Essays on Funerary

The Mawangdui tomb paintings has been analyzed very carefully by a number of experts who have different interpretations based on the belief systems prevalent at the time of Lady Dai's life and death. Given how rich Chinese history is, in terms of its beliefs, there are a number of texts and sources that can be used to explain this four-layered coffin and that has become the subject of much debate (Holloway). In the first reading, the question as to why paintings are even kept in tombs is asked and where one reaches the conclusion that it is probably assumed ...

Culture:Roman

Medium:Marble Dimensions:Overall: 34 x 85 x 36 1/4 in. (86.4 x 215.9 x 92.1 cm)

Classification:Stone-Architectural-Inscribed

Credit Line:Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1955 Accession Number:55.11.5 The magnificent, highly detailed and splendid in design Late Roman marble sarcophagus displayed in Metropolitan Museum of Art immediately draws viewers attention. The exhibit is extremely well preserved for the work dated A.D. 260–270, it is clear even for non-professional eye. The museum records state that ‘it has been preserved almost intact and only a few of the minor extremities are now missing’. The literature available in the museum collection also states that ‘originally it ...

Egyptian Pyramids

"Visiting card" of Egypt is the pyramids. There are about hundreds of them - large and small, with smooth and stepped sides that have survived virtually unchanged and more look like a shapeless heap of stones. They are located along the West Bank of the Nile in small groups near the place, where in the era of the Old Kingdom was the capital of the country - Memphis. The most famous of the pyramids are on the outskirts of Cairo, on the edge of the desert plateau of Giza, looming over the green valley of the Nile. Here at ...

When was the sculpture created?

The sculpture is better known as the Terracotta Army and is actually a large collection of statues which I depict the army of the first Emperor of China who was known as Qin Shi Huang. The sculpture was created around the 3rd century BC and the whole finding was made in the early 1970’s with rows upon rows of soldiers in the dark cavern in Xian, Shannxi province. It is probably ascertained that the sculptures date back to the 3rd century through the use of radio carbon dating. The idea of recreating a whole army is quite incredible in the ...

Question 1: Medieval art

Medieval art is a combination of both the classical and new classical traditions due to the various aspects of the art especially the elements of both Romanesque and gothic art and architecture in relation to the medieval church. Each of the architectural designs has its own outstanding and unique features that make them stand as original. In this history, we can take note of the Romanesque architecture of the Medieval Europe between sixth and 10th century. Two centuries later, it evolved into Gothic architecture that lasted for four centuries to 16th century (Bony 13). The term Romanesque architecture is used ...

Introduction

In the most traditional of African cultures, the duties of a woman’s role in society was never deemed as capricious, much less being awarded the honorary title of representation of an ideology known as ‘feminism.’ Yet, the memoir-enriched fictional novel, “So Long a Letter,” (Une si Longue Lettre – in French) by Mariama Ba inspired much hope for African women to convey the collective plight of their positions to the world. The book is remarkable in a number of profound ways. The book is a diary-type of letter written from the female protagonist Ramatoulaye her best friend from childhood, Aissatou. Ramatoulaye is mourning ...

Figure of Usnisha VijayaCast copper alloy(bronze?) with gilding, pigment and inlaid with semi-precious stonesCentimetres: 41.2 (height), 31.7 (width)18th century ADArea of Origin: TibetSir Christopher Ondaatje South Asian GalleryThe George Crofts Collection918.39.4.ADescription Ushnisha-vijaya is a peaceful white deity and an emanation of Vairochana Buddha, whose transcendent wisdom reveals the realm of highest reality. In her hands she holds a double vajra, representing the male aspect of compassion. The shape of the vajra – two identical ends bound by an unbreakable core – reflects the diamond-hard nature of the Buddha’s mind. She is known as the long-life deity. This deity ...

One of the writers whose name is William Faulkner said: “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” As he said, past is still going. His quote is similar to the history of art. Throughout art history, we learn and imagine about our past and how people used art to represent their lives on their period. One of the artworks that people used to represent their lives is vase. People used vase both, as art work and as household item. It was used to store water or wine in it or something else. As the time passes ...

Compare and Contrast the self-portraits of Rembrandt van Rijn and Cindy Sherman. What do each of these artists understand the self-portrait to reveal about themselves?Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) was the most prominent Dutch painter of all times and one of the greatest painters in the history of art. He made over a hundred self-portraits in different techniques. His life was very exciting which can be seen from his artwork. Some of his self-portraits are clear, sometimes less clear, dreamy and ethereal and his final self-portraits are realistic with gray hair and sorrow on his face. However, what all of these ...

The Chinese Sheng dynasty was rich in symbolism and artistic prowess even though it dates back to over 2000 BC. There are a vast number of ornaments, sculptures and artefacts which have been recovered through archaeological diggings and the two examples discussed here provide some interesting comparisons and concepts. Although the first vessel dates from almost 2000 years before the second one and is made out of bronze while the latter is composed of earthenware, there are similarities between both objects as well as a demonstration that the artefacts have developed in style. They are both supreme examples of sculpture in ...

Etruscans held their dead in very high regard. The tombs of the Etruscan’s reflect their obsession with ornamentation and the reverence of the dead. By looking at the tombs of the past we can gain a better understanding of the culture as a whole. Often tombs were filled to the brim with a wide variety of both decorative and sacred objects. Large statues of animals often graced the door ways meant as guardians for the tombs. Ceramic vases and pottery was often used to hold the ashes of the dead or to serve as decorative elements. This indicates that the ...

Introduction:

The Chinese Sheng dynasty was rich in symbolism and artistic prowess even though it dates back to over 2000 BC. There are a vast number of ornaments, sculptures and artefacts which have been recovered through archaeological diggings and the two examples discussed here provide some interesting comparisons and concepts. Although the first vessel dates from almost 2000 years before the second one and is made out of bronze while the latter is composed of earthenware, there are similarities between both objects as well as a demonstration that the artefacts have developed in style. They are both supreme examples of sculpture in ...

The Egyptian Book of the Dead has, as its original title, Reu nu pert em hru; translated to English, it means The Chapters of coming forth by day. This book is, essentially, a series of chapters that consist of magic spells and special formulas, which are all written in papyrus. Such collection of texts for funerary purposes began to be found around 1600 BC in Egyptian tombs. It is suppose that these texts, that gathered such spells and formulas, would be used by the deceased ones, throughout their Underworld journey. While in this journey in the Underworld, the dead ...

The Marble Masterpiece The Marble Masterpiece Introduction What is it which draws in millions of tourists annually from the developed countries of West to India? It is the rich cultural and historical heritage encompassed within the borders of this yet developing country. The multitude of magnificent temples, mosques, mausoleums, forts and minarets which speak of a great history and impeccable architecture draw maximum number of curious tourists from all over the world to India. And one monument surmounts every other specimen of ancient art and architecture in the world- the Taj Mahal. It is a white marble mausoleum ...

Funeral Customs & Services in China

Funerary customs in China tend to be quite intricate and tend to vary greatly from one region to another. According to Chinese traditions, it has been considered crucial to bury the dead ("Chinese funeral customs,"). The traditional ideas about burial were rejected by the Communists. Cremation became the rule in the large cities in China, while burial was only practiced in the countryside (Greg & Aidan, 1993:360). The Communists regard coffins as a waste of wood and graves as a waste of good farm land. Till today, burying the dead is discouraged by the Chinese government ("The impact of,"). There about 7.17 ...