Grade 10E Art History Key Points
GRADE 10E ART HISTORY SLIDES:
* See you Slide List for artist, title, date, medium, and country of each slide (you may wish to label this sheet).
SLIDE # & IMAGE:
1.
Sant’Apollinare
KEY POINTS:

Once Christianity was legal, it began to grow and require larger meeting places to
celebrate the faith as a community.

This church is dedicated to Saint Apollinarus, first bishop of Ravenna and Classe

The exterior is very plain and undecorated – meant to look humble.

The interior is richly adorned to show that the important part is within God’s house where
the people gather to pray.

Basilica – a long rectangular hall, used by Romans as public meeting places – adapted
to churches.

Apse – semi-circular chapel at the end of the nave used for the bishop’s throne & the
altar.

Nave – centre aisle of the church.

Arcade – a series of arches and columns supporting them (supporting the walls).

Side Aisle – Walkway of a church running parallel to the nave, separated by piers
/columns.
2.
Good Shepherd

Catacomb – underground passageways used to bury Christian dead and as meeting
places during persecutions.

Fresco – Wall painting on wet plaster.

The whole design is laid out in the form of a cross, with Christ at the centre

“Good Shepherd,” as in the Bible, tends his flock but will leave them in order to help the
one lamb who has gone astray

Christ is shown as a beardless youth resembling the pagan sun-god Apollo – eg. Roman
image / symbol were adapted
3.
Sarcophagus of
Junius Bassus

Sarcophagus – a stone tomb / coffin sometimes decorated with a variety of carvings.

Relief – sculptural carvings on a surface that show depth but are not totally 3-D like a
sculpture / statue.

Carved for a high ranking official who worked for Emperor Constantius II (Constantine’s
son)

Images from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are shown here

The human forms are highly stylized (short and stubby)

Christ figure is classical (beardless youth)

Shows the status of the owner as well as his faith
4.
Emperor Justinian
and his Attendants

Justinian attempted to reunite the Roman Empire, successfully for a while

He ran the Empire from northern Italy, in Ravenna

Mosaic – an image created through arranging pieces of coloured glass or stone on a
surface.

Tessarae – Pieces of coloured glass (sometimes with gold leaf underneath) used to
create wall mosaics.
5.
Empress Theodora
and her Attendants
6.
Hagia Sophia

(Same as above)

Means church of the “Holy Wisdom,” originally constructed under the orders of Emperor
Justinian

Began as an orthodox church and served as Cathedral of Constantinople 360-1453 AD

Served as a mosque from 1453 (conquered by the Ottoman Turks, under Sultan Mehmed
II) until 1934

Secularized by the Republic of Turkey and has served as a museum since 1935

Pendentive – A triangular piece of vaulting springing from the corner of a rectangular
area to support a round or polygonal dome. Usually four are needed to support a round
dome on a square base.
7.
St. Mark’s Basilica

Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Venice, seat of the archbishop of the Roman Catholic
Archdiocese of Venice

Originally the private chapel of the Doge (ruler of Venice), now the city’s church

Built over the remains of St. Mark the Evangelist, supposedly stolen by merchants from
Alexandria (North Africa)
8.
St. Basil

The horses were stolen from the Hippodrome of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade

Much of the interior mosaics are gold

In the Red Square in Moscow

a.k.a Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos on the Moat

Dedicated to a venerated local (Fool Vasily, Basil)

Earthly symbol of the heavenly city (Jerusalem)

The design is very unique and has no precedents in Byzantine architecture
9.
The Alhambra

In Spain, the town of Grenada (established by the Moors in the 8 th century) became the
capital of the Moorish territory of Spain in the 13th century

The Alhambra was built as a fortress-palace for Moorish rulers

The structure had residences, courts, offices, a bath and a mosque

Arabesque – Means the “Arab style.” A complex, ornate design of intertwined floral,
foliate, and repeated geometric forms. Usually found as decoration on the walls of
mosques.

