art unit 2!

Question 1

What centuries did the Renaissance span? Where did it begin and then spread?

Answer 1

The Renaissance spanned the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries. It began in Florence, Italy in the late Middle Ages and later spread to the rest of Europe.

Question 2

What is the Renaissance?

Answer 2

A period of renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman art and design

Question 3

What does the word renaissance mean?

Answer 3

The word renaissance means “rebirth” in French

Question 4

What is the Renaissance divided into?

Answer 4

The Renaissance period is traditionally divided into three major phases: Early, High, and Late Renaissance.

Question 5

In the Early Renaissance, what did the wealthy families build?

Answer 5

The wealthy families built large palaces and churches

Question 6

Why did nudes often appear in Renaissance sculptures and paintings? What did the nudes represent?

Answer 6

Nudes often appear in Renaissance paintings and sculptures because artists of the time were rediscovering an interest in ancient Greek and Roman art. These nudes represented human worth, divine perfection, and a representation of the immortal soul.

Question 7

What did the early Renaissance paintings show saints and other religious figures as?

Answer 7

The Early Renaissance painting showed them as realistic humans.

Question 8

What methods of painting were used in the Early Renaissance era?

Answer 8

The Early Renaissance period was also marked by the use of oil glazes and fresco.

Question 9

What did Early Renaissance painters use as settings in their paintings?

Answer 9

Painters used architectural backdrops, such as churches, cathedrals, and basilicas, as the setting for many paintings.

Question 10

What is the High Renaissance?

Answer 10

The High Renaissance was the climax of the artistic developments of the Early Renaissance.

Question 11

What were the subjects of art in the High Renaissance?

Answer 11

In general, the subjects of the art were mostly Christian religious figures, but many tomb sculptures and paintings depicted classical—that is, ancient Greek and Roman—personages.

Question 12

What are some famous artists from the High Renaissance?

Answer 12

Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raphael Sanzio , and Leonardo da Vinci form the traditional trinity of great masters of that period. Other famous artists of this period include Giorgione, Titian, and Bellini.

Question 13

What was art like in the 1520’s, when foreigners invaded Italy?

Answer 13

The art of the Italy invasion reflects the prevailing conflict, stress, and unrest

Question 14

What is Mannerism, and when was it developed?

Answer 14

As opposed to High Renaissance art, which was natural, graceful, balanced, and harmonious, the art of Mannerism was technically masterful but full of clashing colors and disturbing figures with abnormally elongated limbs. Mannerism was developed during the Italy invasion in the Late Renaissance

Question 15

What were Mannerism artists interested in?

Answer 15

Mannerist artists were not interested in the logic of real space and natural colors; they were concerned with effect rather than content.

Question 16

The style of stretched proportions and exaggerated poses can be seen in the late works of whom?

Answer 16

The style of stretched proportions and exaggerated poses can be seen in the late works of Michelangelo, Andrea del Sarto, and Correggio

Question 17

What was the hallmark of the Late Renaissance era?

Answer 17

Artistic individuality was the hallmark of this era.

Question 18

What did the Italian Renaissance introduce to Western art?

Answer 18

The Italian Renaissance introduced new styles, expressions, attitudes, and values to Western art.

Question 19

What influenced the human form shown in paintings?

Answer 19

Anatomical studies influenced the human forms shown in paintings.

Question 20

Advances in what led to better proportion in painting, architecture, and sculpture?

Answer 20

Advances in mathematics led to better proportion in painting, architecture, and sculpture.

Question 21

Who made David and the frescos on the ceiling of the Pristine chapel?

Answer 21

Michelangelo

Question 22

Who was the youngest of the three giants of the High Renaissance?

Answer 22

Raffaello Sanzio, more commonly referred to as Raphael, was the youngest of the three giants of the High Renaissance.

Question 23

What is Raphael’s work most famous for?

Answer 23

His work is famous for its perfection, grace, clarity of form, and ease of composition.

Question 24

What paintings are Raphael most known for?

Answer 24

Raphael is best known for his Madonna paintings, such as the Madonna della Sedia, and a series of famous portraits, including those of Julius II, the Donna Velata, and Baldassare Castiglione.

Question 25

When did Indian and Chinese civilizations begin?

Answer 25

Indian and Chinese civilizations began between 5,000 and 3,000

Question 26

What two countries fundamentally influenced most Asian art?

Answer 26

India and China have fundamentally influenced most Asian art.

Question 27

What is henna, and what do Hindu brides consider it to be?

