Midterm Flashcards
Canon of Proportions
height and width have a definite geometrical relation to one another. The Canon represented the “standardization of these natural proportions used as … the system of linear measurement throughout Egypt.” This system of proportion allowed artists and audience alike to commonly understand what is beauty and what was aesthetically pleasing.
Buon Fresco
good plaster,, wet plaster,, must finish before it dries.
abstraction
reduction of shapes and appearances to basic yet recognizable forms that are not intended to be exact replications of nature.
Centaur
half horse, half man. body of a horse, with arms, head and torso of a human.
caryatid
a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar.
composition
the way something is laid out. How formal elements are arranged. Crowded, sparse, negative space, etc.
Contrapposto
stance of balance, one leg is forward, one leg backwards, on both heels, arms are slightly out.
Contextual analysis
doing your history and research of a piece of art. Researching how a work of art function within a particular time.
Doric order
Short. squat, serious tone, no bottom captial. top capital is plain. shows power.
donor/patron
the person who pays for the work of art. the donor has a huge impact on why something was made. Sometimes more significant than the artist.
Foreshortening
Method of rendering a specific object or figure in a picture in depth. a persuasive projection, it is a type of perspective. But is used mainly with individual objects not an entire scene.
Formal analysis
this is the first step in learning about a piece of artwork. Purely visible method of analysis. Looking at visual elements of a work of art to understand what the artist was trying to convey.
Fresco Secco
Secco=dry. Fresco Seco is painted dry on top of Buon Fresco to add in details.
Greek orders
An Order in architecture is a certain assemblage of parts subject to uniform. The Architectural Orders are the ancient styles of classical architecture, each distinguished by its proportions and characteristic profiles and details, and most readily recognizable by the type of column employed. Three ancient orders of architecture—the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—originated in Greece.
Hieratic scale
uses a scale to determine how powerful a person is. ex. normal ppl are smaller than leaders or Gods.
iconography
visual things or clues about an artwork. icon means image. graphy means working with. These clues allow you to figure out the specific time period.
Ionic order
elegant, elongated, top & bottom capital has a swirl. light hearted feel. complex and slender.
medium
the type of material used to create the artwork. Stone, paint, oil, etc.
Naturalistic
something that copies nature, or replicates the world
Pathos
Pathos represents an appeal to the audience’s emotions. Pathos is a communication technique used most often in rhetoric.
Pediment
the triangular upper part of the front of a building in classical style
Prehistoric
denoting the period before written records
title and date. Please tell me several pieces of information about this piece of art
Votive Statue of Gudea, c. 2090 BCE, Ancient Near East Art
Diorite stone, 4 feet tall
Gudea was the king, and rebuilt all the temples in the city of Lagash, in each Temple he put the statue of himself
Not naturalistic portrait as he is shown with a baby face
Statue in every Temple: let people know that he has great power and that he is the one who had the temples rebuilt
Wide-open eyes which means he’s ready and alert,
One arm bear to show his muscles,
Long gown is in scripted with cuneiform
title and date. Please tell me several pieces of information about this piece of art
Votive Figures, The Square Temple, c. 2900 BCE, Ancient Near East Art
Limestone, 4 inches to 1 foot tall, Summerian Art
Votive figures are consistent with beards, costumes, eyes, and a cuneiform inscription stating “one who offers prayer”
Eyes are wide open shows alertness to be ready and worshiped the gods
Individual patrons had been made so that while they were they could also be at the Temple
title and date. Please tell me several pieces of information about this piece of art
Nanna Ziggurat, c. 2100 BCE, Ancient Near East Art
Built in the city of Ur. it stands almost 200 feet tall and signifies the Ziigurat bond with heaven and earth.
Solid structure, on a huge platform at the top there is a shrine which allows you to get closer to Nanna the moongoddess
there was one small room in the Temple that has the face of a woman called the Warka ahead
title and date. Please tell me several pieces of information about this piece of art
Stele of Hammurabi, c. 1792-1750 BCE, Ancient Near East Art
the relief form on top stands about 1 foot tall, Hammurabi is standing while the Suns defeated.