Stucco (plaster) was used to create decorative architectural features on the surfaces of
the Alhambra.
10.
Dome of the Rock

Technically a Muslim shrine, not a Mosque

The site of the dome covers the spot where Mohammed was said to have left this earth

The site is also venerated by Jewish people because it is said to cover the rock mountain
where Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac & approximately the location of the
Temple of Solomon

Rotunda form is Byzantine style – designed for this special spot

Original dome: wood covered with lead & gilded with gold/ current dome: anodized
aluminum

Considered to be a “place of oneness” – connects the faiths of Judaism, Christianity,
Islam
11.
Great Mosque
of Damascus

Mosque – Islamic place of worship.

Minaret – A tall, slender tower attached to a mosque from which people are called to
prayer.
Taj Mahal
(not on list, but we
covered it in class)

Earliest large Muslim building for congregating

Used an existing Christian church as well as Roman structures

Square towers were turned into the first minarets

From Persian and Arabic meaning “Crown of Palaces”

White marble mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, 3rd wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan

She died giving birth to their 14th child – built to honor her

Mughal architecture: combines Persian, Islamic, Ottoman Turkish and Indian influences

Onion dome (amrud) topped with a lotus flower and the sickle (35 metres tall)

Symmetrical 4 minarets surround it (each 40 metres tall)

Complex on a 300 square metre garden

Multiple buildings within the complex including a mosque & guest houses
12.
Iznik Fritware Plate
13.
The Dado Panel





Named after a town in western Anatolia (in Turkey)
Highly influenced by Chinese pottery (blue & white) – very popular and collected by
Ottoman Sultans
Earthenware pottery with underglaze
Cobalt blue (later turquoise, green and red added
Created their own floral patterns that evolved over time

The red, white, yellow, green, and black marble elements form a mosaic of geometric patterns
based on five- and ten-pointed stars.
14.
XP Chi-Rho Page
(Lindisfarne
Gospel Book)

style of wall decoration was used especially in the interiors of mosques

typical of early fifteenth-century taste

Illuminated Manuscripts – hand-painted illustrations (often with calligraphic writing) in
books – often copies of the Bible. They helped to preserve religious teachings and some
classical literature. The paintings were made on vellum (calfskin) or parchment (lambskin).

This piece shows the insular designs often seen in Celtic artwork

Books were preserved in scriptoria despite the political instabilities that occurred as the
Roman Empire collapses and various new kingdoms emerged throughout Europe

We know now that they were once painting colourfully
15.
The Four
Evangelists Page
(The Book of Kells)

Features the abstracted symbols of the four gospel writers: Matthew (Eagle), Mark
(Winged Lion), Luke (Winged Ox) and John (Angel)

Probably at least partially created by monks living on the Island of Iona (off western
Scotland), a monastery founded by St. Colum Cille, then brought to Ireland (to a new
monastery in Kells, in County Meath) after Viking raids on the island killed 60 people.

16.

This book is currently kept at the Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland
Claims to hold the relics of St. Mary Magdelene – made it a major medieval pilgrimage
site
Sainte Madeleine

It is the largest Romanesque church in France

The 2nd and 3rd Crusades were launched from this church

Although Romanesque used some Roman architectural elements, they began
constructing roofs out of stone

Buttresses (external supports) as well as barrel and cross vaulting allowed churches to
be built higher and wider.

Fortifications and churches were made with thick stone walls and few windows – these
windows were made in the shape of the Roman arch.
LATIN CROSS PLAN:
o
Nave – The central aisle of the church. (review)
o
Apse – where the altar is located at the head of the church – often faced the east.
o
Crossing – where the transcept arms and nave cross in the middle (sometimes
the base of a tower).
o
Ambulatory – A route of outer aisles that could be used for pilgrims to walk
around the church without disturbing a mass.
17.
Mission of
the Apostles

o
Transept – The arms of the cross shaped church plan.
o
Buttresses – external structures used to help support the walls.
Tympanum – The recessed arched space above a door or window, where decorative
carving can be made (often biblical themes such as the Last Judgement)

Example of Bas Relief – a type of carving in sculpture in which the design projects only a
bit from the flat background – not totally detached from the background.

