Week 2: Chpater 16, Italy (1400 to 1500)

Question 0

Who created the Pazzi Chapel? What is it? How old?

Answer 0

Brunelleschi (Italian), began 1440

elite family commission next to their houses/church, emphasis on dome covered space, geometric form & symmetry (central plan)

• classical architectural features
• Renaissance architecture: perfect geometry = symbol of the divine

Question 1

Who designed the Holy Trinity? What is it? How old?

Answer 1

Masaccio (Italian), 1428

1-point perspective, vanishing point at foot of the cross (viewer eye level, leading viewer upward from death to salvation)

• skeleton symbolizes mortality
• naturalistic imagery used to encourage salvation

Question 2

Who created the statue of David? What is it? How old?

Answer 2

Donatello (Italian), 1428

civic patronage, sculpture in the relief (bronze), contrapposto

• David = important religious figure (gave city of Florence a reputation of strength/authority)
• symbol of the Medici

Question 3

Who created the Sant’ Andrea church? What is it? How old?

Answer 3

Alberti (Italian), 1470

basilican plan interior, no side ailes

Question 4

What is the Jemaa Head? What style/region? How old?

Answer 4

Nok style (Nigerian), 500 BC

Nigeria, West Africa, Nok = name of town, now name of sculptural art region and style

• made out of terracotta
• West African sculpture/proportions emphasize the spiritual (less naturalism)

Question 5

humanism

Answer 5

classical revival, improvement of human condition

• going back to Greeks & Romans (not a rejection of faith but a new focus in the human condition now)
• more natural presentation of “earthly” space (instead of vague/divine)

Question 6

central-plan church

Answer 6

Basilica plan, typical Gothic church plan, long straight/central nave

Question 7

apse

Answer 7

semi-circular location of the altar (usually east end)

Question 8

nave

Answer 8

central area or aisle

Question 9

relief

Answer 9

raised sculpture on a panel (nearly fully rounded figures closest, figures in distance relatively flat)

Question 10

contrapposto

Answer 10

(Donatello) weight shift while standing, body parts follow weight shift (s-curve), naturalism

Question 11

triumphal arch

Answer 11

used by Romans to commemorate victorious generals/significant public events

Question 12

terracotta

Answer 12

hard baked clay