All AP Art History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : 3 D Art
Pictured above is the Boxer at Rest. It is a public domain image and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_at_Rest
Based on the figural representation and the material, this work likely dates back to _____________.
fourth century BCE Greece
seventh century CE Rome
fourth century CE Rome
first century CE Greece
fourth century BCE Greece
The piece is Hellenistic, for a number of reasons. First note the hyper-realism of the figure's proportions and body. He is figurally representative of a real man, something the Greeks took pride in. Note also the drama in his face, the anguish of his form. This too would have been connotative of the Hellenistic background of the piece, given the strong desire to depict emotional states in that period. The closest answer, therefore, is the fourth century in Greece.
Example Question #21 : Sculpture
The difference between a bas-relief and a high relief in a carved sculpture is that __________.
a bas-relief is set higher against its background
a bas-relief is carved much more ornately
a bas-relief is set lower against its background
a bas-relief is much simpler
a bas-relief is set lower against its background
A relief is a sculpture that is carved into a large slate of stone or metal, with its figures raised above a flat background. A bas-relief is a form of relief with very little depth between the carving and the background, while a high relief has much more depth. Neither term indicates any level of how ornate the carving actually is.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Roman sculpture distinguished itself from Greek sculpture by
creation of elaborate funerary memorials.
widespread use of marble as a medium.
creating sculptures of pagan gods for use in temples.
sharp realism in portraiture.
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.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Pictured above is the Boxer at Rest. It is a public domain image and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_at_Rest
The sculpture was created by a process that involves molds of the body made of wax and molten bronze casting, which is known as the _____________.
lost-wax process
encaustic process
wax-cast type
negative space type
lost-wax process
The lost wax process involves carving first the wax in the shape of a limb or head, and then using that as a moulding for the hot bronze so it is both lighter as well as more realistic. Encaustic is also a process that involves wax, but it is wax paint and not wax sculpture. This process is now considered lost because after the Greeks stopped using it it fell out of fashion and was never properly replicated.
Example Question #21 : Sculpture
The "Archaic smile" found on many human images originating in Greece's Archaic Period was meant to be a sign of what?
It was only included if the model was happy at the time of the sculpting.
Being alive
Having died with a good reputation
Having been blessed by the gods
Being alive
The "Archaic smile" characteristic of faces from sixth century BCE art was probably mean to imbue unmoving stone faces with life and distinguish them from the unmoving faces of the dead.
Example Question #4 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Which of the following characteristics best describe the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greek sculpture?
Naturalistic, emotional, and dynamic
None of the other answers is correct.
Small, realistic, and emotional
Expressionless and stiff
Symmetrical, and representative of ideal beauty and perfection
Naturalistic, emotional, and dynamic
Hellenistic Greek sculptures are often describes as naturalistic, emotional and dynamic. These pieces were a reflection of the diversity of cultures the Ancient Greeks and their culture interacted with after following the conquests of Alexander the Great. No longer did Ancient Greek sculpture represent ideal beauty and perfection the way it had during the Classical period. The Archaic period of Greek Sculpture was known for its stiff, expressionless subjects. Lastly, Hellenistic sculptures were also known for their increasingly large size.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Archaic Greek sculpture is known to have predominately consisted of three types of figures. These types of figures are known as the seated woman, the standing draped girl, and __________.
the praying youth
the running naked youth
the kneeling draped youth
the standing naked youth
the mother and child
the standing naked youth
The three types of figures are known as the seated woman, the standing draped girl, and the standing naked youth. The standing naked youth is often portrayed standing with one foot forward with a frontal stance.
Example Question #4 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
This dominant style of ancient Roman sculpture developed from the ancient Roman concept of the importance of family and ancestors. Busts created in this style were often displayed in the atria of the houses of powerful Roman families. These busts often captured the physical flaws of their subjects, as it was considered a sign of good character to recognize and display them with pride.
To which style of ancient Roman sculpture is the above excerpt referring?
Portraiture
None of the other answers
Reliefs
Funerary art
Religious art
Portraiture
Portraiture was a dominant, important part of Ancient Roman culture. It involved creating a bust (shoulders-up, or simply the head and neck) of the subject, who was more often than not the patriarch of the family.
Example Question #4 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
Ancient Roman sarcophagi were often decorated with what type of ancient Roman funerary art?
Intricate reliefs
Portraiture
Cult statues depicting deities
Elaborate paintings
None of these answers
Intricate reliefs
Although Portraiture and divine statues were indeed part of Ancient Roman art, they were not used to decorate sarcophagi, due to their size. While many statues and busts were painted, elaborate paintings were not a big part of ancient Roman art. Intricate reliefs were very commonly seen on sarcophagi. They often depicted day-to-day life as a Roman.
Example Question #5 : Understanding Terminology That Describes Ancient Grecian And Roman Sculpture
The work of art shown here was sculpted in _______________.
marble
bronze
gold
terra cotta
terra cotta
Etruscan funerary monuments, such as this Sarcophagus of the Spouses, often featured couples and even whole families that represented the subjects in the afterlife. In order to last eternally and powerfully represent those whose remains were stored inside, these sarcophagi would be created from the earthenware material known as terra cotta. Terra cotta was not only immensely strong, but could also be easily painted to represent the subject of the work of art.
Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Louvre-Lens_-_Les_Étrusques_et_la_Méditerranée_-_191_-_Paris,_musée_du_Louvre,_DAGER,_Cp_5194_(Sarcophage_des_Époux)_(A).JPG
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