Question 1

Which of the following became a standard feature of French Gothic architecture?

Accepted Answer

The rose window, a large circular or rosette-shaped stained glass window, became a standard feature in French Gothic architecture. It was typically located on the west facade of the church and served as a way to flood the interior with colorful light. Other features such as fan vaulting, Perpendicular style, and rounded arches were more commonly associated with English Gothic architecture.

Question 2

The façade of St-Denis consists of a double-tower westwork.Which of the following could have been the influence for this façade?

Accepted Answer

St-Étienne, Caen, is known for its double-tower westwork, which could have influenced the design of the façade of St-Denis.

Question 3

Speyer Cathedral was considered the burial church of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.Which of the following churches was the burial church for the kings of France?

Accepted Answer

St-Denis was considered the burial church for the kings of France, as well as other members of the royal family. It is located in the northern suburbs of Paris and is known for its historical and architectural significance. Notre-Dame, Paris and Notre-Dame, Reims were both important churches in France, but they were not specifically designated as burial places for royalty. Ste-Chapelle is a chapel located in Paris that was built to house the relics of the Passion of Christ, but it was not a burial church for French kings.

Question 4

The tympanum from the right portal of Chartres depicts the Virgin and Child that hearkens back to the Romanesque portrayals of this theme as the Throne of Wisdom.Which of the following is the source for this depiction?

Accepted Answer

The Byzantine Theotokos, or Mother of God, was a popular depiction of the Virgin and Child in the Eastern Orthodox Church that emphasized the Virgin's role as the vessel through which God became incarnate. This depiction influenced Romanesque art in the West and can be seen in the Chartres tympanum's portrayal of the Virgin as the Throne of Wisdom, with the Christ Child seated on her lap.

Question 5

Abbot Suger is credited with creating which of the following churches?

Accepted Answer

Abbot Suger is credited with creating the Basilica of St.-Denis, located in the northern suburbs of Paris. St.-Sernin is a Romanesque basilica in Toulouse, St.-Chapelle is a Gothic chapel in Paris, and Notre-Dame, Paris was constructed after Abbot Suger's time.

Question 6

Indicate which of the following is not a characterization of the changing social conditions in the Gothic period.

Accepted Answer

Barbarian migrations were a characteristic of the Early Middle Ages that preceded the Gothic period. The Gothic period saw the rise of Scholasticism, a new importance of women, and the emergence of the middle class.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes a characteristic of Gothic architecture?

Accepted Answer

Gothic architecture is known for its pointed arches and ribbed vaults, which allow for greater height and a sense of upward movement. However, its interior is often narrow and elongated, with tall, slender windows that filter in small streams of light. The elimination of long windows and the narrowing of the interior is a characteristic of Gothic architecture, allowing for a more dramatic and moody atmosphere.

Question 8

Who may have conceived the complicated iconographical portal program for Chartres Cathedral?

Accepted Answer

Thierry of Chartres, a scholar and chancellor of the cathedral school, is often credited with the intellectual and philosophical influence on the iconography of Chartres Cathedral.

Question 9

What pose developed by the "court" style had a strong influence on Late Gothic sculpture?

Accepted Answer

The S-shaped curve was developed by the "court" style and had a strong influence on Late Gothic sculpture, particularly in the depiction of figures such as the Madonna and Christ on the cross. This pose features a gentle S-curve through the body, creating a sense of movement and grace. It was heavily utilized during the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance period, and can be seen in works such as Donatello's "David" and Michelangelo's "Pieta."

Question 10

The sculptural program of the west façade of Chartres Cathedral proclaims the power and majesty of Jesus Christ.Which of the following elements unites all three doorways of the west portal (Portal Royal)of Chartres Cathedral?

Accepted Answer

The sculptures on the three doorways of the west portal (Portal Royal) of Chartres Cathedral depict episodes from the life of Christ, including scenes from the Nativity, Passion, and Resurrection. This unites all three doorways in their focus on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The episodes from the life of the Virgin and the Old Testament are depicted on other parts of the cathedral.

Question 11

Which of the following figures provides the most direct contrast with the Naumburg figures?

Accepted Answer

The Röttgen Pietà is a dramatic and emotional sculpture, showing the suffering of Christ and his mother Mary. It is in stark contrast to the calm and serene Naumburg figures, which show idealized and stylized human forms. Both sculptures are from the same general time period and geographic region, but have very different styles and emotional tones.

Question 12

Which of the following is considered a masterpiece of the Rayonnant style?

Accepted Answer

Ste-Chapelle is considered a masterpiece of the Rayonnant style due to its extensive use of stained glass, intricate tracery, and delicate stone masonry. While Reims Cathedral and Amiens Cathedral are also examples of Rayonnant architecture, they are more commonly associated with the High Gothic style. St-Denis is usually considered a prime example of the early Gothic style.

Question 13

The fourteenth-century German sculptures of Ekkehard and Uta at Naumburg are particularly significant because these sculptures used which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The sculptures of Ekkehard and Uta at Naumburg are significant because they are specific individuals, the founder of the Naumburg Cathedral and his wife, rather than representations of abstract ideas or religious figures.

Question 14

The portal sculptural program for Chartres Cathedral is distinctly different from its Romanesque counterparts.Which of the following accounts for this distinction?

Accepted Answer

The prominence of Mary in the portal program is a distinguishing feature of Gothic cathedrals like Chartres, reflecting the increased veneration of the Virgin Mary during this period.

Question 15

Who of the following coined the term "Gothic"?

Accepted Answer

Giorgio Vasari coined the term "Gothic" in the 16th century, using it to describe the style of architecture that developed in Northern France and spread throughout Europe from the late Middle Ages until the 16th century. He intended it as a derogatory term, associating it with the barbaric Gothic tribes who had sacked Rome in the 5th century, to criticize what he saw as the disorderly and overly ornate qualities of this architecture compared to the harmony and simplicity of Renaissance architecture.

Question 16

In Jean Pucelle's Belleville Breviary,the artist has placed Saul seated on a throne with the receding coffers of a barrel vault above the head of David.He has created a stage set.Which of the following could account for this stage setting?

Accepted Answer

The stage setting in Jean Pucelle's Belleville Breviary reflects Italian influence. Italian trecento (14th-century) painting favored this type of stage setting, with figures placed in architectural settings that create the illusion of depth and space. Additionally, Jean Pucelle was likely exposed to Italian art through French court patronage of Italian artists and the presence of Italian artists in Paris during his lifetime.

Question 17

Fan vaulting was most common in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Fan vaulting was most common in which...

Question 18

The focus of both the intellectual and religious life changed from monasteries in the countryside and pilgrimage churches to cathedrals in expanding cities.Which of the following would account for this change?

Accepted Answer

The shift in focus to cathedrals in expanding cities was largely due to the prosperity of the time, which led to urban growth and the construction of grand cathedrals as centers of both religious and intellectual life.

Question 19

Jeanne d'Evreux,wife to Charles IV,donated a statue of the Virgin and Child to the Abbey of St.-Denis.What is the common name of this statue?

Accepted Answer

The statue donated by Jeanne d'Evreux is commonly known as the "Queen of Heaven."

Question 20

Paris claimed to be the intellectual center of Gothic Europe.Its university faculty and the reputations of its masons supported this claim.Which of the following also provided support for this claim?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Paris claimed to be the intellectual center...

Quiz 13: The Age of Great Cathedrals