Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Midterm 1
C. 30000 BCE - 600 CE
35
Art History
Undergraduate 2
10/13/2012

Additional Art History Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
[image]
Definition
  • Lion-Human
  • Paleolithic Europe
  • Hohlenstein-Stadel, Germany
  • c. 30000 - 26000 BCE
  • Carved from woolly mammoth ivory
  • Human figure w/ lion head - hybrid
  • Complex design, size & materials compared to most early figurines
  • Represents male power & dominance 
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Hall of Bulls
  • Paleolithic Europe
  • Lascaux Caves, France
  • c. 15000 BCE
  • Painted on Limestone w/ charcoal & earth pigment
  • Horns, eyes & hooves are seen from the front, while body is in profile
  • Images are painted over one another, thought to have been added to over thousands of years - communication
  • Images where perhaps drawn to improve hunting success - ritualistic
  • Careful observaton of nature
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Bird Headed Man w/ Bison
  • Paleolithic Europe
  • Lascaux Caves, France
  • c. 15000 BCE
  • Painted on Limestone w/ charcoal & earth pigment
  • Man - possibly hunter, wearing bird-head mask
  • Large Bison above him w/ spear laying across body - disemboweled 
  • Staff with carved bird next to him
  • Possibly story telling - rare
  • Possibly a vision of a Shaman 
  • Possibly historical - actual event
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Stonehenge
  • Neolithic Europe
  • Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, England
  • c. 3000-1500 BCE
  • Built w/ 2-3 ton Megalith (sandstone) on the outside ring
  • Built w/ Bluestone (associated w/ healing)
  •  in the center ring - transported from Welsh Quary, 250 miles away
  • 3 Trilithons in the middle - post/lintel design
  • "Alter Stone" is in the very center  
  • Heal Stone stands outside the main structure - sun rises directly over this stone during the Summer Solstice
  • Possibly an observatory for cosmic events
  • Possibly associated w/ healing - bluestone
  • Possibly linked to Woodhenge, Stonehenge = death, Woodhenge = life
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Stele of Naram-Sin
  • Akkad, Ancient Mesopotamia
  • c. 2254-2218 BCE
  • Found at Susa
  • Made of Limestone, large
  • Stele tells the story of important military victories
  • Represents the Akkadian victory over the Lullubi Mountain people
  • Naram Sin - hierarchy of scale, top of stele, perfect male body - associated with gods, not wearing protective armor, killing people, wearing bull horns on helmet - bull horns are restricted to gods - claims to be god (divinity) - perhaps the 1st?

 

Term
[image]
Definition
  • Stele of Hammurabi
  • Babylon
  • Found in Susa
  • c. 1792-1750
  • Made of Diorite
  • Prologue & Epilogue on front and back glorifies Hammurabi's successes and accomplishments
  • Most of the cuneiform words outlines laws guaranteeing uniform treatment of people- punishments based on individual crimes, death penelty 
  • Carving at top represents god, Shamash, handing Hammurabi rod & rope (building materials - symbolic representation of power)
  • Shamash (patron of law & justice) is larger, more elaborately dressed, enthroned, head piece
  • Hammuarbi is standing, dressed, head piece, respectful hand gesture
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Lamassu
  • Assyria
  • c. 883-859 BCE
  • Found in palace of Assurnasirpal II
  • Made of Alabaster
  • Enormous, hybrid creature - bull/eagle/human w/ bull horns on headdress and beard
  • Flanked major portals within the palace - protective gatekeepers

 

