AP Art History : AP Art History

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History

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Example Questions

Example Question #661 : Ap Art History

To what era does the Venus de Medici date?

Possible Answers:

Hellenistic

Minoan

Pan-Hellenic

Severe

Archaic

Correct answer:

Hellenistic

Explanation:

The Venus de Medici (c. 1st century BCE) is a Hellenistic-era sculpture depicting the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. It features a dolphin poised at the foot of the standing nude goddess, who looks off into the distance and who is designed to be viewed from all angles (sculpture in the round). Its existence and that of similar female nudes challenged the earlier Greek conception of the male nude as the model of perfect human beauty.

Example Question #662 : Ap Art History

Of what material is the Venus de Medici made?

Possible Answers:

Ebony

Brass

Marble

Wood

Quartz

Correct answer:

Marble

Explanation:

Like many Hellenistic sculptures, the Venus de Medici (c. 1st century BCE) is made of marble. Brass, ebony, wood, and bronze were all far less common materials in ancient Greek sculpture. The dolphin at the goddess’s feet serves as a support for the extremely heavy medium, and other famous statues of Aphrodite have notoriously broken over the years.

Example Question #21 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture

What artwork is this?

Reggio calabria museo nazionale bronzi di riace

Possible Answers:

Alexander the Great

Discobolus of Myron

Laocoön and His Sons

The Terracotta Army

The Riace Warriors

Correct answer:

The Riace Warriors

Explanation:

These are the famous Riace Warriors (c 450 BCE). The Terracotta Army is a large group of clay statuary from ancient China, and Alexander the Great is a portrait bust. The Discobolus of Myron is statue of a single discus thrower, while Laocoön and His Sons features a man intertwined in battle with snakes and his two sons.

(Image taken from the public domain: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Reggio_calabria_museo_nazionale_bronzi_di_riace.jpg)

Example Question #22 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture

Of what material are these statues made?

Reggio calabria museo nazionale bronzi di riace

Possible Answers:

Teak

Marble

Bronze

Ivory

Proto-cement

Correct answer:

Bronze

Explanation:

The Riace Warriors, also known as the Riace bronzes, are a pair of life-size nude male warrior statues. They were discovered in the sea in the 1970s, and, while they are primarily made of bronze, they also feature details in other materials: copper lips and ivory eyes, for example. Teak, ivory, and cement were not otherwise common materials for large statues in ancient Greece.

(Image taken from the public domain: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Reggio_calabria_museo_nazionale_bronzi_di_riace.jpg)

Example Question #665 : Ap Art History

To what era do these statues date?

Reggio calabria museo nazionale bronzi di riace

Possible Answers:

Minoan

Hellenistic

Idealized

Late Classical

Severe

Correct answer:

Severe

Explanation:

The Riace Warriors are an excellent example of Early Classical sculpture. Their use of contrapposto and their slightly idealized forms distinguish them from earlier Archaic work, as do their elaborately worked beards and hair. Their makers are unknown, and the statues are thought to have been buried underwater after a shipwreck of uncertain date.

(Image taken from the public domain: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Reggio_calabria_museo_nazionale_bronzi_di_riace.jpg)

Example Question #71 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture

The Riace Warriors are a clear example of contrapposto. What does that tell us about their posture?

Reggio calabria museo nazionale bronzi di riace

Possible Answers:

They are meant to be viewed from the side

They are posed as mirror opposites of each other

They are recumbent

They are standing, and most of their weight is on one foot

They are standing, and their arms were poised to hold weapons

Correct answer:

They are standing, and most of their weight is on one foot

Explanation:

While these statues may well have held weapons once, the term contrapposto denotes a specific technique first used in ancient Greek sculpture. It describes a posture wherein most of a statue’s weight rests on one foot, leading to a more natural, relaxed pose. Contrapposto also usually results in a more lifelike stance for the torso and arms as well.

(Image taken from the public domain: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Reggio_calabria_museo_nazionale_bronzi_di_riace.jpg)

Example Question #23 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture

The Riace Warriors were created using what method?

Reggio calabria museo nazionale bronzi di riace

Possible Answers:

Plaster of Paris

Lost-wax

Assemblage

Chiseling

Tin casting

Correct answer:

Lost-wax

Explanation:

From the Archaic period on, many ancient Greek bronze statues were created using the complex, multi-step lost-wax casting process. In this process, a series of molds are created using wax and clay and molten bronze is poured into the final set of molds. This technique continues to be used today, and it often allows for greater creativity than earlier sculpting methods.

(Image taken from the public domain: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Reggio_calabria_museo_nazionale_bronzi_di_riace.jpg)

Example Question #31 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture

Statue augustus

The work shown here represents a ________________.

Possible Answers:

Christian Saint

Greek Deity

Roman Emperor

Biblical Figure

Correct answer:

Roman Emperor

Explanation:

This statue, the Augustus of Prima Porta, is a classic Roman sculpture of the Emperor Augustus Caesar. Carved in marble, the statue presents Augustus in the armor of Roman General, but posed and shaped in a way as to evoke the Roman gods. The Romans had a belief that the Caesars became gods upon their death, a belief fostered by the construction of temples by their successors.

Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue-Augustus.jpg

Example Question #74 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture

Who did the Greeks often model their sculptures after? 

Possible Answers:

Animals

Beautiful women 

Gods/deities

Young athletes

Correct answer:

Young athletes

Explanation:

Greek sculptures modeled their sculptures after young, Green athletes. The athletes competed in their sports naked, allowing the sculpture to see their strong, muscular, athletic form in motion.

Example Question #75 : Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture

________________ was the sculptor responsible for the massive sculptures decorating the Parthenon in Athens.

Possible Answers:

Praxiteles

Lysippus

Phidias

Scopas

Correct answer:

Phidias

Explanation:

Phidias is one of the most well-known Greek sculptors. Phidias was responsible for the strategy behind the decoration of the Parthenon. One of his masterpieces was the gold statue of Athena inside the Parthenon.

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