15 Chapter Christian Art: From Catacombs to Cathedrals
First: read and focus
Read Chapter 15, Christian Art: From Catacombs to Cathedrals.
Look for the technical development in architecture and how it changed the
aesthetic aspect of the buildings. Look at how the representation of realism in art
goes backward for the Greek and Roman standards and how it starts a
progression forward again to obtain the Greek and Roman ideals as far as
realism is concerned. Focus on the principal movements in art and their unique
characteristics.
Second: review and extra help
Visit these sites for Chapter 15. They were recommended by your book
Understanding Art. Chris Witcombe's Art History Resources on the Web at http://
witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html and http://art.wadsworth.com/fichner7/
Third: vocabulary and terminology
Vocabulary and terminology from Chapter 15 to know for the final test.
Catacomb
Narthex
Nave
Altar
Apse
Transept
Latin cross plan
central plan
mosaic
Byzantine
Ambulatory
Greek cross plan
Middle Ages
Carolingian
Manuscript Illumination
Ottonian
crossing square
square schematism
alternate support system
Romanesque Art
radiating chapel
tribune gallery
clerestory
tympanum
illumination
hierarchical scaling
Gothic Art
Triforium
rose window
flying buttress
rectangular bay system
apocalypse
archivolts
jamb
Annunciation
Visitation
International Gothic style.
Fourth: works of art
Works of art from Chapter 15 to know for the final test.
Pg 328 fig 15-1; pg 328 fig 15-2, pg 329 fig 15-3; pg 330 fig 15-4; pg 331 fig 15-5;
pg 333 fig 15-8; pg 333 fig 15-9; pg 336 fig 15-12; pg 337 fig 15-13; pg 339 fig
15-15; pg 340 fig 15-16; pg 341 fig 15-17; pg 341 fig 15-18; pg 346 fig 15-25; and
pg 347 fig 15-26.
Associate the works of art to the vocabulary and terminology.
Fifth: CONCEPTS AND QUESTIONS
Concepts and questions for Chapter 15.
This assignment is for a grade and must be completed on or before its due date.
For this assignments due date and all assignment due dates you must check
your weekly course outline and/or your syllabus. Due dates must be observed to
receive credit for this assignment. Once the quiz has been shut down it will not
be reopened.
Look on page 328 at figure 15-1 di Priscilla, Rome and
figure 15-2, The Good Shepherd in the St. Pietro and Marcellino.
1. Some of the earliest surviving Christian Art is found in _________, secret
underground burial places for Christians beneath the city streets. Some times
small chapels were carved out in them and here early Christians worshiped and
prayed for the dead. These chapels were very simple, but sometimes they were
decorated with frescoes such as the The Good Shepherd in St. Pietro and
Marcellino.
A. nave
B. atriums
C. orans
D. catacombs
E. propylacums
2. Perhaps because early Christians were persecuted they adopted many
symbols that were already present in Roman art for their own proposes like a fish
for Christ and grapes for the promise of salvation through the blood Jesus had
shed. But after the persecution stopped the symbolism still remained and
important part of Christian Art. So when interpreting a Christian work of art, it is
important to interpret its symbolic meaning or its ______.
A. stylized
B. iconography
C. mosaics
D. symbolism
E. lunettes
Look on page 329 at figure 15-3, Plan and section of Old St. Peter's in Rome
3. After Constantine issued an edict of tolerance for all religions, Christians could
come out of hiding and build churches. One of the most important of these
Churches was the Old St. Peter's, which drew on the __________ and derived a
plan for Christian cathedrals that functioned for centuries to come. Some
important features that were incorporated into other churches were the long
central aisle or nave at the end of is the apse in which the altar sets.
A. Latin cross plan
B. Greek cross plan
C. central plan
D. basilican plan
E. International Gothic style.
Look on page 330 at figure 15-4 Church of San Vitale, Ravenna: Exterior and
plan
4. Even though this church has a traditional plain exterior like other Christian
churches, the Church of San Vitale is an example of the __________ church,
which was the popular style in the East and the art of Byzantine. This church is
know for its spatial effect. It is octagonal with a domed central space, its circular
nave is ringed by an aisle or ambulatory eliminating the longitudinal axis of the
Early Christian basilica.
