AP Art History Discussion Questions 21 PDF

Preview

Summary

Gardner's Art through the Ages discussion questions, Patricia Morchel...

Description

1. Describe how chapter 21 is inspired by classical antiquity. During the period of chapter 21, an appreciation for the classics resurges. This new found appreciation can be widely seen in the artworks and architectures of that time period. For one, artists began re-adhering to the ideas of naturalism. Figures are depicted with realistic proportions and convincing positions, contrary to the stiffness and stylizations present during the medieval period. There is also a new emphasis on the study of anatomy, which is reflected through the naturalistic depiction of muscle structures and the human face. Moreover, objects in general are also shown in realistic renderings. Fabrics are shown flowing softly in the wind while hair is depicted with such detail that single strands can be seen. Additionally, nudity also began reappearing in the rendering of figures. During the medieval period, the nude body is seen also something embarrassing and is hence only used in the context of traumatic events. However, the body is seen as a piece of artwork during the renaissance. Thus, nudity became a popular subject in artworks and sculptures as it is related to a sense of holiness and purity. The content of artworks also reflect influences of classical antiquity. Rather than focusing on the biblical tales of Christ, artists began to instead focus on the tales of the ancient gods. This shift in focus is shown through artworks such as the Birth of Venus. Furthermore, a focus on the scientific can also be viewed as an influence of classical antiquity. Rather than drawing freely in a stylized manner, artists began studying the math behind artworks, leading to the rediscovery of linear perspective, which greatly improved the realism of Renaissance artworks. Architecture also began displaying traits of the antiquity, incorporating elements such as the classical column capitals and interior designs originating from Roman times.

2. Describe the work, style, and themes of the artist Sandro Botticelli. Sandro Botticelli is most famous for two of his works: Primavera and Birth of Venus. Both of his works are painted in tempera on canvas, and they are quite large in scale. Botticelli has a distinctive style to his paintings. He tends to depict women in a similar manner with delicate features and golden flowing hair. His figures also have a weightless quality to them, seemingly to be floating above the ground. This is largely due to the seemingly impossible manner in which they stand, which makes it appear as if their feet are barely in contact with the ground. Botticelli renders his figures with great realism, focusing diligently on the details of the humans’ muscular structure and anatomy. However, his figures are not quite accurate in proportions, often appearing elongated. Moreover, while he renders the paintings in great depth, there is a two dimensional quality to his works. That can be attributed to the use of patterning in his drawings, as well as the ambiguous shadows. In his paintings, there is no clear source of light, thus, objects take on a flat appearance as they do not seem to belong in the same space. However, this does not take away from the beauty of his paintings, instead, it grants them a mystical atmosphere. The topic Botticelli focused on the most was the tale of the ancient gods. He enjoyed painting the various gods and goddesses of the antiquities and did not focus on Christainity. He is especially famous for his paintings of Venus, as the god is depicted with such delicacy that she takes on an unearthly beauty.

3. What are the themes and trends in the architecture and interior design of chapter 21? Since the chapter is taking place in southern Italy, the overarching theme of the

architecture is that “more is more”. The Italian had a taste for ornate decor, thus, buildings and interiors were often covered in embellishments such as marble encrustation. In some cases, the marble-like surface is even painted to create a false marble that can almost pass as real marble. In other cases, wall paintings would span entire interiors, almost assuming the role of wall paper. Occasionally, the artist would also imitate 3d elements such as sculptures and windows in their wall paintings. This quickly became trendy and was crowned the name of “illusionistic paintings”. Another trend of this time period is the return to the classics. Capitals of the classical orders began resurging in buildings, often incorporated with more modern elements such as pilasters of the colossal order. Other Greek elements such as the pediment made a grand return as well. As of Roman elements, coffers are commonly incorporated into Italian architecture, while domes became extremely widespread among the cities. Furthermore, since Italy was never quite fond of the gothic architectural style, round arches are commonly seen in their cities. Despite the resurgence of the classics, these arches are still going strong in the world of chapter 21....