AP Art History : Understanding terminology that describes Ancient Grecian and Roman sculpture
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Art History
All AP Art History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #32 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture
In sculpture, the term ______________ describes a human figure who stands with its weight on one leg, creating a distinctive S-curve shift in the hips and shoulders.
chiaroscuro
calcagnolo
contrapposto
cantilever
contrapposto
"Contrapposto," Italian for "counterpose," refers to the shift in weight in the figure's pose.
Example Question #11 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
A ____________ statue takes the form of a pillar with a head on top.
Herm
mythological
portrait
bust
Herm
The name "Herm" comes from this type of sculpture's original subject, the god Hermes. These sculptures were first made to protect places like crossroads and doorways, but by the Hellenistic and Roman periods, their subject matter expanded to include a wide range of portraits, including famous people and the god Dionysos.
Example Question #12 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
The nude male figures produced during the Archaic period of Greek art are known as _________________.
Archaistic/Archaizing
kouros/kouroi
anthemion/anthemia
kore/korai
kouros/kouroi
Male sculptures produced during the Archaic period are known as kouroi (sing. kouros). Female figures in this style are known as korai (sing. kore). Archaistic or Archaizing statues are objects produced after the end of the Archaic period (c. 480 BCE) in an Archaic style. Anthemia (sing. anthemion) refers to the decoration carved on the top of a stela, usually in the form of a palmette.
Example Question #35 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture
The term _______________ refers to sculptures carved in the Archaic style after the end of the Archaic period, c. 480 BCE.
Archaistic
Hellenistic
Classical
Roman
Archaistic
Sculptures that intentionally emulate the older Archaic style are known as Archaistic.
Example Question #36 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture
_________________ portraits attempt to show the subject as realistically as possible, even capturing features like wrinkles or baldness.
Idealism
Realism
Naturalism
Verism
Verism
"Verism" is the term used to describe very realistic Roman portraits specifically.
Example Question #13 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
A __________________ is a common type of Roman sculpture which depicts a male citizen wearing a toga.
Kouros
Paludamentum
Equestrian
Togatus
Togatus
"Togatus" is the general term for a statue of a male Roman wearing a toga. A "paludamentum" is a general's cloak sometimes worn by subjects in Roman sculptures. "Kouros" refers to a type of male sculpture produced in the Greek Archaic period. "Equestrian" statues depict their subjects mounted on a horse.
Example Question #38 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture
Encaustic refers to a process of painting with _______________.
egg yolk
clay
olive oil
hot wax
hot wax
"Encaustic" painting uses hot wax and pigment. It was commonly used for both panel paintings and painting stone sculpture.
Example Question #39 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture
In a clipeus portrait, the subject projects forward from a ________________.
window
rosette
shell
round shield
round shield
The term "clipeus" means round shield in Latin. This type of portrait was sometimes used to depict rulers or notable figures in Hellenistic and Roman art.
Example Question #40 : Ancient Through Medieval Sculpture
A _____________ is the base of a statue.
stand
support
pin
plinth
plinth
The plinth is the "floor" or bottom of a state, which might then be set into a separately carved statue base.
Example Question #14 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Roman sculpture distinguished itself from Greek sculpture by __________.
widespread use of marble as a medium
sharp realism in portraiture
creating sculptures of pagan gods for use in temples
creation of elaborate funerary memorials
sharp realism in portraiture
Most Roman sculpture, and art of all kinds, was heavily based on Greek examples, and oftentimes it can be hard to distinguish between a Roman original and a Roman copy of a Greek sculpture. However, one major distinguishing feature of Roman sculpture is in its portraiture. Roman portraits depicted their subjects in a "warts and all" manner that showed every imperfection, as it was seen to exhibit worldliness and wisdom.
All AP Art History Resources
