Art History Midterm 1

Hall of Bulls - prehistory

Ziggurat, Ur - Ancient Near East, Sumer

Statues of Gudea - Ancient Near East, Sumer

Victory Stele of Eannatum (Stele of Vultures) - Ancient Near East, Sumer

Stele with law code of Hammurabi - Ancient Near East, Babylon

stepped pyramid - funerary complex of Djoser, by Imhotep, Egypt, Saqqara

khafre enthroned, gizeh, egypt

menkaure and khamerernebty, gizeh, egypt

ti watching a hippopotamus hunt, saqqara, egypt

akhenaton, karnak, egypt

akhenaton, nefertiti, and three daughters, tell el-amarna, egypt

last judgement of hu-nefer, egypt

kouros, greece, archaic period

kouros, from anavysos, greece, archaic period

kore, from acropolis, greece, archaic period

zeus (or poseidon?) from the sea off Cape Artemision, greece classical period

discobolos by myron, greece classical period

doryphoros (spear bearer) by polykleitos, greece classical period

athenian acropolis, rebuilt after persian sack of 480 BCE, greece classical period

parthenon, greece classical period

sculptures: pediments of the parthenon, greece classical period

metopes: lapiths vs centaurs (on the parthenon), greece classical period

frieze: panathenaic festival procession (on the parthenon), greece classical period

hermes and the infant dionysos, praxiteles, greece late classical period

aphrodite of knidos by praxiteles, greece late classical period

portrait of alexander the great, greece late classical period

battle of issus (alexander mosaic), pompeii, greece late classical period

priene, 4th BCE restored view, greece the hellenistic period

seated boxer, greece the hellenistic period

sleeping hermaphrodite, roman copy of original, greece the hellenistic period

head of an elderly patrician, rome

portrait of a roman general, rome

pompeii: forum, rome

reconstruction of typical roman house with atrium, peristyle, rome

gardenscape, villa of livia, rome

ixion room, house of vettii, pompeii, rome

pont du gard, nimes france, rome

colosseum (flavian ampitheater), rome

forum of trajan, by apollodorus of damascus, rome

column of trajan, with scenes from dacian wars, rome

pantheon, rome

the good sheperd, jonah, orants, catacomb of saints peter and marcellinus - early christianity

old st. peter’s, rome - early christianity

christ as good shepherd, mausoleum of galla placidia, ravenna - early christianity

Mezquita (Great Mosque), Cordoba - Islamic Spain, early christianity

court of lions, alhambra, granada - islamic spain: early christianity

plan for a monastery, from Saint Gall - Early Medieval Art, early christianity

reliquary of sainte foy - romanesque art

saint sernin, toulouse - romanesque art

last judgement, by gislebertus, tympanum saint-lazare, autun - romanesque art

abbey church, fontenay - romanesque art

bayeux tapestry - romanesque art

chartres cathedral - gothic art

royal portal with jamb statues - gothic art

saint theodore - gothic art

saint chapelle, paris - gothic art

hours of jeanne d’evreux, by pucelle - gothic art

What is the main difference between gothic art and romanesque art?

Romanesque architecture uses heavy, thick walls, rounded arches, and barrel vaults, resulting in dark, fortress-like interiors. In contrast, Gothic architecture uses pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, which allows for taller, lighter structures with thinner walls and large, stained-glass windows. This innovation in Gothic architecture allowed for more open spaces and natural light. 

cuneiform

a system of wedge-shaped marks created with a stylus on clay tablets that served as one of the earliest writing systems in ancient Mesopotamia

relief

a sculptural technique where figures and designs project from a flat background

register

a horizontal band or level within a work of art used to separate different scenes or narrative elements

hierarchic scale

a technique where the size of figures or objects is manipulated to represent their importance, not their physical reality

composite view

a convention where a single figure is drawn from multiple viewpoints at once, combining profile and frontal views. This technique was famously used in ancient Egyptian art to show the most recognizable features of a subject, such as a profile head and legs with a frontal torso and eye, to convey a complete and clear representation

divine kingship

the political-religious concept where a ruler is believed to have a sacred connection to the divine, often seen as a god or a god-like figure appointed by higher powers to govern

hieroglyphs

a system of writing that uses pictorial symbols, most famously in ancient Egypt, and served as both a means of communication and a form of artistic expression

papyrus

a paper-like material made from the stems of the Cyperus papyrus plant, used in ancient Egypt for both writing and art

archaic smile

a characteristic facial expression in early ancient Greek sculpture, defined by a slight, often enigmatic upturn of the lips. Used to convey a sense of vitality and serenity, bridging the gap between idealism and the emerging realism in Greek art

persian wars

a pivotal period from 499–449 BCE that directly preceded the Classical Period of Ancient Greek art. The wars fostered a newfound sense of Greek unity and confidence, which led to a cultural renaissance and the rise of Athens as a dominant power. This era is characterized by the rebuilding of the Athenian Acropolis and the construction of iconic structures like the Parthenon, which showcased a new style of harmony, proportion, and idealized human form in sculpture. 

