TAMU ARTS 150: European Art History Exam - Spring 2011

The correct artist of The Village Bride is Jean-Baptiste Greuze, not Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, or Pablo Picasso.

Rosalba Carriera was an Italian painter known for her pastel works which dried quickly, making them perfect for travel. The portrait of Charles Sackville, 2nd Duke of Dorset was created by her.

Canaletto is renowned for his detailed and precise urban landscape paintings, which sometimes included imaginary elements known as capriccio. Artists like Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, and Georgia O'Keeffe are not associated with this style or subject matter.

Canaletto was known for his accurate urban landscapes, with The Bucintoro at the Molo being one of his notable works.

The correct answer is Giovanni Battista Piranesi. The etching from 1756 captures the Pantheon in Rome with people flocking to the church.

Anton Raphael Mengs is known for painting the first example of neoclassicism with his artwork 'Parnassus' in 1761. The painting depicts the mount of the gods and influenced neoclassicism in art.

Antonio Canova was the sculptor who created the famous statue of Pauline Borghese as Venus in 1808. Canova was known for his work in the neoclassical style, influenced by antiquity and the Renaissance. He was also known for creating both monumental public sculptures for leaders and more intimate, erotic pieces for private clients. Canova's wife was often portrayed as a seductress in his works, though her identity was not always explicitly shown.

Joseph Wright of Derby, known for his depiction of scientific subjects, created the iconic painting 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air-Pump' showcasing an experiment to bring science to wider audiences.

The correct answer is Angelica Kauffmann. She was a history painter known for her work 'Cornelia Pointing to Her Children as Her Treasures', where she depicted Cornelia (a Roman woman) pointing to her children as her true treasures.

The correct answer is Benjamin West, who painted 'The Death of General Wolfe' in 1770. This painting is a contemporary history painting that took artistic liberties to depict the hero's restrained grief after winning the battle of Quebec. The painting also included symbolic elements such as an Indian figure to represent America's place and references to the death of Christ to highlight the idea of sacrifice for Great Britain.

John Henry Fuseli painted 'The Nightmare' in 1781, and is known for launching romanticism in Great Britain. He was influenced by Michelangelo, incorporated intellectual themes, and explored aspects of fear, sexuality, and human psychology in his works.

John Singleton Copley was the artist who painted 'Watson and the Shark' in 1778. This iconic artwork depicts a dramatic shark attack and showcases Copley's abilities as both a portrait and history painter. Additionally, the painting reflects political motivations as Copley believed that Americans seeking freedom were hypocritical due to their ownership of slaves, with a slave being the key figure in the painting's rescue scene.