AP Art History

Test Study Slides: Mesopotamian thru Roman Art

Assyrian Art

Lamassu• Guardian figure protects

entrances into palaces• Combination man and animals• Winged, hoofed• Has five legs: two if you look from

the front, four as you look from the side

Mycerinus (Menkare)

C 2500 BCE

flanked by the goddess Hathor (left) and a nome goddess Bat (right). Basalt statue

Seated Scribediscovered at Saqqara in 1850 and dated to the period of the 4th Dynasty, 2620-2500 BCE

Step Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqarac. 2650 BCE

Hippopotamus Hunt, Mastaba of Ti, Saqqara, Dynasty V. Painted relief on limestone. 4' high.

Akhenatenc. 1360 BCE

Queen TiyeCa. 1353 – 1335 BCE

Bull Leapingc. 1550 – 1450 BCE

Funerary Stele of Hegesoc. 410 – 400 BCE

Greek Archaic Art Calf-Bearer• Bearded• Left foot forward• Thin coat• Rhobos the Calf-Bearer

who brings offerings to Athena as thanks for his prosperity

• Archaic smile

Kritios Boyc. 480 BCE

Riace Warriors

c. 460 BCE

Nike of Samothracec. 190 BCE

Nike Adjusting Her Sandalc. 410 – 407 BCE

Late Classical Art

4th Century BC

Praxiteles, Aphrodite of Knidos• First nude woman in Greek art• Very popular in its own time, people came from far and wide to see it• Placed in a round temple surrounded by columns: effect of sneaking a peek at her• Not openly erotic• Female sexual power suggested • Genitals lacking• Steps into a bath• One side of her has an open form, the other closed• S curve• Gentle dreamy quality

Roman Early Imperial Art

Pont du Gard, Nîmes• Bridge and aqueduct• Largest arch spans 82 feet• Each person in Nîmes

could count on 100 gallons of water a day

• Rough stones left exposed to allow for repair work

• Ashlar masonry

Flavian Amphitheatre, 80 CE

Wall Paintings from Pompeii ca. 70 – 79 BCE

Garden Room, late 1st century BCE 3rd Pompeian Style

Villa of the Mysteries, 2nd Pompeian Style painting

Dionysiac Mystery Frieze•Fresco, Foreshortening•2nd Pompeian Style painting•Large figures in a frieze-like format•Initiation rites into the female cult of Dionysos•Figures act out mystery rites•Painted marble panels at bottom, from the First Pompeian style of painting•Bright Pompeian red background pushes figures forward•No linear perspective, but three dimensional illusionism•Figures interact with each other on adjacent wall spaces

Atrium, House of the Silver wedding

Ixion Room•Fresco, linear perspective, atmospheric perspective•Foreshortening•Ixion murdered his father-in-law and planned to seduce Hera•Zeus struck him with a thunderbolt and ordered him to be tied to a wheel in hell•Scheme of red and white fields•On bottom painted to resemble marble slabs•On top, architectural vistas that do not align to a single viewpoint•Thin delicate motifs alternate with framed mythological scenes

Rome, c. 80 B.C.

Head of a Roman Patrician•Bust•Severe, unwavering, resolute•Knowledgeable, respected•Romans felt the head was a good enough representation of a person•Traditional family values•Influenced by Hellenistic Greek art•Shows the virtues of old age•Was old age enhanced on the figure?

Roman Late Imperial Art

Head of Constantine• 8 ½ foot head• Part of a seated statue that

must have been 30 feet• Enthroned in the Basilica of

Constantine• Metal crown was attached to

brow• Enlarged and detailed carving

of eyes• Lack of individuality

Ara Pacis c. 13 – 19 BCE

Ara Pacis and Procession of the Imperial Family•Altar of Peace•Delicately carved acanthus leaf patterns on the exterior•Altar connected with Augustus’ homecoming after a long absence •Romans appear as a ruling class, not as gods•Actual identifiable Romans depicted•Children are depicted as children, not shown as small adults•Crowding of figures in processional, not classically dispersed•Augustus passed laws to promote family valuesTellus Relief •Mother Earth suckles her children•Personifications of earth, wind, fire and water rest at peace around her•Roman peace brings bounty to all