Art History Midterm 1 Flashcards
Abu’l Fazl
The Akbarnama (the story) was written in Persian by Abu’l Fazl between 1590 and 1596 This version of the manuscript is thought to be the earliest illustrated version of the
Abū Ishā al-Sahili
Abu Isha al-Sahili – assumed architect of Djinguereber Mosque – oldest monument, built using indigenous techniques
adobe (or banco)
Mud brick: made by layer upon layer of wet soil (“banco” or adobe) rendered on to limestone rocks or onto bricks made from banco. Used in Djinguereber Mosque
Afroeurasia/Eurasia
Africa/Asia + Europe/Asia
Akbar/Akbarbama
Akbar, third emperor the Mughal Dynasty
“Book of Akbar”
Akbar supported arts and culture – patron of the arts (important) remained illiterate for his lifetime
7 copies of the Akbarnama exist in the world
Royal copy made for Akbar himself
Mughal painting under Akbar is known for its unique blend of indigenous Indian, Persian, and Western traditions
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great – powerful imperialist – conquered Persian Emperor (greatest power of the world at this time)
Has Persian Heritage
(Iskander/Isfandiyar)
“The Bier of Iskander” (Alexander the Great)
Ilkhanid Dynasty
(the) Americas
Iberians travelled to Americas
Found routinely crossing the Atlantic was possible
Iberian mariners found an open sea
Passage from Atlantic to pacific
“We’re surrounded by water, we can get anywhere”
Early passages between Europe and Americas
apse*
Where magistrate and people held meetings in church
Also where altar is placed
arabesque
intertwining plants and abstract curvilinear motifs
arch – round and pointed*
Roman – rounded arch (utilitarian)
Gothic – pointed arch (let celestial light in through stained glass windows)
- Invented vaulted arch ** reading – ribbed vault
arts of the book
Islamic manuscripts - Combining painting with calligraphy
Teams of artists replicating by hand - unique art form
aryballo
Storage jar
Named after Greek influence
Inca, Peru
Large one – utilitarian
Small one – votive, representation, symbolic role (connecting life and death through burial)
Ritualistic exchange of gifts (small symbolic Aryballos)
Insect designs – natural world
astronomy vs. astrology
Astronomy - study of stars (scientific)
Astrology - study of the stars impact on real life (spiritual)
altar/altarpiece*
Placed in the apse
Altarpiece - image bearing structure
Atlantic Rim
Becoming richest and most dynamic area - development of gunpowder empires
Aztec/Mexica
After a three-month siege, Spanish forces under Hernãn Cortés capture Tenochititlan, the capital of the Aztec empire. Cortes’ men levelled the city and captured Cuahtemoc, the aztec emperor
10 million people forced from Africa, transferred to Americas for plantation work
Babur/Baburnama
Babur founded the Mughal dynasty – a period of court life in South Asia known for its opulence, literary culture, miniature paintings, and monumental architecture.
Book of Babur”
Paintings made in the reign of Babur’s grandson Akbar
Mughals came from central Asia to southern Asia
Baroque*
Drama, heightened emotion
- Used by catholic counter-reformation
basilica*
Roman bascilica - nave down the centre, square
Used for business
(the) Bible*
Word of God. Protestant reformation = Bible (not the Church) the only reliable source of instruction
blue and white ceramics
Sea routes linking Ming China with the Mughals of South Asia, the Safavids of West Asia and the Ottomans of West Asia and the Mediterranean
Invention of White porcelain: The most important development in the global history of ceramics – true hard porcelain made from white rock kaolin - China stone ground
Porcelain in high demand in West Asia – but doesn’t have Chinese clay or clay ovens
- Developed imitation porcelain from earthy clay and white glaze
Book of Kings
Shahnama - a 50,000-couplet poem recounting the history of Iran from the creation pf the world to the coming of the Arabs in the seventh century through the reigns of fifty successive monarchs
Made for the Mongol Court (Shahnama)
Link between them in the present and stories in the past
“A mirror for princes”
(the) Carolingian
800: Charlemagne ,the Carolingian king of the Franks, was crowned Emperor of the West by Pope Leo III
Under Charlemagne, a Carolingian king, the ‘West’ began to take shape as both a territory – Western Europe – and as a religion – Christianity – under the Roman Catholic Church
Renaissance
Carolingian renaissance - Lindau gospels
Come from one of Charlemagne’s many Imperial workshops
Scriptoria – room (for writing &/or copying manuscripts)
Carolingian Renaissance
Precious portable objects
cathedral
Christian place of worship
Hagia sophia (before repurpose)
Gothic cathedral in Ghent
Catholic Counter-Reformation*
- Ignored Martin Luther
- 1545: Council of Trent
o Assembly of high officials of the church to address issues - Affirm purgatory and use of buying salvation
- Affirm necessity and correctness of religious art
- St. Peter’s Basilica – architectural example of fighting Luther
o At centre of site is obelisk
o Square – arms of the church, reaching out to the faithful
Conversion of St. Paul piece
Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
800: Charlemagne ,the Carolingian king of the Franks, was crowned Emperor of the West by Pope Leo III
Under Charlemagne, a Carolingian king, the ‘West’ began to take shape as both a territory – Western Europe – and as a religion – Christianity – under the Roman Catholic Church
Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor)
Who made the map of Tenochitlan? Hernan Cortez sent to Emperor Charles V – holy roman emperor
Christianity/Christendom
The Holy Roman Empire, 753-1806
Resurgence of “Rome” and Christianity
Huge amount of politics and shuffling for territory & control
Big idea = by the time we get to Napolean (19th C) “modern western Europe – Christendom is “the religion”; the West has risen and taken control – rise of capitalism
church plan*
Ancient Roman basilica
Used for business
Apse – where magistrate and people held meetings
Romanesque church plan – arches and structure
Put an altar piece in the apse where the priest stands
chiaroscuro*
an Italian term which translates as light-dark, and refers to the balance and pattern of light and shade in a painting or drawing
cobalt blue
West Asia exported cobalt
Elaborate Tughra with Cobalt blue (cobalt is important)
Columbia Exchange
Coined in 1492
Exchange of food, animals, plants to and from Americas – changed world’s diet globally
copper-red glaze
Chinese Red: Colour of power, celebration, fertility, prosperity, and repelling evil
Dish with copper-red glaze: Important ceremonial dish to put food in as an offering
Red colour from bubbles?
Red in China = Privileged – all things auspicious and happy (fire, heart, sun = positive forces of energy)
Colours can represent state of existence
Monochrome ceramics in china – greatest achievement of ceramics
effigy
A sculpture or model of a person; vulture vessel
Emperor Yongle (Ming)
Zheng He, a Muslim sea trader Given over to Chinese as a child transfer from rule
Served Chinese emperor Zhu Di, known as the Emperor Yongle
Control trading in the Indian Ocean – commissioned 3,500 ships