people.
How did the Catholic Church use art to fit the purposes of the Counter Reformation?
A move by the catholic church to counter the Protestant Reformation and bring people back the Church. Tintoretto and El Greco style at the end of the renaissance was the start of the Baroque style. The church tried to provide an experience to not leave the church and bring more followers in from Protestantism. They also wanted to inspire people and assert their dominance with art, architecture, and sculpture.
What are the characteristics of Baroque art and architecture and how do they compare/contrast with the Renaissance? Where are these characteristics evident in the Baroque works listed above?
Baroque is very complex, theatrical, dramatic, decorative/ornate (very grand and decorative...over the top with decorative - impressive), while the Renaissance is very simple, calm, rational/orderly, clear (not a lot of intense emotions are going on...very simple artwork and everything is there for a reason)
Forbidden City, Where is it located (what city in China)?
Beijing, China
Artist? The Death of General Wolfe
Benjamin West (American)
Who is the Artist? Saint Teresa of Ávila in Ecstasy, Cornaro Chapel, Rome Country?
Bernini - Italy
What was influential about Caravaggio's paintings?
Caravaggio created the technique called tenebrism which is the method of creating a very shadowy scene with the light focused on the main figures - created a dramatic effect to his paintings. This made it look like the figures were on stage and the dark areas the viewer could place themselves in the scene. This method would be adopted by many artists in the period and future periods. He also had very realistic or naturalistic looking figures in his paintings which a lot of renaissance artist did not with their idealized figures.
How are Confucian and Daoist principles reflected in Chinese art?
Daoism is about maintaining balance with nature and the universe...Dao means the way (more of a philosophy than a religion - going with the flow) Life was the most important things for Daoist's. Confucianism values order and having good moral character into society...created by Confucius...creating a more social order...five valued relationships to maintain order based on responsibly (the emperor to his people...emperor is supposed to be a moral person and protect his people...and the people are supposed to honor and respect the emperor, and everything will be in balance) More about living by moral codes.
What was the relationship between China and Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries? How did they view each other, and what did they find appealing about each other's art? What is porcelain and chinoiserie?
During this time Europeans started to travel and become aware of different cultures, and Europe began to trade with Asian countries. Europeans especially women and aristocrats were interested in Chinese culture and their porcelain pieces that the Chinese are famous for. The Chinese were not really interested in European culture - tried to keep the Europeans out often, they really only were interested in their art and clocks. Porcelain is a type of ceramic that is fired at high temperatures and turns white, the clay to make it only found in China. The best porcelain was made in the Ming Dynasty - and this was the kind that Europeans wanted the most. Chinoiserie is a French word for the fascination with China and Chinese things - Europeans often tried to recreate popular Chinese art and porcelain.
What distinguishes etching?
Etching is the oldest style of printmaking used by Duher, Goya, and Rembrandt created in the 15th century. It was created by armorers who wanted to add designs to their pieces. It is done by adding strong acid to a piece of metal and creating a design in the unprotected parts of the metal.
Artist?, Third of May, 1808
Francisco Goya
Jean-Antoine Houdon, Subject (who was the 1st US president)?
George Washington
Hardouin-Mansart and Le Brun, Hall of Mirrors, Palace of _____? France
Hall of Mirrors - Palace of Versailles - Versailles, France
Machu Picchu, in what country?
Incan civil village - Peru (Andes Mountains)
Artist of Oath of the Horatii
Jacques-Louis David
Artist? Pilgrimage to the Island of Cythera
Jean-Antoine Watteau
What are the differences between the literati and professional traditions of ink painting in China? Generally, who did each practitioner serve, and what was expressed in each type of painting?
Literati are scholar artists...meaning they can read and write...normally working for the emperor or the court...you may be a professional artist or for own pleasure (hobby). Professional artists make art for their own pleasure or their friends...not for the emperor/royal court. Professional artists generally create art with animals and nature are big subjects of these works (natural references relate to different things in the artwork...dedicated to the person that it is giving to).
Who was Louis XIV, and what was his importance? How did he use art to proclaim his power?
Louis XIV was the king of France - the longest reigning monarch for 73 years! Major patron of the arts in France...created the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1648. Louis XIV oversees the construction of the Palace of Versailles...smaller hunting lodge but was reconstructed. Very grand and decorative...with underlying classical order in architecture - as Versailles is ordered so is France...Louis has everything under control.
Thomas Jefferson, Name of home?, near Charlottesville, VA
Monticello - United States
Boffrand, Salon de la Princesse, Hôtel de Soubise, City?
Paris, France
Michelangelo, Maderno, & Bernini, Saint _____? Basilica and Piazza, Vatican, City?, Italy
Saint Peter's Basilica - Rome, Italy
What was the Enlightenment? How are its values reflected in art of the 18th and 19th centuries?