A. central plan
B. international style
C. Latin cross plan
D. longitudinal plan
E. basilican plan
Look on page 331 at figure 15-5, Justinian and Attendants, Church of St. Vitale,.
5. Justinian and Attendants from the Church of St. Vitale, is an example of
________ . This art style comprised most of the ornamentation of the Early
Christian churches. In this medium a design is formed by embedding small
pieces of colored stone or glass in cement.
A. a fresco
B. an encaustic
C. a portal relief sculpture
D. a stained glass
E. a mosaic
Look on page 331 at figure 15-5, Justinian and Attendants, Church of St.
Vitale, and
page 328 at figure 15-2, The Good Shepherd in the Catacomb of St. Pietro and
Marcellino.
6. Justinian and Attendants from the Church of St. Vitale, is an example of the art
style that comprised most of the ornamentation of the Early Christian churches.
Which of these statements is/are true about this work of art.
A. This work uses this simple perspective technique of overlapping in which a
figure is placed slightly in front of the another and in the case the heads form a
single line.
B. This work displays realism with its natural portrayal of gestures.
C. The garments no longer relate to the human form under them, as they seem
to hang on invisible frames. This contracts strongly to the earlier work, The Good
Shepard in which the drapery flows over the bodies naturally.
D. The figures are placed realistically in the space of the work of art.
E. The tall, spare, angular, and elegant figures seem to have no substance with
the gorgeous draperies falling straight and stiff from the narrow shoulders, their
thickly lidded eyes stare outward and they gesture unnaturally. These figures
characteristics contrast strongly with the figures in The Good Shepard in which
the figures are posed naturalistically and were created using classical
proportions.
A. A and C
B. B and D
C. A, C, and E
D. A, C, D, and E.
E. none of these
7. Some historians consider the 1000-year millennium between 400CE and
1400CE of the ___________ a holding pattern between the era of Classical
Rome and the rebirth of its art and culture in the Renaissance of the 15th
century.
A. Carolingian Art
B. Middle Ages
C. Early Christian Art
D. Byzantine
E. Ottonian Art
Look on page 333 at figure 15-8 Lindisfarne Gospels, and
figure 15-9, Scythian plaque.
8. There are works of art from the ____________ like the page from
the Lindisfarne Gospels that have characteristics similar to those that appear in
the small carvings and metalwork of the Celtic-Germanic culture, "barbarians"
tribes who migrated throughout Eurasia for centuries. Surrounding the cross in
the page from the Lindisparne Gospels are repetitive linear patterns of the
interlacements of fantastic animals and snakes. This combination of interlace
with animal figures was only common in these "barbarian" tribes.
A. Early Christian Art of the Persecution period
B. Early Christian Art of the Period of Recognition
C. Byzantine period
D. Early Middle Ages
E. Gothic period
9. The cultural achievements of Charlemagne's reign and __________ were the
decipherment of the true biblical text and the collecting and copying of ancient
Roman literary texts. Over time with repeated coping of these manuscripts by
illiterate scribes with illegible hand writing made the text of the bible was barely
decipherable. "Roman" lettering is derived from the shapes of the script from
these manuscripts.
A. Ottonian Art
B. Byzantine Art
C. Gothic Art
D. Romanesque Art
E. Carolingian Art
Look on page 336 at figure 15-12, Adam and Eve Reproached by the
Lord, Mary's Cathedral in Hildesheim
10. The panel Adam and Eve Reproached by the Lord from the bronze doors
of St. Mary's Cathedral in Hildesheim depicts God confronting Adam and Eve
pointing his finger accusingly at them. The accusing finger of the Lord is the focal
point of the drama as it points to the cringing figures of Adam and Eve. The
subject matter of this work reflects a theme that will be depicted repeatedly in
____________. That is God as the merciless judge and humans are quivering
creatures, who must beware of God's wrath and the salvation from the fires of
hell in the afterlife.
