Architecture Quiz: Styles and Features

Introduction to Art History

• Art is the production of works that express technical proficiency combined with human imagination and creative skill.
• Painting, sculpture, and architecture are considered the biggest art forms.
• Art history is the academic study of the history and development of objects created by various cultures.

Antiquity

• Naturalis Historia discusses contemporary art.
• De architectura provides a guide for architecture and engineering.
• Philosophers like Aristotle and Plato contributed to the field of architecture.

Renaissance

• Art theory explores the works of artists like Leonardo da Vinci in depth.
• Paragone refers to debates among different artistic practices.
• Art histography examines artists' biographies and their unique styles.
• Canon comprises approved literary and artistic works.

20th Century

• New science-based perspectives in this century include history, archeology, paleography, psychology, neurology, sociology, and anthropology.
• Exact sciences in this field encompass dendrochronology, infrared reflectography, chemistry, and microscopy.
• Techniques in restoration of artwork have also progressed significantly.

Dissecting an Artwork

• The key ideas underlying an artwork include composition, light, color, material, and technique.
• Subject matter refers to what is depicted in the artwork, while content examines the artist's communication.
• Early civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, often featured cultural promotion, communication, entertainment, and decorative arts.
• Early artworks often show basic human anatomy without perspective.

Middle Ages

• Religious propaganda is a recurring theme in this period of artistic practice.
• Basic depictions of human anatomy are prominent with no perspective in their artworks.

Renaissance (Again)

• Religious and political propaganda are key themes.
• Correct use of perspective and refined human anatomy start to appear more frequently.

Baroque

• Political propaganda is prevalent in this artistic period.
• Dynamic anatomy, alongside highly advanced perspectives and compositions, are characteristics of this period.

Romanticism

• Political propaganda is a recurring subject.
• Dynamic anatomy is coupled with a detailed knowledge of perspective and composition.

Realism

• Realistic depictions of human anatomy and perfect perspective are key features.

Modern Art

• L'art pour l'art is a defining feature.

Contemporary Art

• Aspects include expression, concept, revolt / critique, and message.

Composition

• Composition describes how elements like lines, shapes, colors, textures, values, forms, and space are arranged to create a specific effect in an artwork.
• The viewer's eye is drawn through the use of foreground, middle ground, and background.

Static Composition

• Orderly and stable arrangements using mostly horizontal and vertical lines.

Dynamic Composition

• Conveys movement often using asymmetric or diagonal lines.

Leading Lines

• Compositional lines direct the viewer's eye within the artwork.

Rule of Thirds

• Compositional technique where important elements are placed along imaginary vertical and horizontal lines dividing the image into thirds.

Rule of Space

• Emphasizes placing space around the subject for greater effect, especially relevant for depictions of movement.

Golden Ratio

• Ratio between numbers to create aesthetic relationships, often used in composition design.

Light

• Essential component that affects color, texture, and volume.
• Lighting and shadows together help determine the composition of artwork/design.

Color

• Visual perception based on electromagnetic spectrum.
• The use of various colors includes hue, saturation, and value / brightness.
• The RYB colour system is the subtractive color model for mediums like paint.

Material and Techniques

• Examination of artistic materials and techniques used in different periods and styles of art production.

The Art of Storytelling

• Neo-Assyrian Empire art in Mesopotamia included themes of military success, divine protection by gods, and prosperity in their artworks.
• Artistic depictions in Assyrian bas-reliefs focus on propaganda, conveying action and detail, with a focus on anatomy.

Lamassu

• Protective spirits and symbols of power.
• Hybrid creatures combining bull/lion body with eagle wings and human head.

The Death of Sardanapalus

• Represents a self-indulgent figure who's influenced by dissatisfaction in the Assyrian empire.
• Conspiracy and destruction are common themes in this piece.

Eugène Delacroix

• His Orientalism art focused on subject matter, asymmetrical/diagonal composition, painterly brushstrokes, and use of warm/bright colors.

Neo-Babylonian Empire

• King Nebuchadnezzar II led to prosperous civilization as well as flourishing in arts, architecture, urban planning, and sciences.
• Ziggurats built for the gods are featured in the architectural aspect.

Ishtar Gate of Babylon

• Constructed by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II.
• Wall reliefs include a mix of dragons (Marduk), bulls (Adad), and lions (Ishtar).

Ishtar or Inanna

• A lion is a symbol of power and is the queen of the heavens, love, and fertility.
• Made from similar materials to the construction of the Ishtar Gate such as lapis lazuli, silver, and wood.