Science and philosophy (new understandings of the world...new emphasis on the natural world and trying to understand things in a scientific ways). This was also a time of war and revolution with the French and Indian/Seven Years' War: 1754-1763, American Revolutionary War: 1775-1783, and French Revolution: 1789-1799. Travel and colonialism are also starting to ramp up during this time called the Age of Exploration. There is also more philosophical and scientific reasoning happening to explain why events are occurring along with new technologies being developed.
Artist? Poet on a Mountaintop (ink on paper)
Shen Zhou - Ming Dynasty
What were the characteristics, values, and themes of Neoclassical and Romantic art and architecture?
The characteristics of Neoclassical are Classical and Renaissance models, elements, and values, Order, simplicity, balance, and symmetry. Neoclassical paintings are positive, didactic (moralizing, teaching) purpose, Classical compositions and values, Naturalism, Clear and smooth application of paint and rendering of figures and details. The major themes are patriotism, sacrifice for the greater good, virtue, good behavior. INCLUDE ROMANTICISM INFO!!
What are the primary subjects for Baroque painting in the Dutch Republic? Why did this type of subject matter develop here? Who were the patrons? What were the social, political, and religious contexts, and how did they differ from those in Italy and Spain?
Spain owns part of Flanders...in the 1600s they break apart from Spain and set up their own government to leave Catholic Spain...no longer ruled under a king, now under officials. Patrons are going to be protestants...so no altarpieces or churches decorated...elected officials so no kings or popes telling them what to paint. Dutch republic is ruled by traders, merchants, and business people. Four popular subjects: portraiture, nature, science (including land and seascapes), genre paintings, and still life and flower paintings.
What were the themes of Romantic landscape painting in England and the U.S.?
Storms, shipwrecks, and the mysterious light of dusk and dawn were popular themes: "In Romantic art, nature—with its uncontrollable power, unpredictability, and potential for cataclysmic extremes—offered an alternative to the ordered world of Enlightenment thought."
The Founding of Tenochtitlan, Codex Mendoza (the Aztecs were in what country?)
The Aztecs were settled in Mexico, and there capital was in current day Mexico City
What was the Gothic Revival, and why did the Middle Ages appeal to the Romantic sensibility?
The Gothic Revival is closely related to Romanticism, an 18th and 19th-century movement embracing the subjectivity and emotion that had been suppressed under the rigorously-logical Enlightenment. To educated Europeans, the Middle Ages had long represented a time of ignorance and credulity that prioritized religion and superstition over science. To the Romantics, on the other hand, these qualities were seen as good things.
Artist? Las Meninas (The Maids of Honor)
Velazquez - Spain
Artist?, Raft of the Medusa
Théodore Géricault
Artist?, The Marriage Contract, from Marriage à la Mode Moral Genre/Satire, England
William Hogarth
What are some of the varying views and roles of women during the 16th-18th centuries? What challenges did female artists face? Consider works by Gentileschi, Leyster, Ruysch, Kauffman, Vigee-Lebrun, and Labille-Guiard.
Women at the time were viewed to be at the home and be 'good mothers'. There were very little opportunities for women to enter the workforce and if they did faced a lot of challenges. Female artists faced many challenges like unequal pay-often had to fight their patrons to even be paid, Fathers were often artists...trained their daughters with interests in the arts, Husbands would sometime also train wives to create art, Did not get the same training...could not have a master (no guilds), Could not study with other men...not a lot of access to practice - universities and academies were also hard to get into. Women were not allowed to study nude figures...so a lot of their art was modest. Were not able to travel often...and typically not without an escort. Were not allowed into the Royal Academies or guilds - special exceptions were made but generally only a few would be selected.
What was the structure and function of the Royal Academy? Why was it important (what did it do)?
You had to be accepted into the academy to learn art...you had to follow the rules the standards are set by the renaissance...naturalism and painting and drawing of the nude. Figures in the piece are all well-dressed...important place to be and network yourselves...almost like a guild but a lot more prestigious than them (generally from the middle class and no women - typical >:/ ). Salons in the academy are called expositions...yearly or twice a year...had to be selected to participate in these exhibitions...important to get your name out there and to network. - Academy sets a hierarchy over certain subject paintings: o History Paintings - very large and had elite patrons (Kings, elites, etc.) had to be educated well to be able to complete this...very demanding artwork (all the types of paintings are included in here) o Historical portraits - pictures of kings or very important people of the time o Landscapes - not quite as demanded - don't require as much training o Other portraits o Genre paintings o Still life/ flower paintings - basic paintings you start with to learn how to paint/draw