AP ART HISTORY
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 – Comparative
Mrs. Lawson
Due (BOP):______________________
NAME:
RELIEF SCULPTURE ANALYSIS WORKSHEET
Directions: Read pages. Collect data on the artworks listed below. Note: Check the beginning of the chapter for historical and cultural
information.
CRITERIA:
(Artist if Known)
Artistic Time Period /
Date /Orig. Location /
Bison, Le Tuc d”Audoubert,
pgs 40-47
Paleolithic / c. 13,000 BCE / Cave
Le Tuc d'Audoubet, France
Sumerian / c. 2600 BCE / from
tomb of Puabi
BABYLONIAN / c. 1792-1750 BCE /
Iran /
Unbaked clay / Relief Sculpture /
modeling - building up of form / high
relief
Gold leaf and lapis lazuli over
wooden core; wood inlaid with gold,
lapis lazuli & shell
Black-Basalt / relief sculpture with
inscribed inscription
Independent sculptures /
distinguishing features / / strict
profile / engraved eyes, nostrils,
mouth, & mane / 25” length
4 horizontal registers=scenes in
inlaid shell / box scenes include
imaginary composite creatures
(man & animal) / heraldic
composition (symmetrical around
center figure) / composite view
Bearded bulls head=3-D -life-like
except for beard & simplified nose /
animals=profile/ recurring theme in
both literature & art of animals
acting as people / characterizing
parts-avoid positions or view that
would conceal characteristics
Grave goods=may be funerary
narrative / Ruler= paid for art /
musical instrument=lyre-harp
Effort to create an order through
customs, conventions & ceremonies
/ conceptual rather than optical
reality
Independent City-states=Land of
change -Spoils of war & successful
farming & trade brought wealth to
some of the city-states/ families of
Ur buried dead in vaulted chambers
beneath the earth / most likely
actual event / beginning of the
“historic period” – a written record
City-state ruled by a local god
through a human ruler
Combined front & side view /
headdress in profile (new) /
new=beard is a series of diagonal
lines (not horizontal)
Hieratic / naturalistic tendencies,
esp. animals &human figures /
frontality
Rounded-cylindrical forms / linear
surface detail / stylized / hieratic /
Bull lyre, pgs 68-73
Stela of Hammurabi, pgs 73-77
Relationship to site
Medium/Materials
Type / Method /
Technique / Process
Pictorial Space /
Composition / Principles &
Elements -Scale / Size /
Proportion / movementgesture / positive-negative
space
Expressive Qualities /
Figural Representation /
stance-presentation /
anatomical detail /
correctness / expression /
Form- organic/geometric
Engraved parallel lines = shaggy
coat
Function / Purpose /
Patron / Audience
Various theories/ super natural /
ritual / initiation rites
Subject / Content /
Meaning / Symbolism /
Iconography / Narrative
Bison (food) / gain favor of
supernatural forces / invention of
symbols to represent values &
beliefs /
Pariental art- indicates permanent
locations-change from nomadic
Context:
Social
Political
Economic
Power & Authority
Cultural belief system
(Religious)
Artistic / Stylistic
Characteristics /
Commonalities
Other relevant artworks
& criteria
Shaman -educated guess= ritual /
fertility / educational - magic Art
product of ritual intended to gain
favor of supernatural forces
Stylistic / mature sense of 3-D formstrict profile / emphasis on broad
mass of side view / simplified form
Bison with Turned Head
Head, Bull lyre
Stele / top depicts Hammurabi in
the presence of the sun godShamash / suggests interest in
depth of space / figures=smooth
rounded forms / relative importance