A. Carolingian Art
B. Romanesque Art
C. Ottomian Byzantine Art
D. Art
E. Gothic Art
Look on page 337 at figure 15-13, Church of St. Sernin; Toulouse, France,
11. The church of St. Sernin in Toulouse, France, fitted all the requirements of a
(1)___________ cathedral, such as a prominent transept crowned by a multilevel
spire above the crossing square. Most importantly it was fire proof because it
was constructed out of stone using the ceiling structure called a (2)_________.
But they still had the same problem as the Romans had, that is there is little light
in the interior of the cathedral because openings weaken the structure.
A. (1) Romanesque; (2) groin vault
B. (1) Romanesque; (2) arch
C. (1) Romanesque; (2) barrel vault
D. (1) Gothic; (2) groin vault
E. (1) Gothic; (2) barrel vault
Look on page 339 at figure 15-15, Cathedral of St. Etienne, Caen, France
12. Structurally, the central problem of __________ architecture was the need to
develop a masonry vault system that admitted light but was fire proof. The
builders of the cathedral of St. Etienne helped in the solution with the use of the
first true rib vault, which made it possible to pierce the walls directly above the
tribune gallery with windows. This series of windows that appears cut into the
slightly domed modules of the ceiling is called a _______ . It became a standard
element of the Gothic cathedral plan.
A. (1) Romanesque; (2) clerestory
B. (1) Byzantine; (2) fenestration
C. (1) Romanesque; (2) fenestration
D. (1) Byzantine; (2) clerestory
E. (1) Carolingian; (2) fenestration
Look on page 340 at figures 15-16, Detail of the Last Judgment, west portal
Cathedral of Saint-Lazare
13. Sculpture of the _________________ periods was mainly restricted to
architectural decoration in relief sculptures around the portals or principle
entrances. Some of the most important and elaborate sculptural decoration is
found in a semicircular space above the cathedral doors called the _________.
A. (1) Carolingian and Romanesque; (2) chapel
B. (1) Carolingian and Ottonian: (2) tympanum
C. (1) Romanesque and Gothic; (2) clerestory
D. (1) Carolingian and Romanesque; (2) clerestory
E. (1) Romanesque and Gothic (2) tympanum
14. Instead of looking to nature for models the __________ artist sought stylistic
inspiration in Roman works, the small carvings of the pre-Romanesque era, and
especially manuscript illumination. The artist goal was to convey their message
with the details and emotionalism that would have the most dramatic impact on
the viewer (sinner) making realism unimportant.
A. Byzantine
B. Carolingian
C. Ottonian
D. Romanesque
E. Gothic
Look on page 341 at figure 15-17, The Annunciation to the Shepherds,
Romanesque Manuscript Illumination.
15. The Romanesque Manuscript Illumination of The Annunciation to the
Shepherds, uses the technique of _____________, which implies that humans
are less significant than celestial beings and that animals are lower than humans.
We know this because of this work's use of relative size to indicate relative
importance.
A. scale
B. distortion of scale
C. proportion
D. hierarchical scaling
E. canon of proportion
Look on page 341 at figure 15-18, Bayeux Tapestry.
16. In the Middle Ages there was one art form that women of all social classes
and walks of life were taught, ___________________. The most famous
surviving example of works created by women is the Bayeux Tapestry, which
describes the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in a continuous
narrative that was at least 230 running feet long.
A. sculpture
B. the fiber arts of encaustic and embroidery
C. metal smithing
D. the fiber arts of weaving and embroidery
E. the painting technique of encaustic and fresco
17. The choir of the Benedictine abbey church of Saint-Denis is believed to be
the beginning of the _________ style of Architecture. In the construction of the
choir the pointed arch is used instead of the round arch of the Romanesque.
Innovative rib vaults resting on pointed arches cover the ambulatory chapels
creating exceptionally light vaults. Because of this lightness, the walls between
the chapels were eliminated and the outer walls were opened up and filled with
stained-glass windows. This new type of vaulting and the use of stained glass
became the hallmarks of the ________________.
