Introduction to Art History: Visual Analysis, Media, and Iconography

Flashcards covering key definitions, visual analysis terminology, art historical methods, medium types, and specific artwork case studies from Chapter 1 of the lecture notes.

What are the instructor's office hours and office location for this course?

Wednesdays from 02:15 to 03:13 in Room 344 of the Radio Television Building.

When is the short writing assignment regarding interest in the course due?

Sunday, August 30 at 11:59 PM on Canvas.

What are the two components of formal or visual analysis?

The description of the visual features of a work and the analysis of their effects.

How is scale defined in art history visual analysis?

The relationship of parts of an image to the image as a whole, or to something in the world outside of the image.

What does pictorial space refer to in visual analysis?

The illusion of three-dimensional depth and volume (or the lack thereof) created on a two-dimensional surface.

What are the primary distinctions made when describing forms in artwork?

The distinction between geometric forms (such as squares, rectangles, and triangles) and natural or organic forms (such as curvilinear lines).

Which two colors are highlighted as having major symbolic significance in medieval art?

Purple and red.

How is symmetry defined in formal visual balance?

A formal type of balance consisting of mirroring portions of an image across a central axis.

How did art historian James Elkins define style?

"A coherence of qualities in periods or people."

What work is featured in the assigned visual analysis video as an example of linear perspective and formal balance?

Madonna of the Meadows by Bellini.

What historical artwork consists of five silver plates made between 629 and 630 in Constantinople?

The David plates, created for Emperor Heraclius.

Why are biblical figures on the David plates depicted in seventh-century Byzantine court and military clothing?

To place the patron, Emperor Heraclius, into the narrative and commemorate his victory in the war against the Persians.

What events are depicted in the three registers of the David plate showing David and Goliath?

The top register depicts David being anointed by God; the middle register depicts the battle conflict; the bottom register shows the beheading of Goliath.

What is the difference between medium and technique in art history?

Medium (plural: media) refers to the physical material out of which a work is made, whereas technique refers to the method or way an artist uses a medium to achieve a desired effect.

How is the fresco painting technique performed?

Dry powder pigment is mixed with water and applied onto a wall prepared with wet lime plaster, binding the pigment to the wall as the plaster dries.

What are tesserae?

The tiny individual pieces of stone, glass, or gold used to construct a mosaic.

What is a reliquary?

A box or sculpture designed to house sacred relics of saints or contact relics.

What is a book of hours?

A small type of illuminated manuscript that serves as a personal prayer book.

What are the Greek root words of 'iconography' and their definitions?

Icon meaning "likeness or image" and graphein meaning "writing."

What is the distinction between a symbol and a motif in iconography?

A symbol represents a larger, often abstract concept or person, whereas a motif is a visual element that may be repeated but does not necessarily represent something else.

Who popularized the iconographic approach to art history in the 1930s?

German art historian Erwin Panofsky.

What are the three steps in Erwin Panofsky's method of art analysis?

Step 1: Pre-iconographic analysis (identifying natural forms and subject matter); Step 2: Convention and precedent / iconography (linking visual elements to textual or oral sources); Step 3: Intrinsic meaning / iconology (framing the image within its historical and cultural context).

Who painted the 1305 fresco of the Crucifixion in Padua, and who was the patron?

The artist was Giotto, and the patron was the wealthy banker Enrico Scrovegni.