Formal Analysis

Spring, 2020

Due Dates:

· Submit in Class, (btw 800-1500 words): Feb 27th

· Choose one artwork from our selection

· Write a thoughtful, formal analysis paper about your choice.

This assignment’s design is to stimulate your observation skills and encourage you to express arguments clearly and concisely.

Write a formal analysis or “analytical description” of the artwork. Your paper should give a verbal account of what you see in the work. Your paper should follow the “Visual Elements of Design (according to the attached Pdf file in Canvas). In addition, when constructing your formal analysis, you should consider issues such as religion, function, symbolic meaning, techniques, as well as materials, and composition. You should think about how these aspects of the work affect your perception of it and shape its meaning.

Your paper should have an introduction that names and describe the work you will be discussing and that indicates the principal points you want to make about it. Your paper should also have well-organized paragraphs, a sense of development, and a conclusion. You should ensure that general claims you make about your chosen piece are backed up with specific evidence.

· This is not a research paper; therefore, research is not permitted.

· Make sure to add image/s of the artwork

Late Policy

Late papers will be penalized 1/3 of a letter grade per day late, include weekend. Extensions will only be granted in cases of legitimate excuse.

Thank you;

Good luck

Dr. Chwalkowski

The Prophet Muhammad sits with the Abrahamic prophets in Jerusalem, anonymous, Mi‘rajnama (Book of Ascension), Tabriz, ca. 1317-1330. TOPKAPI PALACE LIBRARY

Mihrab, 1354–55, just after the Ilkhanid period, Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, polychrome glazed tiles, 343.1 x 288.7 cm (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Stand (rahla) for a Qur’an Manuscript

Maker: Zain Hasan Sulaiman Isfahani

Date: dated 1360

Geography: Made in Iran

Medium: Wood (teak); carved, painted, and inlaid

Dimensions: W. (when closed) 16 1/8 in. (41 cm)

H. (when closed) 51 1/4 in. (130.2 cm)

Bowl with Courtly and Astrological Motifs

late 12th–early 13th century, Attributed to Central or Northern Iran

Medium: Stonepaste; polychrome inglaze and overglaze painted and gilded on opaque monochrome glaze (mina’i)

Dimensions: H. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm), Diam. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm), Wt. 14 oz. (396.9 g)

“The Court of Gayumars”, attributed to Sultan Muhammad, circa 1522–1525, from the Tahmasp Shahnama, Tabriz

Prayer in the Mosque

Artist: Jean-Léon Gérôme (French, Vesoul 1824–1904 Paris)

Date: 1871

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 35 x 29 1/2 in.

Akbar Inspecting the construction of Fatehpur Sikri, 1586

Artsist: Tulsi (artist, composition, maker)

Bandi (artist, colours and details, maker)

Madhav Khord (portraits, artist)

Buffaloes in Combat, Attributed to Miskin (1570–1604). Illustrated single work. late 16th century, India. Medium: Ink, watercolor, and gold on paper

Dimensions: 6 7/8 x 9 1/2in.