Term
[image]
Definition
  • Palette of Narmer
  • Early Dynastic Egypt
  • From Temple of Horus in Hierakonpolis - sacred precinct
  • c. 2950 BCE
  • Made of Green Schist
  • Represents unification of upper & lower Egypt
  • One of the earliest pieces of Egyptian art
  • Front of palette: Enormous Narmer is beating a man to death w/ a mace, wearing bulbed White Crown (Upper Egypt), man behind him is holding his sandals, Horus (god of civilization and order) is also there - holding a piece of rope through a man's nose, flowering papyrus (Lower Egypt), 2 bulls, heiroglyph for Narmer (fish & chisel)
  • Back of palette: Procession with Narmer in the middle wearing Red Crown (Lower Egypt) & holding mace & flail (indicating kingship), 10 decapitated bodies w/ heads at their feet, two serpent headed beasts wind their necks together to create depression for eye makeup - unification, bull breaking into a city.
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Portrait of Khafre
  • Old Kingdom Egypt
  • From Giza
  • c. 2520-2494 BCE
  • Made of unusual material imported from Nubia - glows deep blue in the sunlight, the celestial color of Horus
  • Statue is extremely large, Khafre is enthroned, wearing short kilt, false beard & nemes
  • Horus is hiding behind his head
  • He appears calm, dignified & permanent.
  • Ideal body type, and compact control
  • A place for Khafre's Ka to rest in the afterlife
  • 2 lion bodies comprise the throne & Lotus & papyrus flowers decorate the sides
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Portrait of Akhenaten
  • New Kingdom Egypt
  • from Akhenaten
  • Carved & then painted on Limestone
  • c. 1353-1336 BCE
  • Androgynous figures, aside from garb - protruding bellies and egg-shaped heads
  • Engaged children, loving parents, equality (although Akhenaten is sitting a little higher up), emotional, intimate, loving
  • Aten is shinning over the family from atop
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Bull Leaping Fresco
  • Minoan civilization
  • Found in palace at Konossos (Crete)
  • Wall Painting
  • c. 1550-1450
  • Depicts 2 woman (light skin) & 1 man (dark skin) engaging in Bull Leaping
  • Possibly representing an initiation or fertility ritual or honoring a god by displaying human courage
  • Controlled, emotionless, teamwork, balanced order
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Lion's Gate
  • Mycenae
  • c. 1250 BCE
  • Limestone Relief
  • Post & Lintel design with relieving arch (open triange)
  • 9 ft tall lions decrated the relief, and are positioned in a way that works with the shape
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Ajax & Achilles - Exekias
  • Archaic period, Greece
  • c. 540-530 BCE
  • Black-figure decoration on cermaic amphora
  • Geometric elements are present
  • Scene is balanced, controlled & even
  • Depicting Ajax & Achiles playing a game of dice before the Trojan War
  • Their speech is written out
  • Clear symbols of war: attire, spears, helmets & shields
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Funerary Vessel from Athens
  • Geometric Period, Greece
  • From Dipylon Cemetery
  • c. 750-735
  • Grave marker - designed to hold offerings
  • Documents funerary rituals - attendants mourn over dead man, triangular shaped bodies & a seated priest
  • Bottom tier shows that dead man was in the military - horses, armor, military procession
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Parthenon
  • High Classic period, Greece
  • c. 447-432 BCE
  • Made of White Marble, doric style columns
  • Original Acropolis was destroyed in 480 BCE after Persian invasion, Pericles rebuilt it in 447 BCE
  • The New Temple was dedicated to Athena (god of wisdom and civilization)
  • Decorated w/ winged Nikes
  • 5th Century CE, it was converted to a Christian church and then a mosque in the 1940's after the Ottoman conquest. Ottoman ammunition within the building ignited & damaged the building & many of the sculptures.
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Parthenon - East Pediment
  • High Classic Period, Greece
  • c. 447-432 BCE
  • Much of the the pediment is destroyed, but scholars have speculated on the palcement and shape - originally 90 ft. long
  • Narrates the birth of Athena from her father, Zeus.
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Parthenon - Marshals & Young Women
  • High Classic Period, Greece
  • c. 447-432 BCE
  •  Made of Marble
  • Iconic Frieze - continuous band of sculpture
  • 525 ft-long strip - represents great Panathenaic festival when women of Athens carries a new wool peplos to the Acropolis sanctuary to clothe an ancient wooden statue of Athena
  • Woman are slow, stately, graceful & dignified - a moment frozen in time.
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Marble metope from Parthenon
  • Athenian Acropolis 
  • High Classic Period, Greece
  • c. 447-432 bc
  • Made of Marble
  • Lapith (greek tribe member) in mortal combat with a centaur - during 1st king's celebration of marriage, the Lapiths invite centaurs over for wine & it gets out of hand - a battle ensues
  • Lapith is on the verge of winning - control
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Doryphoros ("Spear Bearer") - Polykleitos
  • High Classic Period Greece
  • c. 450-440 BCE
  • Roman Marble Copy
  • In 450, Polykeitos developed a Canon with rules to construct the ideal human figure (ratios, body part lengths, etc.)
  • The "Spear Bearer" was originally crafted in bronze and represented the ideal body
  • Cross-balance body: weight of body supported by straight right leg, with left foot poised - suggesting movement. A similar tension is reversed in the arms - the right arm is relaxed while the left arm is raised to support the weight of this missing spear
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Aphrodite of Knidos - Praxitels
