All AP Art History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #5 : Answering Other Questions About Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Sculptural portraits during the Republican period in Rome emphasized _______________ characteristics.
fantastical individual
idealistic group
realistic individual
fantastical group
realistic individual
Roman sculptures were mainly realistic and individualistic during the Republican Time period. During this period, the Romans overthrew the previous Roman kingdom. The focus on individuals represented the changing focus away from the idea of a royal kingdom towards the focus of the real individuals in the kingdom fighting for freedom. The fantasy world of the royals was quickly replaced by a very real Republic filled with individuals concerned about their rights. Their art at the time reflected these feelings.
Example Question #81 : Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Which Ancient Roman resort town buried in volcanic ash provides insight into Roman architecture, domestic decoration, and wall paintings?
Pompeii
Naples
Sorrento
Capri
Pompeii
Pompeii was buried in volcanic ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E. The whole village was lost. Many years later, the town was discovered preserved under the ash. This allowed archaeologists the chance to study what life was like in ancient Roman times and give insight to historians on art practices of the Romans.
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."
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