Unit 7 AP Art History

Persian Miniatures (The Court of the Gayumars and Bahram Gur Fights the Karg) key features include a narrative content, decorated borders, and saturated colors. They lack atmospheric perspective.

Atmospheric perspective: an artistic technique that creates the illusion of depth by depicting distant objects as: Less clear, Paler, Less detailed, Usually bluer, and More like the value and hue of the background. (See the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci)

Bahram Gur Fights the Karg combines Persian and Chinese artistic elements in a cultural synthesis.

Bahram is portrayed as a Hero and is identified by kingly garb and luxurious dress.

The Ardabil Carpet’s design elements include a central medallion and two lanterns.

The central medallion is to resemble a heavenly mosque dome and two lamps on either end.

It’s high knot count allows for heavily detailed patterns and is a sign of luxury.

Islamic influence of the carpet is from its lack of figural decoration, only has scrolling vines and floral motifs.

Bamiyan Buddhas reflects the cultural exchange due to the Silk Road.

Evidence of the exchange is in the Hellenistic style drapery of the robes.

Basin (Baptistère de St. Louis) is secular use because of the depiction in the Friezes of animals and royal figures.

Basin is made from brass with silver and gold inlaid.

Comparison: Similar to the Pyxis of al-Mughira (see below)

Jowo Rinpoche is a portrait of the historical 12 year old Buddha.

Jowo Rinpoche depicts Buddha’s enlightenment moment (though in actuality Buddha was 35 years old.

Dome of the Rock marks the site of Muhammad’s Night Journey. (don’t forget the other important events that the rock symbolizes).

Dome of the Rock has byzantine mosaics on interior and exterior.

Great Mosque of Isfahan style is Four Iwans. The other two styles of mosque architecture are the hypostyle and the central plan.

In any mosque the minarets indicate the location of the qibla wall and therefore the direction of prayer.

Great Mosque of Isfahan’s courtyard is able to accommodate large crowds for Friday prayers.

The Kaaba is the central focus for Muslim’s circumambulation during the hajj.

Qibla wall orientation in mosques are all in the direction of the Kaaba.

The Kaaba (Islam) and The Great Stupa at Sanchi (Buddhism) are both pilgrimage destinations.

Kufic script is the calligraphic angular style used in early Qur’ans, ceramics, and architecture.

Purpose of the Qur’an is to act as a Visual aid for oral recitation and spiritual emphasis.

Petra’s Treasury has Hellenistic influence due to the Corinthian columns in the façade.

Because of Nabataean trade routes their artistic style is a fusion of Classical and Hellenistic Greece and Roman culture.