Exam #2 Study Guide Notes

Exam Overview

  • Date: Wednesday, 4/9
  • Format: In-Person
    • Scantron no. 95677
    • 30 Multiple Choice Questions
    • 2 Extra Credit Questions
    • 1 Essay Question
  • Preparation: Review material from weekly modules for comprehensive understanding.

Vocabulary Terms

  • Contrapposto: A pose in which one leg supports weight and the other is relaxed, creating a sense of dynamism in sculptures.
  • Canon: A standard or rule in art; often refers to proportions considered ideal in art and sculpture.
  • Naturalistic Style: Artistic approach that aims to depict subjects as they appear in nature.
  • Idealistic Style: Represents subjects as they ought to be, promoting ideals of beauty.
  • Hyper-realism Style: Art movement that creates high-resolution and detailed representations of life.
  • Kouros / Kore: Types of ancient Greek statues; Kouros is a representation of a young male, Kore depicts a young female.
  • Black-figure Vase Painting: An ancient Greek ceramic technique that uses a black slip to create images against the red clay.
  • Red-figure Vase Painting: Technique that allowed for greater detail by leaving figures in the natural red of the clay while painting the background black.
  • Amphora, Hydria, Lekythos: Different types of Greek vases for storage (Amphora), water (Hydria), and oil (Lekythos).
  • Doric, Ionic, Corinthian Orders: Architectural styles of classical Greece characterized by their columns.
  • Triumphal Arches: Monumental structures honoring achievements, often featuring detailed carvings.
  • Icons and Iconoclasm: Religious artwork vs. the controversy about the veneration of icons in Christianity.
  • Murals and Fresco: Types of wall paintings; frescos are painted on wet plaster.
  • Catacomb: Underground burial places used by Christians in ancient Rome.
  • Mouseion: A temple or place dedicated to the Muses; ancestral to the modern museum.
  • Sarcophagus: A stone coffin, often adorned with sculptures or inscriptions.
  • Monotheism vs. Polytheism: Belief in one God vs. multiple gods, respectively.

Art Periods

Ancient Greece (900 BCE – 100 BCE)
  • Characteristics/Themes: Humanism, emphasis on proportion and beauty, mythology.
  • Major Periods:
    • Archaic Period: Development of sculpture and vase painting; static forms.
    • Classical Antiquity Period: Focus on ideal beauty and confidence; significant sculptures like the "Doryphoros".
    • Hellenistic Period: Dynamic poses, emotional expressions, and realism.
  • Greek Vases: Key styles are Amphora, Hydria, and Lekythos; important for storage, rituals, and art.
  • Greek Orders: Doric (sturdy, simple), Ionic (elegant, scroll tops), Corinthian (elaborate, leafy).
Ancient Rome (753 BCE - 476 CE)
  • Characteristics/Themes: Practicality, engineering, public life focus through architecture.
  • Roman Republic vs. Roman Empire: Transition from citizen-led governance to imperial rule.
  • Architectural Innovations:
    • Arches: For structural stability and aesthetics.
    • Concrete: Revolutionized construction methods.
  • Sculptural Innovations: Realism in portraiture, extensive use of narrative in reliefs.
  • Circulation of Coins: Propaganda through the imagery on currency.
Early Christian Art (2nd century CE)
  • Characteristics/Themes: Symbolism over realism, dealing with Christian themes under Roman rule.
  • Artistic Styles: Contrast with classical forms; focus on narrative and spiritual messages.
  • Key Figure: Emperor Constantine played a pivotal role in the legitimization of Christianity.
The Middle Ages (5th century CE – 15th century CE)
  • Characteristics/Themes: Influence of the Church, medieval life, simplification of artistic expressions.
  • Dark Ages: Term for the early medieval period emphasizing a perceived cultural stagnation.
  • Art Influences:
    • Byzantine: Mosaics, icons emphasizing supernatural themes.
    • Romanesque: Emphasis on solid forms, thick walls, and rounded arches in architecture.
    • Gothic: Verticality, lightness, stained glass.

Important Images to Know

  1. Kouros statues
  2. “Peplos Kore”
  3. “Doryphoros (Spear-Bearer)”
  4. “The Discobolus of Myron”
  5. “Man Scraping Himself”
  6. “Aphrodite of Knidos”
  7. **“Aphrodite of Milo