AP Art History : Early Christian, Byzantine, and Early Medieval Sculpture
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History
All AP Art History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Analyzing Early Christian, Byzantine, And Early Medieval Sculpture
Pictured above is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, originally from Rome.
The function of this sarcophagus is to __________.
tell a story of Christ
commemorate a noble family
house the remains of the dead
decorate a Roman forum
house the remains of the dead
The is a sarcophagus, which is an ancient casket meant to hold the remains of the dead.
Example Question #2 : Analyzing Early Christian, Byzantine, And Early Medieval Sculpture
Pictured above is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, originally from Rome.
The material of this piece is __________.
quartz.
limestone.
marble.
teracotta.
marble.
This sarcophagus, like most extant decorative pieces from the Christian period of Roman world, is marble.
Example Question #3 : Analyzing Early Christian, Byzantine, And Early Medieval Sculpture
Pictured above is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, originally from Rome.
The figures on the sarcophagus are done in __________.
high relief
etching
bas relief
shaped carving
high relief
The figures are made by removing the areas around them, which is relief carving. It is high relief because the figures are carved so far away from the marble setting that they are almost free.
Example Question #91 : Sculpture
Pictured above is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, originally from Rome.
The stylistic elements of the sarcopagus most aptly reflect __________.
an early Christian-Roman motif
Near Eastern cultural influence
late imperial work
themes of suffering and redemption
an early Christian-Roman motif
The figures are done in a Roman style, but reflect images of Christ and other Christian peoples, suggesting a blending of cultures.
Example Question #92 : Sculpture
What is included in a pilgrimage type church, such as St. Sernin in Toulouse?
Tribune
All of the other answers are correct
Longer nave
Radiating chapels
Double side aisles
All of the other answers are correct
Pilgrimage type churches housed large crowds on their journey to Compostela or other pilgrimage destinations. Thus, the churches were expanded to accommodate these crowds. The naves were extended; radiating chapels and tribunes were added to house the extra worshippers. Side aisles were doubled, and everything was built on a larger scale.
Example Question #1 : Early Christian, Byzantine, And Early Medieval Sculpture
What is a "reliquary"?
The medieval equivalent of a gravestone: a slab containing information about the dead individual buried underneath the site
A container holding the bone(s)/bodily object(s) of a dead saint
A coffin containing the entire body of a saint
The bone(s)/bodily object(s) of a dead saint
A container holding the bone(s)/bodily object(s) of a dead saint
"Reliquaries" are the containers of relics, or the fragmented body parts (usually the bone(s) or bodily object(s)) of a saint or other religious figure. "Reliquaries" varied in size and shape, and could range from a small amulet containing a pinkie finger to a large box containing a leg bone. Touch relics -or objects that had come in contact with a saint or other religious figure, such as a piece of clothing- might also be held within a reliquary.
Example Question #2 : Early Christian, Byzantine, And Early Medieval Sculpture
Though __________ was implemented as early as Mesopotamian art, it is a technique that flourished as a part of Byzantine art. It consists of assembling small pieces of glass, stone, metal, and other assorted materials in order to form images and elaborate patterns.
relief art
ivory art
diptych painting
portraiture
mosaic art
mosaic art
Mosaics are one of the most important legacies of Byzantine art, and remained the envy of Western European artists for centuries to come. Mosaic art included patterns, abstract symbolism, and more realistic images.
Example Question #95 : Sculpture
A "mandorla" in Romanesque sculpture is _________________.
an oval of light
the vertical stone between the main entrance doors
a musical stringed instrument similar to a small harp
a sea monster in the nether regions
an oval of light
A "mandorla" is an oval of light, typically surrounding the figure of Christ. "Leviathans" (sea monsters) were sometimes depicted in Romanesque Last Judgment scenes, ready to swallow up the condemned. The vertical stone between the portal doors is called a "trumeau."
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Early Christian, Byzantine, And Early Medieval Sculpture
Pictured above is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, originally from Rome.
The columns are in what style?
Etruscan
Ionic
Corinthian
Doric
Corinthian
The columns sport the leaves of an acanthus plant, which is stylistically representative of the Corinthian order.
Example Question #96 : Sculpture
Pictured above is the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, originally from Rome.
The work was comissioned by __________.
A Christian Roman politician
An ancient Roman emperor
A young Roman senator
A church bishop
A Christian Roman politician
Junius Bassus was a powerful senator, and the owner of this work. He must have had enough wealth and influence to commission such a work for his death, and he must have been Christian to justify the imagery. He was not a Roman Emperor, and certainly not an "ancient" one, which typically refers to a period about a thousand years before Bassus lived.
Certified Tutor
All AP Art History Resources
