Quiz 7 Art History

Crowned Head of King, Yoruba, 14th-15th C, Nigeria, Yoruba people

Ife Head, brass

Refined and highly naturalistic sculptural tradition

Technical sophistication

Person of status and authority

Knowledge, judgment, good character represented by head figure

Elaborate beaded headdress originally was painted in red&black

One of the highest achievement of African art and culture

Edo Altar, 1300 CE, Nigeria

Memorial altar

Carved tusks = symbols of power

stylized heads (abstraction)

Made of thicker material

Use of bronze shows off wealth of king

Multiple artists contributing to pieces of the whole

Hip Mask representing an Iyoba, 16th C, Nigeria

Ivory mask

Queen mother

Connection to sea god through materials

white symbolizes purity

softly modeled naturalistic figure with graceful curves that echo oval shape of head

iron inlays for eyes indicate strength

Hair arranged in elegant configuration

intricately carved

motif of mudfish and portugese traders

Benin Bronzes, 16th-17th C, Nigeria

more than 850 bronze relief plaques create the impression that pillars were made of solid bronze

bronze was used as commerce at the time so this was a major projection of wealth and power, as well as culture

Used to tell history before England ruined EVERYTHING >:(

in palace, the benin bronzes would have glistened

incredible technical skill and management of the hot bronze

Plaques assert power to both internal and external enemies

reveals what the court of the king was like

Church of St. George, Ethiopia, late 12th C

Creating metaphorical Jerusalem in Ethiopia

Built after king has a vision with instructions to construct the church

VOLCANIC ROCK

Concealed entrance appears inaccessible at first

Process of entering the church = transformative experience into spiritual world

hollowed out interior

Blending of influences

Unique architectural approach

Great Friday Mosque, 13th C, Mali

Place of Muslim worship

Compound expanded for centuries

Mudbrick is replastered annually in a festival

Rhythmic effect across surface

structural and decorative elements

Ostrich egg symbol of fertility and purity at the top

Rendered in local materials and traditions

religious architectural language is merged with skills of community

Book of Durrow, the man symbol of Matthew & the lion symbol of Mark, 680 CE, Celtic

Ink on paper

Celtic patterns, textures, bright colors

the man and the lion stylized with pattern

Relationship to celtic metalwork

fills space with pattern work

Eadfrith, Bishop of Lindisfarne, Celtic, Lindisfarne Gospels, Gospel of Matthew, 715-720 CE

Liturgical object displayed on altar and carried in processions during liturgy

abstracted and stylized

differing pattern structures

roman traditions

written in greek with roman characters

blending decorative and symbolic

Bro messed up the writing LOL

Ezra Restoring the Sacred Scriptures, Codex Amiatinus, 700-715

Full bible

oldest entire bible in existence

75 pounds and over a foot thick

Book of Kells, 8th century, Ireland

masterwork of the Celtic period

lavish illustrations

All four symbols (Matt=man, lion=mark, luke=bull, john=eagle)

Eucharist being fought over by little micies=metaphorical and symbolic representation of a practical everyday problem

moths as symbol of rebirth

otter with salmon in its mouth = irish symbol of luck and mystery

even simple text pages contain ornamental initials

Irish High Cross, South Cross, Ahenny, 8th C, Ireland

mirrors symbols used in illuminated gospels

circle suggests halo (holy nimbus)

Coronation Gospels, opening page of St. Mark's Gospel & St. Matthew’s, c. 800, France

gospel writers portrayed as classical roman philosophers, not portrayed as symbols of evangelist

gospels used in coronation ceremonies

Ebbo Gospels, 816-35, France

modeling of figures to appear 3 dimensional

architecture and furnishings rendered with attempt at dimensionally

perspective flawed

energy expressed in matthew’s face and the linework

did the artist have too much coffee?

Matthew appears in anguish and stress

spiritual excitement of revelation

Utrecht Psalter, c. 830, Netherlands

book of Psalms

illustrations reflect specific things referenced in the text

literal and symbolic meanings

style significantly influences future Psalters

Doors of Bishop Bernward, 1015, Germany

Bronze

Convey abstract concepts deeply philosophical in nature related to religion

Each part of the composition means something specific

COMPLEX

Doors made of multiple panels

narrative of redemption from top left down to up the right side

horizontal parallels between scenes (ex: temptation/fall of adam and eve next to crucifixion/death of Christ)

Church of Sant Vincenc, 1019-1040, Spain

massive SIZE

geometrically logical and well-planned

simple decorating with geometric shapes

effect of arches is all structures divide space into separate bays

Church of St James, Santiago de Compostela, 1075-1211, Spain

Church in shape of cross

altar faces towards the East towards where the sun/Christ will rise again

In the center is an octagonal lantern tower which lets light in to illuminate the main altar

Priory Church of Saint-Pierre, c. 1115, France

sculpture blended with architecture

visual bibles for all those folks who can’t read </3

enriches the experience of the literate and allows for the teaching of the illiterate

Trumeau symbolically guarding the sacred entry to the church

porch reliefs encompasses two primary sin concerns for Christians in 1100 France: greed and sexual sin

artwork on the south portal timpanum depicts esoteric concept of the second coming of Christ - All figures look towards Jesus (man and beast alike) except Christ on the throne looks out towards us, the viewer

Cathedral of Saint-Lazare at Autun, 1150, France

Lazarus as a symbol of hope for resurrection

tympanum is a linear rendering

Christ’s throne as city of Heaven

On Jesus’ right in Heaven is Mary sitting on a throne

souls are all nude

demons trying to drag souls down (losers)

souls face greater contortion as the go closer to demons&hell

SOOOO many details and moments being told through all these intricate figures of the tympanum telling a chaotic story of life through Christ and death without Him

Bayeux Embroidery, 1066-1082, England

Tapestry, linen with wool

Tells the story of the Norman invasion of England (from the perspective of the Normans) but created by the anglo-saxons

Conquest portrayed as justified

images of life, war, and daily events

from ordinary to horrific

from raising chickens to rape during warfare

Created only a few years after the event

a lil detail with a comet ooh la la