represented in size
Power & Authority - Hammurabi –
code of law
Symbolism=god bestows authority
to rule & enforce laws on
Hammurabi
Independent City-states =Land of
change -Periods of political turmoil
alternated with period of stable
government / Sumer reunited under
Hammurabi (r. 1792-1750 BCE) /
capital set at Babylon / written legal
code listed the laws & penalties
City-state ruled by a local god
through a human ruler
Stela of Naramsin,
Akkadian (Sumerian Rule)
AP ART HISTORY
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 – Comparative
CRITERIA:
(Artist if Known)
Artistic Time Period /
Date /Orig. Location /
Relationship to site
Medium/Materials
Type / Method /
Technique / Process
Pictorial Space /
Mrs. Lawson
Due (BOP):______________________
NAME:
Assurnasirpal II Killing Lions,
pgs 78-80
ASSYRIAN / c. 850 BCE / from the
palace complex of Ashurnasirpal II,
Kalhu (Iraq)
Alabaster, approx. 39" / low relief
sculpture / painted / architectural
decoration / expressive & durable material
Apadana of Darius & Xerxes,
pgs 85-88
Persia / 518-c. 460BCE /
Persepolis, Iran / ceremonial
complex of Darius I & Xerxes I
Masonry / stone relief sculpture
Palette of Narmer, pages 96-97
Egypt / late Predynastic, c. 31003000 BCE / from Hierakonpolis
Slate, height 25"/ relief carving
High degree of detail / linear
narrative / hieratic / overlap-depth /
naturalistic mixed with stylistic
Traces of color suggest reliefs were
painted / relief sculptures decorate
walls &
2-sidedhistorical document in pictorial
narrative registers / each row contains
a different idea of separate event/
figures stand on ground line/ law of
hierarchy / no setting (Sumer) /human
figure represented in Egyptian Style
Carved / low relief panels / show king &
subjects in battle or hunting / Garden
scene=Egyptian necklace hangs from end
of the couch-may be symbolic reference
to conquest of Egypt / Hunting
scene=staged hunting symbolizes king of
men overcoming king of beasts / animals
shown naturalistically- wounded, & dying /
king attacking /-developed formalized
depiction of the human form
Power & authority / record great deeds of
the king – religious rituals, war campaigns
events, hunting expeditions
Subjects= displays of allegiance &
economic prosperity (not heroic exploits) /
garments reveal body beneath / knife
edge pleats reflect Greek sources /
stairway = processions of royal guards,
Persian nobles, dignitaries, & emissaries
in national costume from 23 nations
bringing the king tribute representative of
that nation
Cannon of proportions, law of frontality,
& law of hierarchy =early example of
figure representation used for 1000s of
years / Composition / stance => one
foot is usually place in front of the other
on a ground line / conventionalized
depiction of depth-stacked bodies
Purpose & function to glorify the king in a
decorative & monumental manner -may
depict actual ceremony
Subject / Content /
Meaning / Symbolism /
Iconography /
Narrative
Narrative hunting relief / example of
many reliefs celebrating the king
with inscriptions describing
accomplishments / king larger than
animal & not standing with
animals=symbolizes power &
authority / moves away from
timelessness to depicting a visual
narrative / man over nature
Ceremonial-project from
background- stylized Greek
garments=influence
Context:
Land of change/ largest empire in
the world-extensive network of roads
/ Darius I (521-486 BCE) / fell to
Alexander the Great in 331 BCE
Economic
Power & Authority
Land of change -Ashurnasirpal II r.
