Understanding terminology that describes Ancient Grecian and Roman sculpture
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AP Art History › Understanding terminology that describes Ancient Grecian and Roman sculpture
The work of art shown here was sculpted in _______________.
terra cotta
marble
bronze
gold
Explanation
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
In a clipeus portrait, the subject projects forward from a ________________.
round shield
shell
window
rosette
Explanation
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.
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.
contrapposto
calcagnolo
chiaroscuro
cantilever
Explanation
"Contrapposto," Italian for "counterpose," refers to the shift in weight in the figure's pose.
Ancient Roman sarcophagi were often decorated with what type of ancient Roman funerary art?
Intricate reliefs
Elaborate paintings
Portraiture
None of these answers
Cult statues depicting deities
Explanation
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.
A ____________ statue takes the form of a pillar with a head on top.
Herm
bust
portrait
mythological
Explanation
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.
Etruscan art has a strong relationship to Greek and Mediterranean cultures. The majority of Etruscan art was created out of _________________.
terra cotta
marble
sheet rock
dried river mud
Explanation
The Etruscans preferred terra cotta over other forms because of the importance to tombs and funeral markers which were made from terra cotta (baked clay). This art form emphasized ornament and display, which was important in their culture along with signifying the importance of the dead.
The nude male figures produced during the Archaic period of Greek art are known as _________________.
kouros/kouroi
kore/korai
Archaistic/Archaizing
anthemion/anthemia
Explanation
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.
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
Religious art
Funerary art
Reliefs
None of the other answers
Explanation
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.
Encaustic refers to a process of painting with _______________.
hot wax
olive oil
clay
egg yolk
Explanation
"Encaustic" painting uses hot wax and pigment. It was commonly used for both panel paintings and painting stone 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 standing naked youth
the kneeling draped youth
the praying youth
the running naked youth
the mother and child
Explanation
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.