Religion in Japan

• Shinto, Buddhism, and other religions are prominent in the area.
• Diverse deities, spirits, and forest / tree spirits reside in Shinto practices.
• Yokai, oni, and more supernatural elements or entities are also featured.

Allegory Art Style

• Allegory uses characters, places, events to reveal hidden meanings with moral or political significance.
• Symbology, personification (representing ideas as figures) and memento mori (reminder to live in present moment).
• Vanitas artworks depict the shortness and frailty of life.

Art & Cultural Appropriation

• The use of existing ideas, objects, or images applied in an artwork without significant modification.

Cradle of European Civilization

• Political structures, sciences, philosophies, theatre (the arts), literature, architecture, and the visual arts demonstrate significant advancements.
• Round arches, vaults, and pillars are notable features.

Ancient Mediterranean

• Minoan culture emphasized colorful motifs inspired by nature with no visible perspective in their artwork.
• Mycenaean warrior culture shows a clear pre-Olympic religious practice.

Ancient Egyptian Culture

• Highlights include successful agriculture in the Nile Valley.
• Collective constructions, independent writing systems, and elaborate religious beliefs are key elements.

Greeks & Romans

• Archaic period features simplified figures, the archaic smile, and early attempts at anatomical accuracy.

Classical Period

• Technical skills, ideal human form, and contrapposto all emerge in this era.

Hellenistic Period

• Diversification and standardization are present.
• Naturalism, emotions, and detailed human development make this period distinct.

Roman Empire

• Copying Greek sculptures, the use of space-filling motifs (horror vacui), and the representation of realism in subject matter characterize this era.

Renaissance (Again)

• Italy's 1300-1600 period marks the rebirth of European culture.

Doumo of Florence

• The beginning of the Italian Renaissance is marked by this building.
• Also reflects the influence of medieval Gothic style.

Gates of Paradise

• Depicts Old Testament events, with a strong focus on the use of perspective. (Re-emerging)

David

• Michelangelo's David sculpture is a significant early modern period piece.
• Emphasizes the Greek heroic male nude and features excellent anatomical representation and contrapposto.

Iconoclasm

• A social belief supporting the destruction of icons, images, or monuments for religious or political reasons.

Palmyra

• Key features include wealth from caravan trade and Roman, Hellenistic, and Mediterranean influences.
• The historical importance is highlighted by the 2011-2023 reconstruction of the theater after a war.

Questionable Ownership

• The Acropolis of Athens and Parthenon demonstrate the history and importance of buildings.
• Notable points include their construction during the Golden Age of Athens, use as a Christian church/mosque after changes in governance, and the use as munitions dump.

Elgin or Parthenon Marbles

• Moved to England because of government financial crisis.

Ghent Altarpiece

• Highlights include surviving damage from multiple movements and political events.

Oriental Fantasies

• Depicting aspects of the eastern world by Western artists.

Jean-Léon Gérôme

• He is an academic painter and sculptor known for his grand tours and studies of artefacts and costumes.

David Roberts

• Recognized as a stage designer, painter, and a person highly detailed in depictions of the Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, and other Middle East settings.

Craig Mullins

• A concept artist.
• Innovated in the use of digital painting techniques.

Piranesi

• Archeologist, antiquarian, architect and graphic artist who studied ancient civilizations.
• His interest in ancient cultures is linked to the grand tour exploration trips.

Escher

• Graphically-focused artist inspired by mathematical objects and operations.
• His works often explored decorative design themes.

Dune

• A film project cancelled due to time and expense constraints.

Chris Foss

• Studied architecture, fascinated by WWI bunkers and steam trains.
• Worked on promotional and cover art for science fiction books.

Mæbius AKA Jean Giraud

• Known for his comics and imaginative, surreal, and abstract artistic styles.
• He worked on storyboards and concept designs for movies like Alien, Tron, and others.

Hans Rudi Giger

• His industrial designs include bio-mechanical human physical blends with machinery.
• Primarily known for his monochromatic surreal-themed nightmarish dreamscapes.

Étienne-Louis Boullée

• Neo-classical architect and theorist, his designs are significant for their abstract geometric style inspired by classical forms.
• Known for his emphasis on regularity, symmetry, and variety in his designs.

Cenotaph for Isaac Newton

• Taller than the Great Pyramids of Giza.
• The proposed sarcophagus design is based on the form of a sphere.

