All AP Art History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Analyzing 2 D Art In Global Islamic Traditions
Ornate calligraphy and designs featuring words and letters are stylistic features of art from __________.
Native American culture
Russian culture
Sub-Saharan African culture
Islamic culture
Islamic culture
In the Quran, images of all kinds are proscribed, as they are too close to idolatry and attempting to act like God. As such, many Islamic artists focused on geometric shapes and calligraphy in their art. Over time, Islamic art began to be highly ornate and developed around these non-representational images.
Example Question #49 : 2 D Art Beyond European Artistic Traditions
In Bichitr’s watercolor painting Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings, the artist expresses the emperor’s supremacy over all aspects of Mughal life—both secular and sacred—in which of the following ways?
The painting includes angels painted in a European style, symbolizing the emperor's dominance over the Judeo-Christian world
Jahangir is paying his respects to the artist, demonstrating the important court position of painters in the Mughal dynasty and emphasizing the emperor's high degree of cultural refinement and sophistication
Jahangir is pictured as a teacher of his people, instructing them in the humanist tradition
The emperor, ringed in a halo of light and pictured at the center of the sun and moon, is seated above international rulers, the artist, and a representation of time itself
The painting shows no discernible European design elements, a testament to the Mughal court's distaste for Western culture and promotion of Jahangir's personal artistic tastes above all else
The emperor, ringed in a halo of light and pictured at the center of the sun and moon, is seated above international rulers, the artist, and a representation of time itself
Jahangir is shown as dominant because of his position in the painting-- superior to the artist and rulers from Turkey and England. He passes the Koran to an important Muslim Holy Man, Shaikh Husain, who takes it with reverence. His position at the center of the sun and moon, ringed in a halo of light, and seated atop an hourglass, which symbolizes time, emphasize his eternal importance.
Example Question #2 : Analyzing 2 D Art In Global Islamic Traditions
Which of the following is typically associated with Islamic art?
Patterns of plants and geometric designs
Images of desert animals
Portraits of Mohammed
Lunettes
Patterns of plants and geometric designs
Arabesques, which combine plants and geometric patterns in graceful designs, are a primary feature of Islamic art. Depictions of animals or people are forbidden in sacred buildings. A "lunette" is a semicircle at the end of a cross in early Christian art.
Example Question #51 : 2 D Art Beyond European Artistic Traditions
The work of art shown here was initially part of an illuminated manuscript of ___________________.
an historical record
a law code
a religious scripture
an epic poem
an epic poem
The work of art shown here, Bahram Gur fights the Karg, was originally placed in a lengthy illustrated manuscript of the Persian epic poem the Shahnama. Recounting and greatly embellishing the deeds and actions of the real Persian kings from ancient history to the present. This image depicts Bahram Gur, a Persian Sasanian King of the fifth century, fighting a legendary beast, the Karg, also known as a horned wolf, adding to his legend and depiction.
Work is in the public domain, image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demotte_Shahname_002.jpg
Example Question #51 : 2 D Art Beyond European Artistic Traditions
What form of art was developed by Islamic artists who did not draw living figures because of proscriptions in the Quran?
Architecture
Sculpture
Landscaping
Calligraphy
Painting
Calligraphy
The Quran, the Islamic holy book, made Muslim artists pursue calligraphy for two different but related reasons. Calligraphy was the easiest mode of transmission for the written Quran in the early years of the religion. Additionally, Quranic prohibitions on creating figurative art made many Muslim artists pursue the geometrical and literary art of calligraphy.
Example Question #1 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of 2 D Art In Global Islamic Traditions
The earliest style of calligraphy used to copy the Koran is known as __________.
Shahadah
Bismallah
Hijazi
Kufic
Kufic
Kufic calligraphy, easily identifiably by its blockier style, was the first form of calligraphy used by Muslims to transcribe the Koran in the seventh through ninth centuries. Although hardly used today, it is the basis for modern Arabic calligraphy, including those used for the Shahadah, the key creed of Islam, and the Bismillah, the invocation of God's name, which are common themes of Arabic calligraphy. Kufic led to the development of more "cursive" styles of calligraphy like Hijazi and Diwani.
Example Question #2 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of 2 D Art In Global Islamic Traditions
Based on style and composition, the work of art shown here was created in _________________.
Istanbul
Kashmir
Byzantium
Persia
Persia
This work, known as Bahram Gur Fights the Karg, is from an illustrated version of the great Persian epic poem Shahnama. The text itself, in Persian script, is the most obviously Persian element, but the carefully composed miniature painting on paper in ink is also a significant feature of Persian art. Also, the image is of a human being, differing it from other Islamic art which traditionally forbade the depiction of human figures, a prohibition not as strictly followed in Persia.
Work is in the public domain, image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demotte_Shahname_002.jpg
Example Question #52 : 2 D Art Beyond European Artistic Traditions
The early centuries of Islamic art are characterized by all of the following except _____________.
detailed, proportional representations of the human form
early Persian, Roman, and Byzantine influences
the use of arabesques
the incorporation of calligraphy
All of the answers are correct.
detailed, proportional representations of the human form
Although people sometimes do appear in early Islamic art, accurate and detailed representations don't appear. In part, this is because some feared that realistic depictions of religious figures could encourage idolatry. However, it is also in keeping with the traditions of the early Medieval period, where few artists rendered figures with the same emphasis on precision that later Renaissance artists would employ.
Example Question #53 : 2 D Art Beyond European Artistic Traditions
Bahram Gur fights the Karg, from the Great Il-Khanid Shahnama, shown here, is most influenced by the artistic tradition of ___________________.
Spain
Russia
China
Italy
China
During the thirteenth century, Mongolian armies invaded Persia, toppling the Khwarezmid Empire then ruling the area and creating a Khanate throughout the Persian Empire. Known as the Ilkhanid Empire, the Mongol rulers adopted Islam and many traditional Persian customs, but also imported many Chinese artisans and craftsman. This Chinese influence is present in Bahram Gur fights the Karg through the detailed landscape in the background of the painting and the vaguely Asian characteristics of the main subject, a historical Persian King.
Work is in the public domain, image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demotte_Shahname_002.jpg
Example Question #54 : 2 D Art Beyond European Artistic Traditions
Bahram Gur fights the Karg is most similar in style to which of the following works?
The Ardabil Carpet
Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings
Travelers Among Mountains and Streams
Folio From a Quran
Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings
Although separated by about 300 years and two large empires, both Bahram Gur fights the Karg and Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings are depictions of rulers in idealized forms. Additionally, each have a blending of Islamic, Indian, and Asian influences, thanks to their artists working in pan-national empires. Both works are also executed on paper as fine miniatures.
Work is in the public domain, image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demotte_Shahname_002.jpg
All AP Art History Resources
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