AP Art History : Answering other questions about twentieth- and twenty-first-century sculpture

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Twentieth And Twenty First Century Sculpture

Michelangelo’s sculpture, David, was constructed under the patronage of __________.

Possible Answers:

the Papacy

the King of Sicily

the King of France

the Duomo of Florence

Correct answer:

the Duomo of Florence

Explanation:

The Italian Renaissance began in the city-states of Northern Italy, which were ruled over by no king, as a larger project of enhancing their authority. The David was made by Michelangelo to fulfill a contract with the Overseers of the Office of Works of the Duomo, which was the cathedral of Florence. The David's subtle turn, wary glare, and perfect form helped the stature to become a symbol for Florence.

Example Question #2 : Answering Other Questions About Twentieth And Twenty First Century Sculpture

Which of the following elements was NOT a key feature of Marcel Duchamp's sculptural works?

Possible Answers:

Everyday subjects

Easy replicability

Classical themes

Found objects

Correct answer:

Classical themes

Explanation:

Beginning in 1914 and continuing until his death in 1968, the French artist Marcel Duchamp created sculptures he termed "readymades." Duchamp took essentially everyday objects and mounted them as sculptural pieces in galleries. The pieces grew to be less found objects and more objects built to look like common items, often presented with absurd or humorous titles.

Example Question #2 : Answering Other Questions About Twentieth And Twenty First Century Sculpture

How long had Christo and Jeanne-Claude been working to get The Gates approved to be installed, and how long was it installed for?

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Possible Answers:

35 years, and 10 days

26 years, and 2 weeks

20 years, and 1 month

5 weeks, and 3 months

1 day, and 50 weeks

Correct answer:

26 years, and 2 weeks

Explanation:

Christo and Jeanne-Claude had proposed the idea for The Gates and submitted proposals as early as 1976. The idea was eventually approved by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was a collector of their artwork, and the installation was put up in Central Park for 2 weeks.

Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gates#/media/File:Gates_a.jpg

Example Question #3 : Answering Other Questions About Twentieth And Twenty First Century Sculpture

Which of the following is NOT true of The Gates?

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Possible Answers:

The installation art piece was meant to interact with nature rather than interfere with it

The installation was entirely funded by the City of New York

The Gates was constructed from vinyl frames and rectilinear pieces of fabric

The gates were saffron colored to allude to a "golden ceiling creating warm shadows"

There was no specific start or end point to the installation, meaning to be designed for the person in motion

Correct answer:

The installation was entirely funded by the City of New York

Explanation:

The Gates was entirely funded by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. While the City of New York supported it, the project was privately funded rather than publicly.

Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gates#/media/File:Gates_a.jpg

Example Question #5 : Answering Other Questions About Twentieth And Twenty First Century Sculpture

What post-modern artist is famous for kitschy sculptures such as Michael Jackson and Bubbles?

Possible Answers:

Jeff Koons

Roy Lichtenstein

Marcel Duchamp

David Hockney

Jasper Johns

Correct answer:

Jeff Koons

Explanation:

Jeff Koons is most closely associated with kitsch objects that collapse the distance between high art and "low" pop culture. Duchamp was an early influence on Koons' generation, while the rest are peers who work in other areas of pop art and post-modernism.

Example Question #6 : Answering Other Questions About Twentieth And Twenty First Century Sculpture

What sculptor's work, one of his "Bird in Space" series, was taxed by custom officials when the artist arrived in New York due to its unconventional appearance, provoking an uproar in the modern art community?

Possible Answers:

Auguste Rodin

Constantin Brancusi

Kurt Schwitters

Alberto Giacometti

Marcel Duchamp

Correct answer:

Constantin Brancusi

Explanation:

Though all of the artists are known for unconventional 20th century sculptures that pushed the boundaries of what sculpture should look like, it was Brancusi's that so confounded customs officials. One of the officials reportedly said "If that's art...I'm a bricklayer."

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