Albrecht Dürer

• A prominent printmaker and painter who contributed to the world of German humanism.
• He worked with Italian artists and introduced classical features to northern art.

Sanzio Raphael

• Recognized as a painter and architect.
• Raphael's work notably influenced Academies and Neoclassicism.

School of Athens

• Commissioned by Pope Julius II, this artwork depicts ancient philosophers, scientists and mathematicians representing knowledge acquired through reason.
• A significant representation of perspective in art.

Baroque and Drama

• This period is about dramatic artworks evoking a range of emotions.
• The style shows dynamic compositions, which are different from classical art's order and reason.

Le Corbusier

• Swiss-French architect.
• Pioneered in modern architecture and design.
• A member of the CIAM architecture group.

Modulor

• System designed, based on human measurements and golden ratio.
• System emphasized using mathematical proportions and Fibonacci numbers in design.

Repoussoir

• In a composition, the re-directs the viewer's eye and promotes visual interest.

Caravaggio

• A painter with a tumultuous personal life.
• Known for naturalism and the dramatic use of light in his paintings.
• Often depicted struggle, torture, and death, which inspired certain aspects of Baroque artwork.

Rembrandt van Rijn

• Painter, printmaker, and drawer.
• Popular during the golden age of art and excelled in diverse subject matter, especially portraits.

William Turner

• Painter, printmaker, watercolour artist, and gallery owner.
• A child prodigy, his paintings were expressive, portraying light and landscapes.
• He influenced French impressionists..

Claude Monet

• Co-founder of impressionism and a prominent precursor to modern techniques.
• His work focused on faithfully capturing the fleeting impression of nature.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

• Renowned artist and humanist photographer.
• Key figure in Magnum Photos and the early user of 35mm film format.

Alexander Rodchenko

• Sculptor, photographer, and graphic designer in Soviet Russia.

Edward Weston

• Known for his precise and highly detailed straight photography.

Cindy Sherman

• Recognized for portraying self-portraits in different contexts and imagined characters.

Jeff Wall

• A photographer and professor, known for large-scale back-lit photographs.

Stephan Vanfleteren

• A photojournalist who works primarily in portraiture, focusing on sober black-and-white depictions of subjects .

Kazimir Malevich

An avant-garde artist and art theorist whose ideas fundamentally influenced 20th-century abstract art and suprematism.

White washing

• A technique used in the destruction of artworks over time, typically through the oxidation of pigment.
• This process can make artworks fade and lose original colors.

Aztec Civilization

• Features city-states, corn (maize) cultivation, social tiers, and calendar systems.
• Their pantheon includes various deities.

Prussian Blue

• Synthetic pigment created in Germany, favored in Baroque periods.
• It became popular in Japanese prints during a certain era.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa

• Famous Japanese print depicting a powerful wave.

Tyrian Purple

• Phoenician discovery, labor-intensive production, and natural scarcity characterized this dye.

The Age of Revolution

• This period saw revolutions - political and scientific - transform Europe and some other areas.

Sir William Henry Perkin

• Invented synthetic purple - tyrian purple.
• Mauve mania was the result of the popularity of the pigment he developed.

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

• A notable group of English artists who favoured vivid colours and styles from the Italian Renaissance.

Color in Movies

• Creating mood, visual development, and lighting and storyboarding.

Color in Games

• Color affects player behavior, attention, gives feedback, reveals meaning of settings, and controls the overall atmosphere or mood.

Camera Obscura

• Early optical device used to see inverted images.

Camera Lucida

• Helped create accurate drawings, projecting optical superimpositions on a surface.

Kinetic Art

• Medium encompassing movement and effects created by viewer or external forces like wind or motors.

Alexander Calder

• His work influenced the development of stabiles, mobiles, and monumental abstract works.

Zimoun

• Worked with sound, sculpture, and installation, using raw industrial materials with mechanical elements.

Casey Curran

• Famous for kinetic landscapes, and sculptures, as well as hidden narrative and history in his works.

Automatons

• Machines designed to follow operations or predefined instructions automatically.

Jean Tinguely

• Metamatics, questioning the automation and production of material goods, and the role of artists.

Installation Art

• Site-specific 3D works that transform viewers.

Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller

• Collaborative artists who are known for immersive sound installations and audio/video walks.

The Rube Goldberg machine

• American cartoonist, who is renowned for making chain reaction machines.

