AP Art History : Analyzing fourteenth- through sixteenth-century 2D art
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History
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Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century 2 D Art
The most likely original placement of this painting would have been in __________.
the altar of a church
the public space in a town center
the outer spaces of a church
the private rooms of a palace
the altar of a church
The Early Netherlandish painters with whom Hieronymus Bosch was associated painted a number of altarpieces and devotional works to be placed in churches. This portrait of John on Patmos shows the purported author of the Book of Revelation in a reverential stance. Additionally, his positioning indicates this was the far right end of a triptych, a three-fold piece of art that had multiple paintings on one, usually religious, theme. Triptychs were common in church altars in the Late Medieval/Early Modern period.
Image: St. John the Evangelist on Patmos by Hieronymus Bosch (1489)
Example Question #32 : Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century 2 D Art
Which of the following is NOT true of The Last Supper by Leonardo DaVinci?
Jesus points to the bread and wine, symbolizing the sacrament of the Eucharist
Da Vinci simplifies the Last Supper scene in comparison to previous depictions of this scene in early works of art
Peter is depicted holding a knife, to foreshadow that he will cut off a soldier's ear to protect Jesus from arrest later
All of the disciples are depicted reacting in a different way, to reflect their each individual personality
There have been no efforts to restore The Last Supper, and it is in pretty good condition
There have been no efforts to restore The Last Supper, and it is in pretty good condition
The Last Supper is actually in terrible condition, and attempts to restore it started as early as 1726. Deterioration was noticeable as early as 18 years after it was first painted.
Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_(Leonardo_da_Vinci)#/media/File:%C3%9Altima_Cena_-_Da_Vinci_5.jpg
Example Question #103 : Ap Art History
Which of the following elements present in Venus of Urbino was most directly influential in works of art that followed?
The image of the reclining nude, often looking right at the viewer
The incorporation of animals into everyday scenes
The use of perspective to show multiple scenes at the same time
The use of chiaroscuro
The richness of the colors
The image of the reclining nude, often looking right at the viewer
The image of the reclining nude, often looking right at the viewer, was an element present in Venus of Urbino that most directly influenced many works of art that came later. While the other elements listed were present in Venus of Urbino, the bold sensuality and straightforwardness of this image was imitated in many works of art that followed. Manet's Olympia (shown below) is one particularly noteworthy example.
Images are in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Tiziano_-_Venere_di_Urbino_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg and https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Edouard_Manet_-_Olympia_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Example Question #104 : Ap Art History
Which of the following is NOT true of Venus of Urbino?
This image demonstrates contrapposto
This work was meant to be placed in a cassoni, or trunk intended for a wife's belongings after she got married
The image was considered to be unapologetically erotic, and the model was likely based on a real-life courtesan
The spatial environment is complex and shows three distinct fields within the image
This work is now displayed in the Uffizi in Florence
This image demonstrates contrapposto
Venus of Urbino does not feature contrapposto. Contrapposto is a specific arrangement of the body often seen in ancient sculpture where the body is twisted off-axis to give off a more naturalistic standing position.
The others, however, are all true. This was meant to be put in a cassoni (and in fact, the servant in the background is standing next to one). The spatial environment contains 3 distinct planes (the nude in the foreground, the servants in the mid-ground and the view out the window in the background). The woman is likely based on a real-life courtesan from the time period and is shown to be "unapologetically erotic" by looking directly at the viewer. Finally, it's currently on display in the Uffizi in Florence.
Image is in the public domain, accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Tiziano_-_Venere_di_Urbino_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
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