Answer 27

Henna is a red-orange dye prepared from the dried and ground-up leaves of the henna plant. Hindu brides in India consider the henna designs to be good luck.

Question 28

Where is the birthplace of the Hindu religion?

Answer 28

India is the birthplace of the Hindu religion.

Question 29

Where does the oldest Indian art date back to?

Answer 29

dates back to 2600 B.C

Question 30

What happened to many in India around 600 B.C.?

Answer 30

Around 600 B.C., after centuries of the Aryans’ rigid Hindu practices, many in India were disillusioned and looked for a path that preached equality and spirituality.

Question 31

How was Buddhism born?

Answer 31

Buddhism was born when a prince named Siddhartha Gautama renounced his kingdom and comforts and meditated until he became the Buddha, or the awakened one. The Buddha discouraged idol worship, but his followers created sculptures of him to worship.

Question 32

How was Hinduism art resurged?

Answer 32

By the sixth century A.D., a resurgence of Hinduism came when the Guptas gained power. This ruling family followed Hinduism, but patronized both Hindu and Buddhist art.

Question 33

What did calligraphy mean for Chinese leaders?

Answer 33

For Chinese leaders, their skill in calligraphy told of their strength of character.

Question 34

Where did the Chinese bury artwork during the Shang Dynasty?

Answer 34

During the Shang Dynasty, the Chinese buried artwork in royal tombs.

Question 35

What is a taotie?

Answer 35

The taotie is a figure with two curling horns above two staring eyes. The taotie was found on bronze sculptures and vessels.

Question 36

What appears prominently in Shang art?

Answer 36

Animals, both real and imaginary, also feature prominently in Shang art.

Question 37

What did the Chinese use bronze vessels for during the Shang Dynasty?

Answer 37

During the Shang Dynasty, the Chinese used bronze vessels with animal motifs in rituals that honored their ancestors.

Question 38

When did the Zhou Dynasty conquer the Shang Dynasty? Why was the Zhou Dynasty known as the Bronze Age of China?

Answer 38

By 1050 B.C., the Zhou Dynasty had conquered the Shang Dynasty. The Zhou Dynasty also focused on bronze artwork and continued an era that became known as the Bronze Age of China.

Question 39

Who developed Confucianism? What does Confucianism mean?

Answer 39

Disillusioned by the existing Chinese rituals and beliefs, a scholar named Confucius developed a new moral and ethical system. This philosophy, named Confucianism, addressed the creation of a peaceful society. Confucius believed that respectful relationships should start with the family and move outward, all the way to China’s Emperor.

Question 40

What is Daoism?

Answer 40

For spiritual enlightenment, people turned to the tradition of Daoism. Dao is the way of the universe, the force that animates all creation. Daoism aimed to harmonize human life with nature.

Question 41

How did Chinese paintings reflect Daoism?

Answer 41

Chinese paintings reflected Daoism by showing a respect for nature

Question 42

What happened archeologically in 1974?

Answer 42

In 1974, one of the most significant archeological finds happened in China, thanks to an emperor’s obsession with power and immortality. Almost 6,000 life-sized terra-cotta clay warriors were found buried near Emperor Shi Huang Di’s tomb. Historians believe that about 700,000 Chinese craftspeople and laborers began making the terra-cotta army in 246 B.C. The heads, legs, arms, and torsos came from different clay molds and were then assembled.

Question 43

What did the terra-cotta warriors found from 246 B.C. do?

Answer 43

The warriors were meant to guard the emperor and help him rule in the next life.

Question 44

What art form was developed during the Han Dynasty?

Answer 44

During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese developed paper cutting into an art form. They used knives and other sharp tools to cut intricate pictures into paper. These papercuts were used to decorate homes and were featured in wedding ceremonies and festivals.

Question 45

Where were some of the oldest specimens of pottery in the world discovered?

Answer 45

some of the oldest specimens of pottery in the world were discovered in Japan

Question 46

How was Chinese art a great influence to Japan?

Answer 46

Chinese artists had great influence on the art of Japan. By 400 B.C., the Japanese Emperor Shotoku had sent envoys to China. They returned with new ideas, such as Buddhism, as well as new technologies, including writing. From these influences, Japanese calligraphy and Buddhist architecture were born.

Question 47

What is haniwa?

Answer 47

The Haniwa style is characterized by simple shapes made from natural materials.

Question 48

When did Japanese art flourish? What characterized the art of this time?

Answer 48

Japanese art flourished during the Kamakura period between 1185 and 1333, when the military ruled. Realism, boldness, and action characterize the paintings and sculptures of this time.

