Practice Exam Questions and Answers: Art History - Paper Example

Essay Questions (25 minutes each). In an article using complete sentences, answer each question as completely and clearly as possible. You may make reference to your notes and course readings in answering the questions. Please answer TWO of these questions. You may answer on the provided sheet or email your response to me at [email protected]

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

1. Naturalism was among the most important characteristics expected of art in Christian Europe. How do these works demonstrate an interest in naturalism? How did such naturalism effect the way artists portrayed the people of the Islamic lands?

Naturalism is a concept that the world is operated by laws that are natural. A more accurate aspect of religious naturalism as portrayed in art in the ancient Christian Europe combines these laws with religion accepted values and principles such as justice, humility, compassion, and gratitude.

Artists in the old Christian Europe came up with different forms of art all acknowledging that the ultimate reason for existence revolves around the natural world.

Religious naturalists believe in concepts such as finding purpose, justice seeking and realistic approach to matters concerning the natural world. For instance, in fine art painting, naturalism was demonstrated through pictures that had minimum distortion and interpretation of nature. Such images depicted a lifestyle that was true to life and not manipulated in the least.

The origin of naturalism can be traced to England and spread to other parts of Europe and eventually, the world. With time, however, artists started making little distortions and manipulating naturalistic pictures to suit their needs, and such pictures were biased to Christianity religion. They depicted the Islamic lands as outcasts and not the right form of worship.

2. Luxury goods and other objects manufactured in the Islamic lands appear frequently in European. Compare and contrast the different ways that such objects are used in these two works. Why have these artists included them in their works?

Most of the goods that were manufactured in the Islamic lands found their way in Europe because of several factors.

First, during ancient Europe, there were various forms and modes of exchange. Batter trade occurred between these two religions, and there was each had a fair share of art and goods from the other. Such luxury goods also influenced the style of art in Europe. Ancient European artists borrowed substantially from Islam and incorporated their style in coming up with paintings, buildings and even ornaments.

Luxury goods and ornaments from Islamic lands were used to decorate churches and other large buildings. For instance, silver ornaments and glass luster which had their origin from Muslims were used as wall and floor decorations.

Short Answer Questions (15 minutes total).

1. Why did Mehmed II have portrait medals like this one made?

Portrait medals in ancient art were used to depict great people. Different people had different reasons creating paintings and they ranged from inspiration, gifting others, honoring the prominent is the society and for family and state records.

The reason why Mehmed II made portraits was for memories purposes. Such pictures served to remind people of his ancient era and inspire others. Mehmed II was considered a great hero and a conqueror in the old Turkey, and he did not want his name to disappear from the books of history.

2. List some significant similarities and differences between Gentile Bellinis Scribe and his Saint Mark Preaching in Alexandria.

The two pieces of art have some striking similarities and differences. On similarities, both paintings were drawn by Gentile Bellini who was a skilled artist and exhibited proficiency in his field. The Italian artist came up with these pictures at around the same time, and naturalism and royalty inspired him. They offer the rich narrative of the history of the ancient times.

Perhaps the greatest difference is, whereas the medium used for the seated scribe is paper, St. Mark preaching in Alexandria uses canvas as the medium. Secondly, the latter is an oil painting while the seated scribe was drawn using a pen in brown ink with gold and watercolor. Lastly, the gold ornament worn by the youth symbolizes royalty which is lacking in St. Mark preaching in Alexandria.

3. What were some principle differences and similarities between world maps made in Christian Europe and the Islamic lands during the Renaissance?

Since the beginning of time, human beings have been making sketch maps of what they perceived the world to be. Therefore, the maps made during this period were subjective rather than objective.As opposed to the Christian Europe-oriented maps, Muslim mapmakers considered the holy Mecca to be from the South with Africa crescent-shaped continent above it. The Arabian Peninsula occupied the center of the map.

To medieval Christians, the world looked something different. Jerusalem was at the center and to the right of it was Africa.

4. Describe the ways in which Raphaels School of Athens is an example of Classicism in European art.

The school is filled with frescoes of an Italian artist by the name Raphael. The rooms are decorated using his artwork, and one of the rooms represents philosophy, another theology, and literature respectively. These pictures are representations of classism associated with the Renaissance period.

5. Albrecht Durers Martyrdom of the Ten Thousand and the Title Page for Ibn Sinas Book of Healing demonstrate very different ways of representing Muslims in Christian Europe. Describe those difference

The painting depicts Muslims as heartless for the killing ten thousand Christian soldiers. Ordered by their Roman emperor, the martyrdom was perpetrated on Mt. Ararat. His picture shows the various ways Christian soldiers were killed such as decapitation, crucifixion and hammer crushing which illustrates their ruthlessness.