Ancient Times to 1650

Self-guided group activity

Grade 9-12 Gallery 250

Whether you’re at the museum, in the classroom, or at home, plan on spending time with 8–10 artworks. Many of these questions are designed to prompt close looking and critical thinking. Read each artwork’s label or website content to find answers to these fact-based questions. To view zoomable images of each artwork and read related content, take a closer look on Mia’s Collections site or click on the supplied links below

Featured Works

Syria, Birds with Foliage, Gallery 240

Birds with Foliage, late 4th-mid 5th century, unknown artist, Turkey, mosaic, on view in Gallery 240 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What interests you most about this ancient Syrian mosaic? Why?
  • • Imagine designs like these running the length of a border to a larger mosaic. Why might artists at this time have used birds, vines, and fruit to symbolize life and renewal?
Greece, Black-figured Hydria, Gallery 241

Black-figured Hydria, c. 530 BCE, Attributed to the Antimenes Painter, slip-glazed earthenware, on view in Gallery 241 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What do you suppose this vessel was used for?
  • • What suggests this to you? What goddess is represented on the vessel?
  • • What animals do you see?
Italy, Standing Deity Holding Horn and Bucket, Gallery 241

Standing Deity Holding Horn and Bucket, 1st century, unknown artist, Roman, fresco, on view in Gallery 241 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What two words would you choose to best describe this Roman god?
  • • What aspects look most realistic? How do you think the artist made them look that way?
  • • What is a fresco?
  • • What natural disaster happened in Pompeii?
Iran, Rectangular Tiles, Gallery 243

Rectangular Tile, 13th-14th century, unknown artist, Iran, earthenware with relief calligraphy and underglaze painted in turquoise and blue with gold luster overglaze, Kashan ware, on view in Gallery 243 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What do you consider most artistic about these tiles?
  • • What part of a mosque did these ceramic tiles probably decorate?
  • • What do you wonder about these tiles?
Ancient Egypt, False door, Gallery 250

False door, about 2400 BCE, unknown artist, Ancient Egypt, limestone, on view in Gallery 250 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What are hieroglyphs? How were they used?
  • • What would you like to know about this artwork?
  • • This tomb was made for a priest named Iryenakhet (pronounced ‘year-ee-en-AH-ket’). His name is written on the door seven times. Find them all!
  • • What other hieroglyphs do you recognize?
Djenne, Mali, Equestrian Figure, Gallery 168

Equestrian figure, about 1450, unknown artist, Djenne culture, wood, on view in Gallery 250 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What about this horse and rider shows they are powerful?
  • • How do historians know this is authentic?
  • • What do you suppose the artist needed to think about before beginning to carve this sculpture from a single piece of wood?
Benin, Nigeria, Tusk, Gallery 250

Tusk, 1775-77, unknown artist, Edo-Benin culture, ivory, on view in Gallery 250 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • Who are the most important people on this carved tusk? How can you tell?
  • • What kinds of animals do you see?
  • • What purpose does the tusk serve?
  • • Find the Portuguese soldier. How did the artist show he was a foreigner?
Roman, Roman Matron, Gallery 230 (Rotunda)

Roman Matron, 60–70, unknown artist, Roman, marble, on view in Gallery 230 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • Describe this woman.
  • • What can you learn about her from the online label?
  • • What seems typically Roman about this sculpture?
  • • What seems typically Greek?
China, Shengding food vessel, Gallery 214

Shengding food vessel, 6th century BCE, unknown artist, China, bronze, on view in Gallery 214 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What did you first notice about this bronze vessel?
  • • How was it used?
  • • What details do you find particularly interesting? Why?
  • • Compare this to the Jar in Gallery 205. Which do you like better? Why?
China, Celestial Horse, Gallery 215

Celestial Horse, 25-220, unknown artist, China, bronze with traces of polychrome, on view in Gallery 215 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • Which aspects of the horse seem most realistic to you?
  • • Why do you say so?
  • • How does the artist show how important horses were to the Chinese people at that time?
  • • Why did the Chinese so admire Western horses?
Japan, Jar, Gallery 205

Deep Bowl with Four Projections, 2500-1500 BCE, unknown artist, Japan, earthenware, on view in Gallery 205 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • Be sure to look at the top and the surface of this jar. How would you describe the decorations?
  • • Why is this jar associated with fire?
  • • Compare this artwork to the Shengding in Gallery 214.
  • • Which do you like better? Why?
Japan, Guardian figures, Gallery 205

Vajra Warrior (one of a pair), mid 14th century, unknown artist, Japan, polychromed Japanese cypress (hinoki) with lacquer, on view in Gallery 205 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site
Vajra Warrior (one of a pair), mid 14th century, unknown artist, Japan, polychromed Japanese cypress (hinoki) with lacquer, on view in Gallery 205 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • How are these two figures alike?
  • • How are these two figures different?
  • • What was the purpose of these sculptures?
  • • Do you find them intimidating? Why or why not?
Lucas Cranach the Elder, Portrait of Moritz Buchner and Portrait of Anna Buchner, née Lindacker, Gallery 342

Portrait of Moritz Buchner, c. 1520, Lucas Cranach the Elder, oil on panel, on view in Gallery 342 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site
Portrait of Anna Buchner, née Lindacker, c. 1520, Lucas Cranach the Elder, oil on panel, on view in Gallery 342 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What do these paintings suggest about this couple’s relationship?
  • • What message do you think the couple wanted the artist to communicate?
  • • What, if anything, surprises you about this pair?
Lippo Vanni, Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist, and a Clerical Donor, Gallery 343

Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist and a Clerical Donor, c. 1350-60, Lippo Vanni, tempera and gold leaf on panel, on view in Gallery 343 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • What is going on in this image? What do you see that makes you say that?
  • • How does the artist appeal to your emotions?
  • • Why might someone ask an artist to include his or her portrait in a religious scene like this one?
France, Diptych with scenes from the life of Christ, Gallery 343

Diptych with scenes from the life of Christ, c. 1375, unknown artist, France, ivory, on view in Gallery 343 or explore online within Mia’s Collections Site

Question Prompts

  • • How long do you think it took the artist to carve this scene hundreds of years ago?
  • • Why do you suppose it was worth it to the artist to invest so much time in making it?
  • • Look closely to see traces of color still on the ivory. How was this artwork used?