Sculpture was mostly used to decorate churches – also helps to educate the illiterate

Figures in sculpture appear stylized and unnatural in their floating poses – more
decorative than natural.

This story of Pentecost is relevant here because it was a Crusade church (spreading the
faith).
18.
The Battle
of Hastings
(Bayeux Tapestry)

Tapestries – These were patterns or pictures woven onto heavy fabrics. They were used
as decorative wall hangings and helped to warm the stone walls of castles. This is NOT a
true tapestry because it is on thin linen.

The tapestry is 230 feet long (20 inches tall) - consists of 9 panels of unequal length sewn
together

Shows 75 scenes with 623 figures, only 3 of whom are women – visual narrative
supplemented by latin text

Recounts the Battle of Hastings in 1066 (part of English and French history)

Story of loyalty, friendship, and betrayal between King Edward, Harold and William the
Conqueror
19.

On the Isle de la Cite, the origins / core of Paris – no older area of Paris
Notre Dame

Stands on the site of a Roman temple to Jupiter

It took 170 years to complete

Kings and Emperors of France were crowned here

During the French Revolution turned into the “Cult of Reason” then a wine store

In 1804, Napoleon restored religion and the process of restoration began

Pointed Arch –The pointed arch directed weight and pressure downwards. Shows the
influence of Islam.

Flying Buttress – An external brace / support to allow architects to build with thinner and
taller walls.

Ribbed Vault – A groin / cross vault reinforced with a ribbing structure.

Gargoyles - main purpose was to act as waterspouts, but some believe they were also
meant to ward off evil spirits. Some gargoyle subject matter: monks, animals, people, and
creatures. Many were humourous.
20.
Reims Cathedral

Built on the site where Clovis (early French King) was baptized in 496 AD

Known for its many sculptures, stained glass, and tapestries

Note: architectural features learned, see them in images provided

Sculptural advancement: The exterior sculptures are now high relief (almost detached
from the stonework), figures are lifelike in terms of their poses, expressions, and the way
the drapery falls on their bodies (shows their shape).
Annunciation and
Visitation
(not on list, but we
covered it in class)

The exterior sculptures are now high relief (almost detached from the stonework)

Figures are lifelike in terms of their poses, expressions, and the way the drapery falls on
their bodies (shows their shape).

Each figure looks a bit different due to different sculptors with different training and styles
– some are more expressive, some are heavily / others more delicate.
21.
Cathedral of Siena
(we skipped
this entirely)

Similar to advancements seen in France, not always as decorative sculpturally

Multiple coloured marbles used (from nearby Carrara) inside and out

Wanted to expand in the mid 1300’s, but the plague killed 4/5 of Siena’s population so
expansion never completed
22.
Sainte Chapelle

Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (tradition in Siena – eg. Palio)

Look at the similarities and differences between French and Italian Gothic

Sainte-Chapelle was the private chapel of the French kings

Servants and commoners could worship on the lower level

Built by King Louis IX to supposedly house Christ’s crown of thorns and other relics

It contains ¾ stained glass in proportion to ¼ architectural support (vaulting and
buttresses allow for this) – 15 stained glass windows separated by narrow columns that
are 50 ft. high
23.
The Annunciation
by Simone Martini

Still contains a lot of colourful painting (gold stars on blue sky)

Still some desire for rich detail and use of gold leaf for embellishment – left over Byzantine
influence.

Painting beginning to focus on realistic details (drapery, movement, facial expressions
and attempts at creating the illusion of 3D space).
24.
The Lamentation
by Giotto

Realism in painting particularly seen in the fresco paintings of Giotto in Italy (a forerunner
of the Renaissance).

Shows the aftermath of the Crucifixion, people and angels mourning the death of Christ

Captures a sense of depth (stage like – foreground, background)

Captures a sense of emotion – particularly seen in the lamenting angels

Fresco – painting on wet plaster is used in warm climates (Italy and the Mediterranean)
but not in France.