The relief states that laws are being passed down from the sun God to Hammurabi
along the bottom of this steel are cuneiform inscriptions with close to 300 walls written down
title and date. Please tell me several pieces of information about this piece of art
Stele of Naram-sin, c. 2220-2184 BCE, Ancient Near East Art
First time that the people flow in a unified space and not horizontal registers.
First work of art that represents an event in history, Narasim victory
His body is a higher relief compared to the other smaller people.
First time that a background has been seen in works of art, there is a mountain, and three suns.
title and date. Please tell me several things related to this work of art.
Figures of a Woman and Man, c. 3500 BCE Prehistoric Art
Ceramic, first time you will need a kiln to create ceramics.
Life is a little easier and stable, art is becoming more complex.
Both figures were found in the same grave and suggests an otherworldly message.
She seems to be a spiritual figure communing with the heavens, while the man rests his hands in a brooding matter.
title and date. Please tell me several things related to this work of art.
Woman from Willendorf, c. 24,000 BCE Prehistoric Art
Female form with exaggerated body parts.
Theory suggests that they sculpture like this would have been about fertility or the appreciation of fertility.
Limestone, 3 1/2 inches tall, it could’ve been used as a charm for fertility.
One of most interesting facts is that the statue has no face, which means it could be used universally.
What is this and date and information
Polykleitos, The Spear Bearer, Roman copy, c. 450 BCE Ancient Greece, Classical
over life-size bronze sculpture. Naturalistic pose and muscles, smile is gone. Contrapposta pose. An organic flow to the body. Proportioned arms and legs.
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Raice Warrior, 5th BCE, Ancient Greece, Classical
hollowed bronze,, hands not attached. Contrapposta pose,and freestanding.there is an element of age in the face, the body still youthful. The eyes and teeth are made of shell and bone.
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Iktinos and Kallikrates, Parthenon, c.447BCE Ancient Greece, Classical
the Parthenon was to be rebuilt by these two architects.when they rebuilt the Temple they wanted it to be a single as the most largest, most decorated temple that there is. Both architects were mathematicians. Harmony and balance with the key. They use the Doric order but chose taller and thinner columns, they also made sure nothing was exactly straight make it an even more structurally sound.
title, location, and time.
With several things about this artwork
Hall of Bulls, Lascaux Cave, c. 15,000 BCE Prehistoric Art
in the Lascaux cave painters depicted cows, bulls, horses and deer all natural ledges of the rock.
Horns, eyes and hooves are shown in the front view, yet heads and bodies are rendered in a profile view known as composite pose.
there are over 600 paintings and 1500 engravings within the one cave.
The common theory is that these paintings might be ritualistic and not actually for people to view.
What is this and date and information
Three goddesses, East pediment, Parthenon, c 447 BCE Ancient Greece, Classical
more details for woman, body features showing thru clothing, naturalistic.
technique called wet drapery-so they can show the body features but respectfully covered. Drapery is
exaggerated in the folds of the drapery.
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Erecthion, c. 420 BCE Ancient Greece, Classical
Ionic order temple, swirls, two deities were battling it out to see who would be the attached to Athens.
Poseidon or Athena. Poseidon struck a rock on the Acropolis and brought water. This is the spot that
Poseidon hit. They later decide to take Athena-who gives them a olive tree.
What is this and date and information
Euphronios, Death of Sarpedon, c. 515 BCE Archaic Ancient Greece
Euphronios (painter)
Red figure base painting. Paints everything black but the figures. Actually used brush for more detail.
Sarpedon was a Demi-God. Hermes helped trasnform the body.
Forshortening was used.
What is this and date and information
Exekias, Suicide of Ajax, c. 540 BCE Archaic Ancient Greece
Ajax was a great Greek soldier. His cousin died-he thought he would take his place, but was passed up. Humiliated.
Planted a dagger in the ground and dove on it.
Exekias chose to paint before the suicide for psycologiocal reasons.
Empty armour is on the left of him.
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Peplos Kore, c. 530 BCE Archaic Ancient Greece
Kore means yougn woman. 3ft tall.
