Visual Art Paper 2 (Essay) WASSCE (SC), 2022

Question 8

 

  1. List any three styles and periods encompassed in medieval art.
  2. State any six characteristics of medieval art.

Observation

Most of the candidates attempted this question. Most of the candidates that attempted this question performed poorly, only a few were able to scale through successfully. The candidates were expected to answer in the following way:

(a)                 Styles and periods encompassed in Medieval art

-           Christian art.  
-           Byzantine art.                        
-           Anglo-Saxon and Viking.
-           Insular.
-           Carolingian.
-           Ottonian.
-           Romanesque.
-           Gothic art.                
.                                                                                                                      
(b)                    Characteristics of Medieval art
-           Most human figures are produced in frontal view.                                                    

-            Good treatment of drapery with outlines in gold.
-           Use of symbols for identification.
-           Interior decorations were done in mosaic.
-           Use of stain glass.
-           Paintings usually portray stiff and formal qualities.                                                              

-           Paintings were profusely colourful.   
-           Manuscript illustrations were abounded.
-           Gold, silver and purple were used for illustration.
-           Figures were depicted to convey feelings of holiness.
-           Images are with large heads.
-           Some images have soulful eyes.
-           Paintings have biblical themes.
-           Images of Christ and Mary dominate the themes.
-           Soulful eyes are arranged in rhythmic patterns.