All AP Art History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #164 : 3 D Art
Which is NOT true of the Shiva Nataraja bronze sculptures from the Chola Dynasty?
Shiva is depicted symmetrically.
Shiva has four arms and two legs.
Shiva is surrounded by a ring of fire.
Shiva stomps on apasmara (symbol of illusion).
Shiva makes the "fear not" mudra.
Shiva is depicted symmetrically.
Shiva is depicted asymmetrically. Three hands gesture to his right while one hand gestures to his left. In addition, his left leg is raised to his right while his other leg is rooted firmly to the ground. Shiva's front left hand, which points to his raised left foot, signifies refuge for the troubled soul.
Example Question #761 : Ap Art History
The structure is made out of which of the following materials?
Marble
Sandstone
Clay
Diorite
Schist
Sandstone
Sandstone was one of the most easily obtainable building materials in the region and was often employed in works commissioned by Ashoka.
Image: Great Stupa at Sanchi commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, c. 300 BCE–100 CE. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi#/media/File:Sanchi_Stupa_from_Eastern_gate,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg.
Example Question #762 : Ap Art History
Which other architectural element does The Gates bear resemblance to?
Art deco architectural style
Ionic columns
Japanese Torii gates
The Great Wall of China
Muqarnas in Islamic architecture
Japanese Torii gates
The Gates bears a strong resemblance to Japanese Torii gates. They are often found at the entrance to Shinto shrines, and traditionally Japanese businessmen would buy them to pay tribute to the god Inari (the god of prosperity).
Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gates#/media/File:FushimiInariTorii.jpg
Image accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gates#/media/File:Gates_a.jpg
Example Question #764 : Ap Art History
What is the largest religious monument in the world and what god does it celebrate?
Angkor Wat, Vishnu
Akshardham, Shiva
Meenajshi Amman Temple, Meenakshi Amma
Akshardham, Nataraja
Angkor Wat, Brahma
Angkor Wat, Vishnu
Angkor Wat, meaning City Temple, is the world's largest religious monument. It is located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was built for Vishnu, a main Hindu god.
Example Question #765 : Ap Art History
In order to be a conqueror in the afterlife, as he was in living life, Qin Shihuang (the First Emperor) built a tomb filled with what?
Mercury
Terracotta warriors
Jade jewelry
Gold and silver ornaments
All of these
All of these
The mausoleum the First Emperor built in the Qin Dynasty was filled with over 7,000 terracotta statues of warriors, horses, and chariots. Archeologists also found jade jewelry and gold and silver ornaments. High levels of mercury were found in the mausoleum and indicate that it ran in troughs all throughout the building.
Example Question #4 : Asian Sculpture
The work shown here was created out of __________________.
stone
marble
bronze
gold
bronze
Bronze has an advantage in casting an intricate sculpture compared to other metals in that it is easy to pour into a mold, yet is also extremely durable. The Chola dynasty artists of southern India frequently used bronze to create religious icons which needed both intricate details and an amount of portability for worship purposes. A wax casting technique was employed to allow for artists to create fine elements in elements in wax, then creating a mold which can have hot liquid bronze poured into it.
Image is in the public domain accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg
Example Question #1 : Identifying Artists, Works, Or Schools Of Asian Sculpture
The deity pictured in the work shown here is _________________.
Shiva
Parvati
Vishnu
Ganesha
Shiva
This Hindu deity is in the classic “cosmic dancer” pose, known as “Nataraja” in Tamil, taken by the god Shiva as he performs a dance to destroy the universe in preparation of creation by Brahma. The four arms depicted in the statue are a typical attribute of Shiva, as is the general pose taken in this work. This copper statuette was created in the time of the Chola dynasty in Southern India during the 10th century, which saw a devotion to Shiva predominate.
Image is in the public domain accessed through Wikipedia Media Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiva_as_the_Lord_of_Dance_LACMA_edit.jpg
Example Question #1 : Asian Sculpture
In Buddhist statuary, the lotus position depicts the Buddha __________.
standing on one leg
praying with a bowed head
blessing followers
sitting cross-legged
sitting cross-legged
Buddhism spread across Asia from the beginning of the first century CE to 500 CE; this resulted in the creation of a vast array of Buddhist art in a variety of countries. This art still had some unified themes, particularly in depictions of the Buddha, which could demonstrate important points to new believers. This includes the Buddha sitting in the lotus position, a cross-legged pose that is the chief position for Buddhist meditation and contemplative practices.
Example Question #2 : Asian Sculpture
In Hindu sculpture, a vahana refers to a deity's __________.
theological attributes
spouse
animal mount
clothing
animal mount
In Hindu mythology, every deity has a vahana, or animal mount. This has a number of purposes, ranging from highlighting certain attributes of a deity to creating different kinds of symbology from a plain depiction of the deity. Notable vahanas include Vishnu's eagle, Ganesha's mouse, and Laksmi's elephant.
Example Question #3 : Asian Sculpture
The physical layout of site encourages which of the following?
Circumambulation
Prostration
Axial progression
Bhakti
Corporate worship
Circumambulation
The circular plan of the stupa encourages adherents to walk around the sacred object in the middle, a movement otherwise known as circumambulation.
Image: Great Stupa at Sanchi commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, c. 300 BCE–100 CE. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi#/media/File:Sanchi_Stupa_from_Eastern_gate,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg.
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