Because there was not the same interest to woman as to men, she is not nude.
Made as a gift for a God/Godess, maybe Athena.
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Kouros, c. 580 BCE Archaic Greek, 7ft tall, Marble Archaic Ancient Greece
Defined muscles, naturalistic, nude.
Open composition, not stuck to a relief, but early work so afraid to let he hands go.
Used as grave markers, brightly painted.
540 BCE is more naturalistic, cheek bones, chins, more proportioned. Knee is even more 3D.
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Dying Warriors, Temple of Aphaia, at Aegina, c. 500 BCE Archaic Ancient Greece
Detailed anatomy. Life sized scale.
Do not feel bad the warriors died as they died for a noble cause until their last breathe.
Placed inside a pediment.
Intensive study on the human form.
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Man and Centaur, c. 750 BCE Geometric Period
Bronze, 5 in. tall.
Bodies are geometric forms.
Centaur (Half man, half horse)
Has 2 sets of genitals. Thought to be evil.
Really early dipiction, not a correct Centaur.
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Krater, Dipylon Cemetary, Athens, c. 750 BCE Geometric Period
5ft tall, called Krater because of the shape.
Used as a headstone. Not an actual vase, top and bottom are open.
Made with Slip paint. Registers of narratives & decorations.
Funeral scene: Top Register: Dead person, ppl around him
2nd: Soldiers in a procession. Woman are seen as DOTS in armpits for breasts. Men have DOTS on thigh for penis.
What is this and date and information
Landscape (spring fresco), Akrotiri, before 1630 BCE Aegean Period
the painting covered all four walls, expanding the space in bringing the outside in.
Ceiling and walls are painted.This is painted for pleasure as it does not instruct or inform.
First time for art is just decoration.
Abstractcomment mountain flowers are exaggerated.
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Bull Leaping, Palace of Knossos, c.1550 BCE Aegean Period
Fluid, colorful, naturalism.
Element of movement.
Red-Men, White-Woman
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Young Girl Gathering Saffron Crocus FLowers, Akrotiri, before 1630 BCE, Aegean Period
covered all four walls, the medium is Fresco ( painting on wet plaster).
folder body, relax, profile, front eye, shows movement.
Organic movement, more naturalism.
The painting is of a girl transitioning into womanhood.
Crocus flowers are a symbol of fertility.
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Judgement of Hunefer, Osiris c.1285 BCE Ancient Egypt
Papyrus paper, scroll form.
Elogated featues, Profile face-front eye.
Twisted perspective, animal hybrids.
Book of the dead-instruction for what to do after death.
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Akhenaten and his family, c.1353 BCE Ancient Egypt
Moved the capital to Armana and made chages to the gov’t.
Changted religion to a MONO-theistic (one God, Ahten)
He isnt muscular, very skinny, puggy belly.
The chair is at the same height as the queen, cuz she helps him.
First leader to be shown with family.
What is this and date and information
Menkaure and a queen, c.2490 BCE Ancient Egypt
The queen doesnt matter, listed as “queen”, no name.
7ft tall, diorite and other substances
Stuck in the block, both are unified as she is holding him.
The hair on her mimics him-his headress.
Walking together.
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Khafre, c.2520 BCE Ancient Egypt
8 ft tall, found in a temple next to his pyramid.
Served as a physical body for Ka to take on.
Headress and false beard marked them as Pharoah.
Horus behind him.
Strong muscles, symbols on throne, clenched hand, straight hand.
Diorite hand.
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Great Pyramid, Giza c.2575 BCE Ancient Egypt
Built for three different pharoahs: Khafre, Khufu (largest), Menkaure
More geometric shape, symbolic to rays of sun.
Inscription on some stones climbing to the sun.
Limestone, highly polished.
What is this and date and information
Narmer Palette, c. 2950 BCE Ancient Egypt
2ft tall, slim, relief sculpture (low)
Narrative of King Narmer
Symbolic over Naturalistic, Twisted perspectives, profile, front eye.
Horus is in front of him.
Crown of upper Egypt, lower Egypt headress below him.
Snakes intertwining are symbolic that upper and lower Egypt are unified.