A. (1) Romanesque; (2) French Gothic architecture
B. (1) Romanesque; (2) Italian Gothic architecture
C. (1) Gothic; (2) Italian Gothic architecture
D. (1) Gothic; (2) French Gothic architecture
E. (1) Gothic; (2) Renaissance
18. Which statements are true about Gothic architecture?
A. In the French Gothic style the walls were pierced by greater expanses of
glass, nave elevations became higher, and carved details became lacier.
B. The use of the round arch is carried over from their use in Romanesque
architecture.
C. In some English and German Gothic structures the general "blockiness" of
Romanesque architecture was maintained.
D. Decoration of Gothic cathedrals was mostly confined to the portals with every
square inch of the tympanums, lintels, and archivolts are carved with an array of
figures and ornamental motifs.
E. The clerestory an area above the triforium in the elevation of the nave
contains windows to provide direct lighting for the nave. This is a standard
element of the Gothic cathedral plan.
F. Italian Gothic architecture stands apart from the Gothic architecture of the rest
of Europe; in fact in comparison to the French Gothic it could hardly be called
Gothic at all.
A. A, B, C, D, and E
B. A, C, D, and F
C. A, C, D, E, and F
D. A, B, E, and F
E. All of these
19. The theme of ________ sculpture took on a new mood. The iconography is
one of redemption rather than damnation. No more threats of damnation, instead
of scenes of judgment day, the viewer sees scenes, such as events from the life
of Christ or the Virgin Mary, or apocalyptic visions.
A. Carolingian
B. Byzantine
C. Gothic
D. Romanesque
E. Ottonian
20. For this question
Look on page 346 at figure 15-25, Jamb figures in the west portal of the Chartres
Cathedral
and on page 347 at figure 15-26, Jamb figures in the west portal of the Reims
Cathedral
Compare and contrast the portal sculpture of the Chartres Cathedral and the
Reims Cathedral. Which of these statements are true.
A. The portal sculpture figures from Chartres Cathedral are stiff and rigid in
their poses. They take on the shape of the columns to which they are
attached. Where as, the figures from the portal of Reims Cathedral are
detached from the columns in the background and have a freedom of
movement not seen in the Chartres figures.
B. Compared to the other images in this grouping for the Reims Cathedral the
Virgin Mary has the most characteristics in common with the figures in the
west portal of the Chartres Cathedral in that her stance is the most rigid, and
her gestures and facial expression are the most stylized.
C. The images from the Reims cathedral of the Virgin Mary, Gabriel, and the
two figures of the Visitation show different stylistic characteristics for each
other.
D. The of figures of Mary and Elizabeth from the Visitation have the most
realistic characteristics with their contrapposto stance and now the folds of the
drapery articulates the movement of the body beneath it.
E. All of these.
Sixth: ART PROJECT
ART PROJECT: Manuscript Illumination was used to embellish and illustrate the
pages of medieval manuscripts at which time manuscript painting was
considered a high art. Initial letters of the text were enlarged and adorned, at time
containing figures and scenes or shaped into animal-like forms. At other times,
botanical ornamentation, playful birds, animals and imaginary beings surrounded
columns of writing.
Use your favorite poem or lyrics to your favorite song and create your own
manuscript with illustration it must not be any smaller than 8 by 11. You may use
any art form you wish from collage, painting, or computer art. If you need to see
examples of manuscripts go to the library and look some up, use our libraries;
they are great resources for information.
Seventh: ATTENDANCE
ATTENDANCE: For the due date for this assignment check your weekly course
outline and/or your syllabus. When you have finished all the assignments for
Chapter 15, go to the Discussion topic for the Attendance for Chapter 15 and tell
me how you feel, in general about the semester and about this chapter's
assignments. Do you understand the principal movements of art from this
chapter and the characteristics that make them unique? Do you foresee any
problems developing now or in the future; most important are you feeling
confused or flustered about anything? If so lets see what we can do about it.
Remember do this with every chapter assignment.