Review Session

Art 101

Mid-term Exam

Fall 2003

Things to review

• Important concepts• Review of various media• Artwork highlights from

each period

PART ONEImportant Concepts

• Possible T/F, matching, essay questions• Know the basic idea and be able to

recognize it in a work of art

The “Divine Ruler”

• The king, emperor, or other political leader is set up as something more than mortal.– They are given their office my divine

intervention (deity’s representation on earth)

or– They are the physical embodiment of the deity

itself

Divine Ruler

Augustus of Primaporta - Roman Palette of King Narmer - Egyptian

Abstract vs. Representational Art

• Representational - art intended to realistically depict something from life (or, something real)

• Abstract - an image created by taking something from, or abstracting, an life-like object– Even a photograph is “abstract” since it takes a

three-dimensional object and forces it into only two dimensions

Abstracted forms(Cycladic statuette)

Representational image(Egypto-Roman portrait painting)

The “Law” of Frontality• The idea that in order to depict a person completely,

you had to include as much of that person in the image as possible.

• Usually reserved for royalty, but not always• The figures are intentionally abstracted

Palette of King NarmerEgyptian

Book of the Dead (detail) - Egyptian

Foreshortening

• As opposed to the flat, frontal style of some works

• Where the body is depicted more naturally, where objects get smaller as they get further away, forms overlap, etc.

Foreshortening

Etruscan Tomb Fresco (detail)Frontality Roman Mythological Fresco

NO YES

Contrapposto

• Italian for “counterpoise”• The nonsymmetrical figure is at

rest, but ready for action - “the pose of potential motion”

• Weight resting on one leg

Contrapposto

Hermes and Infant Bacchusby sculptor Praxiteles

(Greek)Knidos Aphroditealso by Praxiteles

Pathos• An emotional element in the work of art

• Subject is designed to elicit an emotional response from the viewer

• Dignified suffering

Dying Gaul - Greek Dying Nyobid - Greek

Characteristics of the “Classical” Style

• In sculpture/painting/etc.– Drapery, usually in form of toga-type clothing– Pathos– The search for the “ideal” beauty

• In architecture– Columns– Pediment– The post and lintel system

Classical Artwork

Three Goddesses from the Parthenon pedimentGreek

Nike of Samothrace - Greek

Classical Architecture

Parthenon - on the Athens acropolis - Greek

Form and Content• The best works of ART will include both:

– Mastery of form - an image showing the artist’ master over the MEDIA they choose to use.

– Content, or Meaning - the work will have some message or idea expressed beyond being just a picture

Nike of Samothrace

Greek

Portrait Bust of Queen Nefertete

Egyptian

Composition• The purposeful arrangement of objects, shapes

on the picture plane– The arrangement depends on the content of the work

(it’s purpose) and the way the artist wants the viewer to look at the image.

• The area of primary importance• The direction of the motion of the eye

Roman mosaic copy of Greek painting - Alexander the Great defeating the Persian army

Canon• A formula that was supposed to create the perfect

human form• Based on mathematical principles governing

proportion• Reflects the belief in “absolute beauty”

Myron’s Discobulus

Greek

Praxiteles’ AphroditeEgyptian

Illustration• An art object that accompanies a story -

brings the message alive using pictures or sculptures (the work is “illustrative”)

Villa of Mysteries, Pompeii fresco(Roman)

Herakles Wrestling Lion(Greek black-figure pot)

Arch• The architectural form pioneered by the

Etruscans and adopted by the Romans. The Romans used it extensively and it, combined with the barrel vault, allowed them to build extremely large concrete structures.

Barrel Vault• An architectural space created by a long

row of arches. Allowed the Romans to create very large indoor spaces. Used for bath houses and other civic structures.

Aesthetics

• The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty.

Ziggurat• Mesopotamian tower structure• The tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is an

example.

• The architectural design created by the Romans for large public spaces. Adopted by the Christians after Constantine for church buildings.

Basilica

Apse

Colonnade

Aisle AisleNave

Atrium

Narthex

Vellum

• Bleached animal skin. Developed by the Greeks as the “paper” for books. Illuminated manuscripts are commonly made out of vellum.

“Animal Style”

• Early medieval, decorative style of carving usually found on the personal gear of barbarians/nomads. Carved into complex animal shapes.

Romanesque• the term applied to art produced at the end

the “dark ages.” Derived from the roman-like arches and columns used in cathedral architecture.

Groin Vault

• the term used to describe the intersection of two barrel vaults.

Gothic

• The international style of church architecture that first appeared in France in ±1137 and spread throughout Europe. Most easily identified by the flying buttresses and pointed arches that allow extremely high ceilings and lots of windows/light.

Flying Buttresses• Arches connected to the exterior of a Gothic

cathedral that support the weight of the high ceiling, taking away the need for thick, brick walls. Allows for numerous, large, stained glass windows.

Tympaneum

• The semi-circular area above the main entrance to a Romanesque or Gothic cathedral. A common location for large-scale low- and high-relief sculpture.

PART TWO Media Review

• Relief vs. in-the-round• Marble • Terracotta• Bronze• Tempera

• Black/Red figure (Greek pottery)

• Fresco• Encaustic• Mosaic

Relief vs. in-the-round

Gods vs. GiantsSiphnian Treasury, Greek

Kore (female figure) - Archaic Greek

Prince Rahotep and NofreteEgyptian

Low Relief

Free-Standing

(in the round)High

ReliefHigh Relief

Free-Standing

(in the round)

Marble

Octavius depicted as Mercury (Roman)

Terracotta (clay)

Apollo, from Veii (Etruscan)

Bronze

Charioteer - Greek Poseidon (or Zeus?) - Greek

Black- and Red-figure Greek Pottery

FrescoPigment applied directly to wet plaster to dry in place

“Garden” fresco on wall of apartment - Roman

FrescoPigment applied directly to wet plaster to dry in place

“Garden” fresco on wall of apartment - Roman

EncausticPainted in molten wax - very

durable

Egypto-Roman portrait painting

Mosaic• An image composed of tiny

pieces of colored stone (Roman) and later glass (Byzantines). When viewed from a distance, the bits of color mix to form an image.

PART THREE Highlights from Each Period

See the Website:http://frida.blc.edu/~andyo/classes/ar101/ar101.html