Transcript lion description

1) (i) From whose
imperial villa does this
mosaic come?
(ii)Where is this villa
located? [ACH ]
(i) Hadrian
(ii) Tivoli
Both answers
are required.
(2) When was the mosaic
created? [ACH]
Around 130 AD (allow
some flexibility with
dates). (Accept anything
between 118–134 AD.)
.
(3) (i) What Latin name is
given to the individual tiles
used to create this mosaic?
(ii)Give TWO materials that
these tiles may have been
made of. [ACH]
(i) tesserae
(ii) Any TWO of:
• glass
• coloured stones
• marble
• pottery pieces.
Both answers are required.
(4) Describe in detail the scene
shown top right, with particular
reference to the animals, their
actions, and the geographical
setting. [ACH]
• There are five goats in a rural setting (numbers not
needed)
• two sitting, three standing
• two grazing
• one crossing a bridge.
• A stream runs through the scene.
• Rock and hillocks feature in the background and
foreground
• as well as trees and shrubs
• and a standing statue.
(These are SAMPLE points. Other points are possible.)
Any THREE points of description are required. The points
MUST cover animals, actions, and setting.
(5) You have studied another
mosaic found in the same
location. Describe in detail what
is depicted in the other mosaic.
[MER]
• There are two bulls / a bull and his mate.
• One lion.
• The lion is attacking a bull.
• Mountain / rocks in the background.
• Central river / pool.
• Lion’s teeth are in the buttocks of the bull.
• Blood drips from its rear leg.
• There is a gnarled tree in the foreground.
(These are SAMPLE points. Other points are
possible.)
Any THREE points of description are required.
(6) (i) Identify EACH object that the
figure on the extreme right in the top
Reproduction is holding.
Right hand:
Left hand:
(ii) Discuss the possible significance
both of the objects and of the small
plaque beneath. [MER]
(i) Right hand: a bunch of grapes.
Left hand: a thyrsos or staff topped with leaves.
(ii) Significance of objects In hands:
Linked to Dionysus as the god of wine – the grapes are used
to make wine. The leaves on top of the staff are also
typically associated with Dionysus.
The plaque beneath the rock:
This is of uncertain significance.
Possibly a votive object, indicating that the statue is one of a
goddess; or, another interpretation is that it may be a phallic
symbol – related to Priapus as a fertility god.
(Other answers are possible.)
BOTH (i) and (ii). For (ii), discussion of the significance of
any TWO of the three things.
(7) (i) Explain how the mosaic
shown top right and the other mosaic
you described in question (5) differ in
mood.
(ii) Discuss in detail THREE ways in
which the mosaicist has created this
difference in mood by considering
animals, landscape, and water. Give
specific examples from BOTH scenes to
support your points. [MER]
(i) The mood of this mosaic is one of calm rural peacefulness. The other mosaic has a mood of violence – a different aspect
of nature in the countryside.
(Or similar. The mood of BOTH mosaics must be mentioned.)
(ii)
• In this mosaic, the animals are grazing in peace or sitting / standing calmly. In the other mosaic, the bull in the
foreground is in distress / wounded and the animal in the
background rears back is if concerned.
• The harsh angular lines of craggy rocks are present in the other mosaic; soft lines and more vegetation are present here.
• A small trickling river with a bridge links the animals together in this scene; whereas in the other mosaic, there is a larger
expanse of water which serves to separate the animals.
(Other answers are possible.)
BOTH parts of the question must be answered.
THREE points fully discussed and exemplified are required for (ii). A bare answer for (i) should not preclude Excellence
when considered holistically with (ii).
(8) (i) Identify and discuss in detail
THREE ways in which the mosaicist has
attempted to mimic stylistic features
typical of wall painting, in the mosaic
shown in Reproduction E. Provide
examples to illustrate your answer.
(ii) Choose ONE of these features and
discuss the difficulty that the mosaicist
faced and how successfully that
difficulty has been overcome. [EXC]
i) A typical response of an example is given for illustrative purposes.
Atmospheric perspective:
The mosaicist has used lighter and hazier tones in the background of
the mosaic to give the impression of a scene receding into a sunny
horizon.
This is a feature typical of wall painting.
For example, the rocks in the background on the extreme left are in
much lighter tones than those in the mid-ground.
• Chiastic composition + example
• Brush-strokes mimicked by opus vermiculatum + example
• Shading / shadows + example
• Highlighting + example
• Overlapping + example
• Four-colour technique + example
• Foreshortening + example
• Gradual tonal gradation + example
• Division into three areas (fore-, mid-, and background) + example
(ii) Many answers are possible. A typical response is given for
illustrative purposes. Interpret generously, but the difficulty must
relate to a technical difficulty of mosaic making.
Difficulty with atmospheric perspective:
• The main difficulty that the mosacist faced was in selection of very
small tesserae with such slight tonal variation – it is difficult for the
human eye to make such distinctions in such small samples.
Evaluation:
• This has been done successfully in this case, since the impression is
genuinely one where the lines of detail in the rock blur into the
background.
BOTH parts of the question must be answered.
In (ii), a difficulty AND an evaluative comment are required.