883-859 / built fortified city at Kalhu
(Tigris River) / Assurbanipal r. 669627 / capital at Nineveh / decorated
palace complex (citadel/fortress)
courtyard with pictorial narratives /specialization of roles /cultural
blending / artists have status of
worker => result no artist names /
begin to see art produced by great
centers of political and economic
power/
Used for grinding malachite to produce
face paint for ritual purposes /
establishes kingship as divine
Narrative
Front= 2 images of Hathor - protect the
city of the dead –between=
hieroglyphic representation Narmer’s
name/wears crown of Lower Egypt=
(red) / back wears crown of Upper
Egypt = (white)-Narmer carries a club
& whip – inspecting decapitated
enemies / Back = Narmer wears a
ceremonial bull’s tail, sandals off–
indicating holy ground & symbol of
victory-hawk or falcon = symbol of god
Horus- local god of Upper Egypt (also
successful war) papyrus=lower Egypt =
symbolize the number of Narmer’s
captives (6,000)-the small rectangle
symbolizes a fortified town or citadel
Land of stability- began as two
independent Egypts / imperialistic
ruler-gods, powerful priests, artists
professionals with high social status /
craft specialization increases –mass
production for a wider market / first
hieroglyphic writing Early Dynastic
(Dyn. I-II) 3100-2663 B.C.E. –
Kingdom of two lands- Upper Egypt
(dry, rocky, (Archaic) Period rustic)
& Lower Egypt (opulent, urban,
populous) / Narmer (Menes) of Upper
Egypt conquers Lower = Start Dynasty
I, Egyptian history begins with
unification event
Cultural belief system
Art & architecture centered around
gods and rulers
Art & architecture centered around
gods and rulers
Art centers around belief in afterlife
Exchange of styles, techniques and
material / subjects=political events, trade
relations & dictates of religion / visual
narrative / human headed winged bullsguardian figures
Monuments serve as visible symbols of
power & authority / unique capitals=parts
of bulls/lions/ ceremonial - stylized
figures=stiff/more naturalism in animals
Historical document / Cannon of
Composition / Principles
& Elements -Scale / Size
/ Proportion / movementgesture / positivenegative space
Expressive Qualities /
Figural Representation /
stance-presentation /
anatomical detail /
correctness / expression /
Form- organic/geometric
Function / Purpose /
Patron / Audience
Social
Political
(Religious)
Artistic / Stylistic
Characteristics /
Commonalities
Other relevant
artworks & criteria
Guardian Figure
Assurbanipal & His
Queen
Darius & Xerxes
Receiving Tribute, detail
proportions / law of frontality / law of
hierarchy
AP ART HISTORY
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 – Comparative
CRITERIA:
(Artist if Known)
Artistic Time Period /
Date /Orig. Location /
Mrs. Lawson
Due (BOP):______________________
NAME:
Ti Watching A Hippopotamus
Hunt, pgs 106-108
OLD KINGDOM- EGYPT/ c. 25002400 / from Mastaba tomb of Ti,
Akhenaten & His Family,
pgs 119-121
Amarna – Egypt / c. 1335 BCE /
Dyn.18 / from Tell el-Amarna
Harvester Vase, pgs134-136
Aegean- Minoan /c. 1650-1450
BCE / from Hagia Triada, Crete
Relationship to site
Saqqara / isolation-desert
Medium/Materials
Type / Method /
Technique / Process
Pictorial Space /
Painted limestone relief, approx. 48"
high
Painted limestone relief
Steatite, diameter 4 1/2"/ relief
sculpture in stone / orig. gold leaf
Conceptual rather than optical
approach- law of frontality, law of
hierarchy, (contrast with naturalistic
activities of servants & birds) /
movement symbolic- repeated lines &
groves- stems, birds, water / powerstatus symbolic – scale, position,
stance
Amarna style = stresses naturalism over-life-size statues show the distinctive
anatomical traits: high cheekbones, thick
fleshy lips, prominent jaw, pensive gaze,
effeminate breasts, emaciated arms,
heavy hips / some depict Akhenaten
holding a book in a genre pose typical of
his reign / legs are together, chest
sunken, head forward on a narrow neck,
clothed in almost transparent drapery
defined in a detailed linear pattern
Art of Akhenaten’s radical reign gives
importance to the pharaoh’s family life
Egg shaped rhyton / small scale /
composition=upper half (no ground) /
movement (unlike Egyptian)overlapping (not single file) / 4 ½”
diameter
Tomb Decoration (Painting & ReliefSculpture)—re-creation of life
magically in pictures to provide the ka
with the most pleasant living quarters
for eternity / (especially in royal
tombs) / Ti Saqqara=official of the 5th
Dyn.
