Art History: Year 1300 Forward

  Ivory Mask This mask is of Idia the first Queen mother of the Benin empire. Her son was that of the King and she is remembered for fighting for his right to succeed his father and take the throne. There was a competition due to the fact the King had another son with another woman. Idia did the most to secure her son’s lineage. This mask would have been worn on the hip as an accessory. It is carved from Ivory, a white and luminescent material very popular in African trade. It is believed when the mask was originally created there might have been inlays of gold or coral.  This Ivory mask of an African woman represents complete and total power through commemoration created in an expensive and admired way.  The ends of Idia's hair is finished with knots that feature tiny costumed Portugese men. The Portugese were significant to African trade. The Portugese brought the Africans brass and the Africans traded pepper, Ivory and animal skins. These knots as part of the Que...

The following will discuss the immense differences as well as similarities of the Sin Sukju portrait and the self portraits of Albrecht Dürer. Each piece was created for a different purpose, affords different levels of intracacy but is also timeless in representation of religious beliefs. The portrait of Sin Sukju was to commemorate both his life as well as his death due to his sacrifice and honor as a civic official that remained loyal to the court and the King. Portraits of many others were created in the same manner, as “meritorious subjects.” These officials who were honored due to their loyalties featured rank badges on the front and back of their overcoat. Sin Sukju’s rank badge consists of feathery peacocks, among blossoming plants and clouds. These paintings were made to commemorate and in some cases were recreated in “copies” for the families of these officials. In the ink painting on silk scroll Sukju is shown seated with a full length view of his body, feet on a wooden stool...