Bill Viola

• Pioneer in new media, video and installation art.
• Focuses on philosophical and spiritual human experiences.

Takashi Murakami

• Blurs the lines between high and low art.
• Known for his artistic tradition and postwar Japanese cultural themes.

Palace of Knossos

• Excavated by Arthur Evans, demonstrating the importance of historical preservation and reconstruction.

Knossos in Assassin's Creed

• Game's accurate depictions impressed many with feelings and representations of city states and temples.

Hagia Sophia

• Historical landmark, originally a church, converted into a mosque and now a museum.

Basilica of San Vitale

• Byzantine-style architecture with mosaic-rich interiors.
• Significance includes mosaics of the emperor and Theodora.

Doumo di Milano

• Notable Gothic-style architecture showcasing the peak of Gothic art.

Westminster Abbey

• Site of important historical events, including coronations, royal weddings, and burials.

Henry VII Lady Chapel

• Famous historical landmark with significant religious and royal connections.

Perpendicular Gothic

• Gothic-style architecture, developed in the late middle ages in England.

Art Deco

• An art style characterized by geometric shapes, bright colours, and themes of social and technological progress.

Rockefeller Building

• Constructed before the Great Depression, demonstrating the economic climate of the era.

August Rodin

• Sculptor of modern sculpture, renowned for his emphasis on naturalism, individual character, and emotional expression.

American Comic Book

• Development from newspapers and magazines
• Popular characters emerge.

Golden Age of Comic Books

• The time when superheroes were introduced and requested by companies.

The Comics Code

• Regulations created for comic books, created during a time of public anxiety and concerns about the impact comics could have on young audiences.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

• Key figure including Frank Miller, illustrated and written in part to reflect the darker and angrier tone of the age.

Watchmen

• A comic that reflected societal concerns such as anxiety.
• It also reflected themes of superheroes and deconstruction.

Grim and Gritty Era

• An era focusing on the impact of heroes that came before it.

Franco-Belgian Comic

• Flemish Comics are a sub category.
• The Adventures of Tintin was a popular example.

Dominant Styles in Comics

• Ligne claire (showing shapes, solid lines, geometric features without dark).
• Comic-dynamic (emphasis on movement with varying lines).
• Realistic style (drawing details, nuances, minimal comic art elements).

Japanese Manga

• Styles of manga that are common and popularized.
• Manga is printed typically in black and white but has developed other styles over time.

Predecessors of Japanese Manga

• Emakimono demonstrates the horizontal storytelling tradition of Japanese illustration.
• Kibyoshi highlights the picture book tradition, showing that manga as a form of visual storytelling is connected to a much longer history in Japanese culture.

Japanese Manga After WWII

• Explosion of creativity in manga artistic genres including shonen and shojo after World War II.
• Different examples of artists and their styles are featured, further showing the evolution of manga as a storytelling medium.

Gekiga

• Aimed at readers including older audiences with a darker art style.

Yoshihiro Tatsumi

• His anti-manga style is notable and had a great impact.

Gustave Dore

• A well-known printmaker, illustrator, and wood engraver from Europe.

Divine Comedy (Dante Alighieri)

• The significance reflects the creative output of illustrations and its influence on art forms.

Frans Masereel

• A graphic artist known for his woodcuts.
• His art often explored political and social themes and used expressionism.

Passionate Journey

• Famous for novel-style content.
• Featured throughout its history period, when many forms of art were flourishing.

The Sun

• A contemporary retelling of the Greek myth of Icarus.

Lynd Ward

• Illustrator of books and graphic work, highlighting political themes.

God's Man

• This work predates the graphic novel, showing some of the inspiration from graphic novels.

Maus: A Survivor's Tale

• A graphic novel and first of its kind to receive the Pulitzer Prize.
• Explores trauma of Holocaust survivors through the lens of personal interaction with relatives.

Leon Spillaert

• A Belgian draughtsman, illustrator, lithographer, and painter.
• His works reflect themes of symbolism and the use of tenebrism (dramatic use of light and shadow), and a unique and emotional style.

Rinus van de Velde

• Contemporary artist influenced by monumental charcoal drawings.
• Focuses on fictional autobiographies, often with open-end subjects and text snippets.

Test your knowledge on various architectural styles and notable features in this quiz. From the Late Middle Ages architecture in England to the unique characteristics of Art Deco, explore significant historical events and landmarks. Challenge yourself to identify key elements from famous structures like the Basilica of San Vitale and Hagia Sophia.