Lecture Notes on AP Art History Course Study Guide

Unit One: Prehistoric Arts

1. Apollo 11 Stone (Namibia, 25000 B.C.E Charcoal on stone):

   • Context:
     • Found in Hun's mountains, Namibia.
     • Accompanied by 7 other tablets with animal figures.
     • Discovered during Apollo 11 moon landings (origin of name).
   • Content:
     • Depicts animal-like figures with human legs.
     • Thought to be a Therianthrope (animal with human features).
   • Form:
     • Charcoal on cave stone, possibly using mineral-based pigments.
   • Function:
     • Unknown, small enough to be handheld.

2. Great Hall of the Bulls (Lascaux, France, Paleolithic, 15000-13000 B.C.E.):

   • Context:
     • Stone Age, Dordogne, France.
     • Cave is 250 meters long, hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
     • Closed in 1963, replica built for preservation.
   • Content:
     • Important animals like bulls, horses, cattle, and deer.
     • Human-animal relationships depicted.
   • Form:
     • Charcoal and ochre on rock, hierarchical scale.
     • Patterns prominent, only one human painting.
   • Function:
     • Emphasizes survival, used for rituals, storytelling, history preservation.

3. Camelid Sacrum in the Shape of a Canine (Tequixquiac, Mexico, 14000-7000 B.C.E.):

   • Context:
     • Prehistoric, no written record, lost to scholars for 60 years.
     • Sacrum has spiritual significance.
   • Content:
     • Head of a Canine, sacrum bone suggests canine image to carver.
   • Form:
     • Made from fossilized sacrum, triangular pelvic bone of a camelid.
   • Function:
     • Unknown, reflects everyday life of prehistoric artisans.

4. Running Horned Woman (Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria, 6000-4000 B.C.E.):

   • Context:
     • Found in high elevation, unique topography.
     • Hunter-gatherer society, thousands of paintings in area.
   • Content:
     • White dots as body paint, horned woman running.
   • Form:
     • Pigment on rock, illusion of movement, profile perspective.
   • Function:
     • Emphasizes survival, animal-human relationship.

5. Beaker with Ibex Motifs (Susa, Iran, 4200-3500 B.C.E.):

   • Context:
     • Found in Susa, Iran.
   • Content:
     • Central ibex, running greyhound-like animals, diamond shapes.
   • Form:
     • Painted terra cotta, geometric lines & shapes.
   • Function:
     • Used for funerary practices.

Unit 2: Ancient Mediterranean

12. White Temple and its Ziggurat (Uruk, Iraq, 3500-3000 B.C.E.):

• Context:
  • Located in Iraq, Sumerians.
  • Content:
    • 40 feet tall, tripartite plan, entrances, chambers.
  • Form:
    • Made of mudrock and asphalt, whitewashed.
  • Function:
    • Served governmental and religious purposes, rituals & sacrifices.

13. Palette of King Narmer (Predynastic Egypt, 3000-2920 B.C.E.):

• Context:
  • Found in Horus temple, unification of Egypt.
  • Content:
    • Features goddess Bat, King Narmer in regalia.
  • Form:
    • Carved grayish siltstone, 2 feet long.
  • Function:
    • Used for grinding makeup, ceremonial, dedicated to gods.

14. Statues of Votive Figures (Eshnunna, Iraq, 2900-2600 B.C.E.):

• Context:
  • Mesopotamian religion, votive figures for worship.
  • Content:
    • Male and female donors, inscriptions for wishes.
  • Form:
    • Gypsum with shell and limestone, detailed eyes.
  • Function:
    • Portable worship stand-ins.

15. Seated Scribe (Saqqara, Egypt, 2620-2500 B.C.E.):

• Context:
  • Old Kingdom, scribes were literate record-keepers.
  • Content:
    • Scribe with papyrus, tranquil face, sitting posture.
  • Form:
    • Painted limestone, individualistic features.
  • Function:
    • Funerary purposes, respect for scribes.

16. Standard of Ur (Royal Tombs at UR, Iraq, 2600-2400 B.C.E.):

• Context:
  • Prosperous, found in Ur graves.
  • Content:
    • War and peace scenes, hierarchical scale.
  • Form:
    • Wood inlaid with shell, lapis lazuli, limestone.
  • Function:
    • Unknown, possibly a music box, commemoration art.

Unit 3: Early Europe & Colonial Americas

48. Catacomb of Priscilla (Rome, Italy, 200-400 C.E.):

• Context:
  • Underground in Rome's north, early Christian burial site.
  • Content:
    • 40,000 tombs, biblical scenes.
  • Form:
    • Excavated tufa, frescoes, Roman wall painting style.
  • Function:
    • Burial site for Priscilla's family, not for worship.

49. Santa Sabina (Rome, Italy, 422-432 C.E.):

• Context:
  • Example of ancient Constantinian basilica.
  • Content:
    • Selenite windows, clerestory lighting.
  • Form:
    • Brick and stone, wooden roof, longitudinal nave.
  • Function:
    • Early Christian church, inspire conversion.

50. Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well (Vienna Genesis, Early 6th century C.E.):

• Context:
  • Early Byzantine, symbolic and abstract style.
  • Content:
    • Written in Greek, continuous narrative.
  • Form:
    • Tempera, gold, and silver on purple vellum.
  • Function:
    • Depict Bible stories, symbol of owner's piety.

Unit 4: Late Europe and Americas

99. Portrait of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (Miguel Cabrera, 1750 C.E.):

• Context:
  • Neoclassical art, portrays feminist nun Sor Juana.
  • Content:
    • Sor Juana in religious garments, books around her.
  • Form:
    • Oil on canvas, detailed.
  • Function:
    • Portrait of Sor Juana, reflects her intellect and religious devotion.

100. A philosopher giving a Lecture on the Orrery (Joseph Wright, 1763-1765 C.E.):

• Context:
  • Enlightenment period, focus on scientific progress.
  • Content:
    • Scientist lecturing on an orrery, strong internal light source.
  • Form:
    • Naturalistic, highlights influence and learning.
  • Function:
    • Showcase scientific improvements and enlightenment.

101. The Swing (Jean-Honore Fragonard, 1767 C.E.):

• Context:
  • Rococo art style, exclusive to the wealthy.
  • Content:
    • Woman on swing in a natural scene, dense garden.
  • Form:
    • Soft colors, ornate details, woman bathed in sunlight.
  • Function:
    • Owned by the rich, epitome of Rococo art.

102. Monticello (Virginia, US, Thomas Jefferson, 1768-1809 C.E.):

• Context:
  • Jefferson's home, inspired by French architecture.
  • Content:
    • Symmetrical brick home, classical and neoclassical elements.
  • Form:
    • Brick, glass, stone, and wood, symmetrical design.
  • Function:
    • Jefferson's residence, reflects architectural preferences.

Note: This is a partial summary of the provided transcript focusing on key artworks from Units 1 to 4. Full details of all artworks and units would expand this summary significantly.