lost wax method

an ancient metal casting technique that creates a duplicate of an original wax model

contrapposto

a natural, asymmetrical human stance in art where the figure's weight is shifted onto one leg, causing the hips and shoulders to rest on slightly different axes. This pose creates a sense of dynamism and lifelikeness, moving away from the stiff, rigid figures of earlier eras

doric and ionic temples

Doric temples are defined by their sturdy, simple columns that lack a base and have a plain capital, representing strength and austerity. Ionic temples are characterized by more slender columns with scroll-like ornaments (volutes) on the capital and a base, symbolizing elegance and sophistication

Peloponnesian Wars 431- 404 BCE

Between Athens and Sparta. The war led to a new focus on themes of military victory and the afterlife in art

corinthian column

a classical architectural column defined by its ornate capital, which is decorated with carvings of acanthus leaves and scrolls. It is the most decorative of the three classical Greek orders, characterized by a slender and fluted shaft, and is known for its elegance and grandeur

veristic portraiture”

an ancient Roman art style characterized by extreme realism, depicting subjects with an emphasis on age, flaws, and imperfections like wrinkles and scars

fresco

a mural painting technique where water-based pigments are applied to freshly laid wet plaster

aqueduct

a man-made structure, often a monumental bridge with arches, designed to transport water over long distances to a city. They represent a major feat of ancient engineering, particularly from civilizations like the Romans, and are significant for their scale, impact on public health and agriculture, and their contribution to urban development

arch

a curved structural element that spans an opening and supports weight from above by distributing it outwards

barrel vault

a continuous, semicircular arch that forms a tunnel-like ceiling or roof

concrete

a form of mortar and aggregate used to construct large-scale structures like the Pantheon

basilica

a type of rectangular building with a long central hall (nave), flanked by aisles, and a semicircular apse at one end, which was originally used as a public and legal building in ancient Rome. Early Christians adopted this architectural style for churches, using it for its spacious layout to gather congregations, which became the standard for Christian church design

nave

the central and longest part of a church or other religious building, extending from the main entrance to the transept or chancel. It is the area designated for the laity (the congregation) to gather for worship

aisles

a passageway in a church or basilica that runs parallel to the nave and is separated from it by a row of columns or piers

gallery

an upper story or balcony that typically overlooks the main body of the church, or nave

clerestory

a row of windows in the upper part of a wall, typically in a basilica or church, that allows natural light to illuminate the interior

apse

a semi-circular or polygonal recess in a building, particularly common in art history at the eastern end of a church, often featuring the altar and clergy seating

dome

a rounded, convex roof or ceiling that forms the upper part of a building, known for its structural integrity and symbolic weight

oculus

a circular or oval opening, typically a window, located at the apex of a dome or roof. Its primary functions are to allow natural light to enter, illuminate the interior, and provide ventilation, while also serving as a significant decorative and symbolic element that draws attention upward

coffers

a recessed square or rectangular panel, often found on a ceiling, dome, or vault. These coffers are part of a coffered ceiling or coffered vault, which can be both decorative and structural. They serve to lighten the weight of a dome, hide structural elements for a more pleasing appearance, and create a grander or more regal feel to a room

basilica church

a large, rectangular building with a central nave and side aisles, originating from Roman public buildings and adapted for early Christian worship

transcept

a transept is the part of a cruciform (cross-shaped) church that crosses the main body (nave) at a right angle, forming the arms of the cross. This architectural feature creates a distinctive floor plan and provides additional space for chapels, altars, or choir stalls

mihrab

an architectural niche in the qibla wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca for prayer

muqarnas

a form of ornamental and three-dimensional architectural vaulting found in Islamic architecture, characterized by its intricate, honeycomb-like structure of superimposed niches. It was used to decorate domes, vaults, arches, and niches, serving both an aesthetic and a structural purpose to provide a decorative transition between architectural elements.

cloister

a covered walkway, usually in a monastic or religious building, that surrounds a central, open-air courtyard (garth) and provides access to other parts of the institution

relics

an object or a physical fragment, such as a piece of a saint's body or an item they used, that is venerated in a religious context

pilgrimage roads

the designated paths taken by pilgrims to reach a sacred site, which significantly influenced the development of art, architecture, and culture. These routes facilitated the movement of people, ideas, and artistic styles across Europe, leading to the construction of specialized churches, monasteries, and inns along the way to accommodate and inspire pilgrims

choir

the specific architectural area in a church located between the nave and the sanctuary, where the clergy and singers sit

ambulatory

a covered walkway or passageway, most often found in a church, that encircles the apse, the area behind the altar

radiating chapels

small, semi-circular or polygonal chapels that extend outwards from the apse of a large church, typically arranged in a radial pattern around the ambulatory

compound piers

an architectural support, often seen in Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, composed of a central mass with attached columns, half-columns, or pilasters

cistercians

the aesthetic and architectural style of the Cistercian monastic order, known for its rejection of elaborate ornamentation in favor of simplicity and functionality. Influenced by St. Bernard of Clairvaux