Concerns with nature & provisioning
for the Ka / Symbolic- success in the
hunt= metaphor for triumph over the
forces of evil / subjects = agriculture &
hunting / wealthy families also had
interior walls and ceilings of their
tombs decorated with paintings and
reliefs / most decoration symbolic
Tomb Decoration / to provide the ka
with the most pleasant living quarters
for eternity
Ritual object / pouring liquids during
sacred ceremonies
Akhenaten & Family Sacrificing to
Aton / Aton shown as a disk with a
series of radiating lines ending in
human hands that give life & offer
protection to the royal family / Hieratic
scale
Subject=sowing & harvesting /
celebrate good harvest / animals
(lions-bulls-snakes) / nature (treesmountains-flowers) / sea (seahorseoctopus-shells) = motif
Land of stability–agricultural society,
highly stratified, ruled by deified
pharaohs / kings of Dynastic 3 & 4 first to
devote large sums of money & labor to
design, construction, and decoration of
funerary complexes/ massive effort
needed to build / great amount of wealth
& craft work / kept the economy
strong=high demand for goods and
services -towns near complex have a
temple to local god, often contain statues
of individuals or pharaoh
Polytheistic=anthropomorphic gods,
pharaoh believed to be son of sun god
Ra (falcon) / responsible for maintenance
of ma’at / powerful priests-control natural
forces & gods / prepare rulers for afterlife
/ pharaoh worshiped as god after death /
Ka reunited with body in afterlife
Art centers around belief in afterlife most
made for tombs / conceptually
naturalistic & optimistic / idealizedcannon of proportion-law of frontality /
law of hierarchy
Land of stability- agricultural based (Nile)
/ prosperity-trade / hierarchical-stratified /
imperialistic monarch= pharaoh / moved
capital from Thebes to Tell el-Amarna
/Amenhotep IV (changed name to
Economically self-sufficient=
agriculture & herding / also wealthy
sea power / writing- Linear A & Linear
B (translated) practiced fertility rites /
worshiped animals (bull & lions) / no
fortification of Palaces=peaceful /
great power
Composition / Principles &
Elements -Scale / Size /
Proportion / movementgesture / positive-negative
space
Expressive Qualities /
Figural Representation /
stance-presentation /
anatomical detail /
correctness / expression /
Form- organic/geometric
Function / Purpose /
Patron / Audience
Subject / Content /
Meaning / Symbolism /
Iconography / Narrative
Context:
Social
Political
Economic
Power & Authority
Cultural belief system
(Religious)
Artistic / Stylistic
Characteristics /
Commonalities
Naturalistic & optimistic / action was
only implied / human figures=law of
hierarchy, frontality, & cannon of
proportion / human figures
conventionalized – animal forms more
naturalistic /
Akhenaten– ruled for 17 years /
radically transformed the political,
spiritual, & cultural life of Egypt / After
death returned to the old ways,
destroyed the buildings to erase his
memory
Individually characterized figuresinterest in muscular & skeletal
structure of human body-tension &
relaxation of facial muscles-animation
/ emotion of human face
Monotheistic- Aten-sun god / ties
severed with priesthood / emphasis on
open worship / made many enemies /
stressed philosophical principle of ma’at
Worshiped animals (bull & lions)
Belief in afterlife-most made for tombs /
stressed naturalism-distinctive
anatomical traits / idealized-cannon of
proportion/ law of hierarchy/ Amarna
style= curving contours, undulating lines,
change in pose, effeminate body
Figure= short torso, narrow constricted
waist, long limbs, & sensitive facial
features / human form= stylization,
simplified & reduced forms /
naturalism & stylization combined /
repetition of motif to create pattern
Other relevant artworks
& criteria
Vapheio Cups
Funerary mask