  • Late Classic period, Greece
  • c. 350 BCE
  • Roman marble copy
  • Sculpture shows Aphrodite (goddess of love & beauty) preparing for a bath, in the nude - Praxiteles was the first well-known artist to do this (controversial).
  • Her right hand is in a gesture of modesty, which actually calls attention to her nudity
  • She has an idealized body w/ natural movement 
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Sarcophagus with a reclining couple
  • Etruscan civilization
  • c. 520 BCE
    Made of Terracotta
  • Designed for a cremated body
  • Husband is laying in bed with his wife drinking wine - closeness, equality (although man is still taller), relaxation 
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Portrait of Roman Emperor Augustus
  •  c. 20 BCE
  • Original Bronze
  • Augustus is dressed in military clothing, barefoot, realistic appearance, serene facial expression, stepping forward raising his right hand - perhaps addressing his troops (Orator)
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Arch of Titus
  • Rome
  • c. 81 CE
  • Made of Concrete White Marble
  • Commissioned by Domition
  • Triumphal Arch built to commemorate Titus' victories - including the Seige of Jerusalem
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Spoils from the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem
  • Relief in the passageway of the Arch of Titus, Rome
  • c. 81 CE 
  • Depicts Titus's soldiers carrying their booty through the streets of Rome after the 2nd Temple of Jerusalem is destroyed - they are carrying a large Menorah
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Pantheon, Rome
  • c. 118-128 CE
  • Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa for all Ancient Roman gods, rebuilt later by Emperor Hadrian
  • One of the best preserved of all Roman buildings
  • Traditional entrance w/ 8 Corinthian columns, circular rotunda is extremely spacious with a vaulted, domed ceiling
  • Latin Inscription: "Marcus Aggripa, Son of Lucious, Consul for the 3rd Time, built this."
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Dome of the Pantheon, Rome
  • c. 118-128 CE
  • Coffers along the dome alleviate pressure since the dome is so heavy
  • The hole at the very top is called the oculus - primary source of light
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Portrait of Marcus Aurelias, Rome
  • c. 176 CE
  • Gilded bronze
  • Renowned for his intellect & military success - dressed as a military commander (short tunic, heavy cloak), but with no armor or weapon
  • Horse raises leg to smash a defeated foe (now lost)
  • Outstretched hand signals that he was giving some sort of speech to his troops (Orator)
  • During Middle ages, this statue was mistaken as Constantine, so it was not melted down
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Catacomb Painting w/ Ark of the Covenant
  • Rome, 3rd Century CE
  • Found in Jewish catacombs  (underground burial chambers) just outside of Rome
  • Depicts Menorah & Ark of the Covenant
  • Stylistic, opaque colors, delicate foliage
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Oratory of Galla Placidia, Ravenna
  • c. 425-426 CE
  • Used as a mausoleum
  • Small cross-shaped chapel - simple exterior, walls covered with mosaics  on the interior
  • The central lunette depicts martyr, St. Lawrence, holding a cross next to a grill (how he was put to death) and a cabinet full of the Gospels - signifying the faith for which he gave his life
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Oratory of Galla Placidia, Ravenna
  • Good Shepherd Mosaic on lunette over the west entrance
  • c. 425-426 CE
  • Rocky cliff in front, with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, watching over the sheep
  • Jesus is wearing purple, has a large golden halo, and is holding a large cross
Term
[image]
Definition
  • San Vitale, Revenna
  • Early Byzantine period
  • c. 526-548 CE
  • Walls are covered with reflective veined marble veneer, colored glass & gold mosaics
  • In the conch of the sanctuary apse, an image of Christ - imperially enthroned on a cosmic orb, flanked by archangels.  St. Vitalis is receiving a crown of martyrdom from Jesus, and Bishop Ecclesius is presenting Christ with a model of the church itself - dedication
  • Vitales in burried at the church
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Emperor Justinian & his Attendants
  • From north sanctuary wall of Church of San Vitale
  • Ravenna, Italy
  • c. 526-548 CE
  • Justinian carries golden bowl for bread (communion)
  • Whereas the portrait of Theodora shows her walking into the church, Justinian is already there - he has more power
  • He has barbarian mercenary soldiers on one side, and church folks on the other side.
  • Distorted shape - body in front, feet behind - supernatural
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Empress Theodora & her Attendants
  • From south sanctuary wall of Church of San Vitale, Ravena, Italy
  • Early Byzantine Period
  • c. 526-548 CE
  • Shows procession into church
  • Theodora is carrying a chalice for wine as a gift, she is wearing purple, has a gold halo & is accompanied by friends and sisters
  • Distorted/altered space
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Abel & Malchizadek
  • Church of San Vitale, Italy
  • c. 547
  • Depicts Abel offering a lamb & Melchizadek offering bread to the alter
  • The hand of God extends from the sky
Term
[image]
Definition
  • Icon of Virgin & Child w/ Sts. & Angels
  • Monestery of St. Catherine, Mt. Sinai, Egypt 
  • Early Byzantine period
  • c. 550-600 CE
  • Mary is enthroned & Jesus is enthroned on her lap (holding scroll)
  • Theodore & George - 2 dragon slaying warrior-saints are next to her
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