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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century Sculpture
Michelangelo's statue known as the Pietà is remarkable for its depiction of the Virgin Mary as __________.
remarkably unattractive
completely exultant
extremely youthful
horrifically ancient
extremely youthful
Michelangelo's Pietà follows the traditional theme of such pieces of art by having the Virgin Mary cradling a dead Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. Michelangelo depicted Mary in stunning realism for the sixteenth century, while also presenting her as extremely youthful. Michelangelo claimed that a completely chaste woman would hardly age, despite being the mother of a thirty-three year old man.
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century Sculpture
the following image is public domain, and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Donatello)#/media/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
Who was the likely patron of this work?
David
The Catholic church
A wealthy private family
The artist himself
A wealthy private family
Given the nature of the work (David is nude and sensually posed), the patron was unlikely to be the Church. Though it was not wholly unusual later to see the church represent its prominent figures in the nude or seminude, this particular piece predates that. Donatello also would not have had the resources to commission this work himself, and David is a biblical figure. It is believed, actually, that the Medici family commissioned the piece for their courtyard.
Example Question #111 : 3 D Art
the following image is public domain, and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Donatello)#/media/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
The work is from the __________, and is influenced by __________.
early Renaissance . . . Classical Greece
late Renaissance . . . Imperial Rome.
pre Renaissance . . . Classical Greece.
Renaissance . . . Imperial Rome.
early Renaissance . . . Classical Greece
The Renaissance literally means "rebirth" and did include a revival of both Greek as well as Roman style, though it is largely agreed that Classical Greece and a renewed interest in its art birthed the Renaissance in Italy. This work is early Renaissance for a number of reasons; one, the piece is not yet the heavily muscled figure reminiscent of Hellenistic Greece and its heroes. Two, the curvature, much like an S-curve, is reminiscent of a lingering Gothic interest.
Example Question #1 : Answering Other Questions About Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century Sculpture
the following image is public domain, and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Donatello)#/media/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
This David is depicted in his moment of __________.
defeat
triumph
reflection
longing
triumph
This David is depicted the moment after he defeats the giant Goliath. He is standing triumphantly over the giant's severed head, carrying his sword and looking particularly smug over the giant's defeat. He is sensually and salaciously posed in only a hat and boots, and is the only figure of his kind from this time period.
Example Question #2 : Answering Other Questions About Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century Sculpture
the following image is public domain, and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Donatello)#/media/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
What about this statue sets it apart from its Gothic predecessors?
Its nudity
Its material
Its pose
None of these
Its nudity
David is fully nude here, wearing only a hat and boots. This is a novel sculptural form for its time, as this is the first time since the end of the Classical era in which a freestanding nude sculpture can be found. The lack of clothing on this young David will set the precedent for more nudity in the Renaissance movement, especially with the works of Michelangelo.
Example Question #114 : 3 D Art
the following image is public domain, and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Donatello)#/media/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
The work has been interpreted as a figural representation of __________.
Donatello's sexual preference
All of these
A personal artistic representation
A comment on Italian society of the era
All of these
There are a number of controversies surrounding the work, not the least of which is the homoerotic undertones one can see in David's pose, in his face and his open and inviting demeanor. Historians have argued that Donatello was himself gay and this was a representation of that sexual preference. Others say he was commenting on the homosocial Italian society, which condemned but still widely practiced sodomy. Many, though, believe Donatello was simply a pioneer of form.
Example Question #115 : 3 D Art
the following image is public domain, and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Donatello)#/media/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
David is standing on the severed head of Goliath, and this image is understood in the biblical community as what?
The triumph of Christianity over Paganism
The defeat of the kingdom of Gath
The triumph of the minority over the majority
None of these
The triumph of Christianity over Paganism
In the bible, Goliath is the giant from Gath. He is also, though, the representation of Paganism, especially in the Old Testament. He is withholding the throne from the true king, David, anointed by God. He is meant to represent the end of Pagan culture and rule, suffering at the hands of Christianity and Judaism and the prevalence of those cultures.
Example Question #121 : 3 D Art
the following image is public domain, and can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_(Donatello)#/media/File:Florence_-_David_by_Donatello.jpg
The most emphasized feature of the figure is __________.
his pose
his sword
his hat
his nudity
his pose
While Donatello has carved this figure nude, and donned him with a hat and a sword, it is his pose that is most striking. He is sensual and almost womanlike in his pose, inviting and soft. This is so emphasized because Donatello doesn't know where to draw the line between Gothic s-curved nonsexual figures and the sexual and manly figures of the Classical era.
Example Question #3 : Answering Other Questions About Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century Sculpture
It is sometimes claimed that Verrochio modeled this sculpture, created 1473-1475, on what young artist who worked for him?
Michelangelo
Donatello
Raphael
Titian
Da Vinci
Da Vinci
The answer is Da Vinci. Donatello was dead when this sculpture was made, while Michelangelo, Titian, and Raphael were born either during or after it was being created.
Work is in the public domain, accessed through WikiArt: http://www.wikiart.org/en/andrea-del-verrocchio/david-1475
Example Question #4 : Answering Other Questions About Fourteenth Through Sixteenth Century Sculpture
The sculpture was commissioned by what banking family?
The House of Este
The House of Orsini
The House of Sforza
The House of Colonna
The House of Medici
The House of Medici
While all of these were influential, wealthy families around the time of the Renaissance, the famous Medici family commissioned this sculpture along with countless other enduring works of art.
Work is in the public domain, accessed through WikiArt: http://www.wikiart.org/en/andrea-del-verrocchio/david-1475
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