AP Art History : Identifying artists, works, or schools of Asian sculpture

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Asian Sculpture

What is the largest religious monument in the world and what god does it celebrate?

Possible Answers:

Angkor Wat, Vishnu

Meenajshi Amman Temple, Meenakshi Amma

Angkor Wat, Brahma

Akshardham, Nataraja

Akshardham, Shiva

Correct answer:

Angkor Wat, Vishnu

Explanation:

Angkor Wat, meaning City Temple, is the world's largest religious monument. It is located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was built for Vishnu, a main Hindu god. 

Example Question #2 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Asian Sculpture

In order to be a conqueror in the afterlife, as he was in living life, Qin Shihuang (the First Emperor) built a tomb filled with what?

Possible Answers:

Jade jewelry

Gold and silver ornaments

All of these

Mercury

Terracotta warriors

Correct answer:

All of these

Explanation:

The mausoleum the First Emperor built in the Qin Dynasty was filled with over 7,000 terracotta statues of warriors, horses, and chariots. Archeologists also found jade jewelry and gold and silver ornaments. High levels of mercury were found in the mausoleum and indicate that it ran in troughs all throughout the building.   

Example Question #1 : Asian Sculpture

256px-Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg

The work shown here was created out of __________________.

Possible Answers:

bronze

gold

stone

marble

Correct answer:

bronze

Explanation:

Bronze has an advantage in casting an intricate sculpture compared to other metals in that it is easy to pour into a mold, yet is also extremely durable. The Chola dynasty artists of southern India frequently used bronze to create religious icons which needed both intricate details and an amount of portability for worship purposes. A wax casting technique was employed to allow for artists to create fine elements in elements in wax, then creating a mold which can have hot liquid bronze poured into it.

Image is in the public domain accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg

Example Question #771 : Ap Art History

256px-Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg

The deity pictured in the work shown here is _________________.

Possible Answers:

Parvati

Shiva

Vishnu

Ganesha

Correct answer:

Shiva

Explanation:

This Hindu deity is in the classic “cosmic dancer” pose, known as “Nataraja” in Tamil, taken by the god Shiva as he performs a dance to destroy the universe in preparation of creation by Brahma. The four arms depicted in the statue are a typical attribute of Shiva, as is the general pose taken in this work. This copper statuette was created in the time of the Chola dynasty in Southern India during the 10th century, which saw a devotion to Shiva predominate.

Image is in the public domain accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg

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