Final Exam

*Please note that the following is a rough outline and is subject to change according to course needs*

Final Exam:  Monday, December 16 in Steinberg Auditorium @ 1-3PM

You are only responsible for the group of works that we discussed in class and that also appear in your textbook.  You are NOT responsible for 1) works that appear in the text but were not discussed in class, or 2) works introduced in class that do not appear in your textbook.  Familiarize yourself with the terminology used in class and in your text (a good glossary appears in the rear of your textbook).  The exam is a chance to demonstrate that you understand the terms and can use them appropriately, usually in conjunction with slide identifications.

IDENTIFICATIONS (10-15 identification, 2-3 minutes/identification, 5-6 points each)

Professor Wallace will display an image of an artwork on the screen. You are trying to provide as much objective information as possible about the image, followed by a discussion of why the object is important. 

1.  Name/title/location of object.  What is it?  What is it called?  Where is it located (important for architecture, sculpture and painting associated with a specific place)?

2.  Artist/ Architect, if known

3.  Medium/ method.  What is it made of?  What form does it take? Architecture, painting, sculpture; marble, bronze, fresco etc.

4.  Period/Style.    Exact dates of objects are not required, although I have emphasized certain dates that should help you with a relative chronology of history.  In the absence of a specific/important date, you are only required to identify the period of the object.

5.  Significance.  This is the longest and most important part of your identification:  Why is the object significant/memorable?  How is it a notable contribution to the history of art?  What meaning does the object convey; what was it meant to express?

TERMS (1-5 terms, 1-2 minutes per term, 1-3 points each)

Short definitions (one or two  sentences) should be given to important terms.  1-3 points each. A term list is provided in a separate page in the drop-down menu.

UNKNOWN (1 Unknown, 2-3 minutes, 2-4 points)

  • An “unknown artwork” is an artwork whose artist you may not know, but whose style, period, and influences you can surely discuss
  • An artwork you have never seen before will be shown during the exam; it is your job to perform a visual analysis of it and conclude why it belongs to a certain period, nationality, or even artist
  • The purpose of the “unknown artwork” is to have you analyze a work using the tools and knowledge you have gained and utilized throughout the semester –Thus we are not expecting an answer with 100% accuracy or certitude; a careful guess with ample contextual analysis and information is all we want!

COMPARISONS (2 comparison essays, usually 15-20 points, remainder of exam time granted). One comparison is available to be prepared at home, the other you will receive during the exam.

For both comparisons, students will be shown artworks studied in class and must provide the following for each:

  • Title
  • Artist
  • Artwork
  • Date
  • Medium
  • Location

You will be asked to identify each as completely as possible (as above), and then to compare them.  A good comparison first considers how objects are alike (what qualities/ intentions/ meanings might they share?) as well as how they are different.  Consider all aspects of the objects including their formal qualities, location, purpose, and significance.