Question 49

What is ukiyo-e?

Answer 49

Ukiyo-e carved scenes of everyday life into blocks of wood. The prints made from these woodcuts earned the name ukiyo-e, which means “pictures of the floating world.”

Question 50

How did Buddhism spread?

Answer 50

Buddhism soon spread from India to China, from China to Japan, and later to other parts of the world.

Question 51

What is a stupa?

Answer 51

Buddhist temples in India, called stupas, are domelike structures modeled from early burial mounds.

Question 52

How were Buddhist temples adapted to Chinese styles?

Answer 52

Buddhist temples followed the Indian stupa style and were adapted to Chinese tastes by adding wooden frameworks. Later pavilion-like watchtowers replaced stupas.

Question 53

What is Africa origin-wise?

Answer 53

Africa is the cradle of humanity. All races can trace their origins to Africa. For archaeologists and paleontologists, Africa is a treasure trove. Paleontologists have found the oldest humanoid remains, which are 1.75 million years old, in Africa!

Question 54

What is the Sahara Desert?

Answer 54

Africa is also home to the largest desert in the world, the Sahara, covering approximately 3.5 million square miles in northern Africa. The Sahara naturally divides the continent into North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

Question 55

Africa has thousands of unique art styles due to its cultural diversity. What are examples of art forms from Africa?

Answer 55

Different art forms, such as traditional storytelling, ceremonial dances, folk music, architecture, painting, and magnificent sculpture making, have existed in Africa for thousands of years.

Question 56

What art forms are important to Africa? Why?

Answer 56

Sculptures and masks are an important African art form used in daily life or ceremonies. Africa has many ancient traditions of making sculptures, human figures, and masks.

Question 57

What did the rulers of Benin hire artisans for?

Answer 57

The present dynasty in Benin, a neighboring country to Nigeria, established itself in the fourteenth century. Artisans hired by the kings over the next 500 years created thousands of magnificent and rich artworks, mostly made of ivory and brass. The artworks, such as masks and sculptures, which were largely meant to glorify the oba (king), help us understand life at the royal court. Only licensed artisans could practice, and the technology they used was secret.

Question 58

What did the people of Mali carve?

Answer 58

The Bamana people of Mali have carved beautiful wooden headdresses for centuries.

Question 59

What did artisans in the Ashante region of Ghana skillful in?

Answer 59

Artisans in the Ashante region of Ghana were skillful in textile arts. An example is the Adinkra cloth, which traditionally was worn for mourning. Artists carved vegetables such as gourds into stamps and dipped them in colors made from tree bark to create beautiful patterns on fabrics.

Question 60

What does the African aesthetic indicate?

Answer 60

In simpler terms, the African aesthetic indicates the beautiful and good in art and the human body.

Question 61

What is art in Africa supposed to be?

Answer 61

Art in Africa is meant to be both beautiful and socially good. Most African art is meant to both please the eye and support the right values.

Question 62

What aspects express common ideas in rituals or ceremonies?

Answer 62

Dance, music, costumes, and sculptures work as one to express a common idea in rituals or ceremonies.

Question 63

In what circumstance is African art not considered beautiful?

Answer 63

If an artwork is not good or does not uphold moral values of the society, it is not considered beautiful.

Question 64

How is African art made for use in religious ceremonies?

Answer 64

Much African art is made for use in religious ceremonies. Masks and sculptures, such as headdresses, are used along with dance, song, and costumes in rituals and ceremonies to communicate with the spiritual world. These masks and sculptures provide a window into African customs and beliefs in divinities, spirits, and ghosts.

Question 65

What is the tyi wara?

Answer 65

Tyi wara (also spelled chi wara and chiwara) is a mythical half-man, half-antelope god in the Bamana culture who teaches human beings how to cultivate crops.

Question 66

What is African art also a means of?

Answer 66

African art is also a means of showing respect for women and elders.

Question 67

What is a nkisi?

Answer 67

We have seen that people in Africa sometimes use art to communicate with the divinities or spiritual powers. An example of this type of art is nkisi (power figure) from Congo. A person buys a plain wooden statue. The statue itself has no power but with the help of a diviner, the person adds things to the statue to give it power. The diviner may ask the person to paint the statue, hang pieces of cloth on it, attach charms to it, or drive nails into it. The statue gains power with each addition because each addition symbolizes an offered prayer. People or communities use nkisi to solve problems, such as answering a question, settling a dispute, or promoting a favorable outcome.