Question 1: What Italian Renaissance technique involves painting on wet plaster so that pigments bond permanently with the wall surface?
Topic: Renaissance Art
- glazing
- tempera
- encaustic
- fresco (Correct Answer)
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Comprehensive DSST exam preparation with practice tests and flashcards.
Written by the Flying Prep Team
Reviewed by Alex Stone, who earned 99 credits via CLEP & DSST
This section covers the late 18th and early 19th-century movements that emphasized classical ideals and emotional expression respectively. Students need to understand Neoclassicism's revival of ancient Greek and Roman principles through artists like David and Ingres, contrasted with Romanticism's emphasis on emotion, nature, and individualism in works by Delacroix and Caspar David Friedrich. Key themes include the impact of political revolutions and changing philosophical attitudes toward reason and emotion.
This section examines European art from approximately 300-1400 CE, focusing on Early Christian, Byzantine, Islamic, Romanesque, and Gothic traditions. Students must understand how religious themes dominated artistic expression, the development of manuscript illumination, cathedral architecture, and the fusion of classical and Christian imagery. Emphasis is placed on understanding iconography, architectural innovations, and the role of monasteries as centers of artistic production.
This section covers the revival of classical learning and artistic innovation in Europe from the 14th-16th centuries, including Early and High Renaissance periods. Students need to understand the development of linear perspective, sfumato, chiaroscuro, and other technical innovations by masters such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Key concepts include humanism's influence on art, patronage systems, and the integration of classical mythology with Christian themes.
This section examines European art from the 17th-18th centuries, characterized by dramatic emotional intensity in Baroque and ornate elegance in Rococo styles. Students must understand the Catholic Counter-Reformation's influence on Baroque art, the works of Caravaggio, Bernini, and Poussin, and the lighter, decorative qualities of Rococo artists like Watteau and Fragonard. Emphasis is placed on understanding theatrical compositions, tenebrism, and the shift from religious to secular subject matter.
This section examines late 19th-century French movements that revolutionized artistic technique and subject matter. Students must understand Impressionism's focus on light, color, and contemporary life through works by Monet, Renoir, and Degas, as well as Post-Impressionism's varied responses including Cézanne's structural analysis, Van Gogh's expressive brushwork, and Gauguin's symbolic color. Emphasis is placed on plein air painting, optical color theory, and the break from academic traditions.
This section covers the artistic traditions of ancient civilizations including Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman art. Students need to understand the development of classical principles such as proportion, idealized forms, and architectural orders, as well as the cultural and religious contexts that shaped artistic production. Key topics include sculpture, painting, architecture, and decorative arts from antiquity through the fall of Rome.
This section covers major 20th-century artistic movements including Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. Students need to understand how artists like Picasso, Kandinsky, Pollock, and Warhol challenged traditional representation and explored new materials, techniques, and concepts. Key themes include the impact of industrialization, world wars, and changing social conditions on artistic expression and the emergence of distinctly American artistic movements.
Preparing your assessment...
The exam difficulty depends heavily on your visual memory and art history background. The challenging aspects include recognizing specific artworks under time pressure, distinguishing between similar artistic styles, and connecting works to precise historical contexts. Questions requiring identification of lesser-known artists or regional variations prove most difficult. However, the exam follows predictable patterns focusing on major movements, canonical artists, and landmark works found in standard art history textbooks. Success comes from systematic image study rather than just reading about art history. Most test-takers with structured preparation using visual materials pass on their first attempt.
ACE recommends a minimum scaled score of 50 out of 80 for college credit, but your institution sets the actual requirement. Most colleges accept scores between 50-55, though some require higher scores for art or humanities majors. Check with your academic advisor or registrar for specific requirements. The scaled scoring system means you need approximately 60-65% of questions correct to reach the recommended passing threshold, though this varies based on question difficulty distribution. Since there's no penalty for wrong answers, you can miss substantial questions and still earn a passing score.
Plan 45-60 hours of focused study if you have basic art appreciation knowledge, or 80-100 hours starting from limited background. Art history requires extensive visual memorization that takes time to develop. Distribute study over 8-12 weeks rather than cramming, since visual recognition improves with repeated exposure over time. Professionals with museum, gallery, or design experience often need only 25-35 hours reviewing specific periods and artists. The key factor is prior exposure to art history coursework or professional art experience, not general education level.
Use image-heavy resources and practice visual identification without reading captions first. Create flashcards with artwork images on front and artist, title, date, and movement on back. Focus study time proportionally on exam weights: spend most time on Renaissance (20%) and Baroque/Rococo (15%). Watch video lectures showing artworks in detail rather than just reading descriptions. Visit museums or virtual museum collections to see works in context. Take practice tests with timed image identification. Avoid text-only study materials since the exam emphasizes visual recognition over theoretical knowledge. Group similar artists or periods together to understand stylistic progressions and influences.
No, this exam focuses exclusively on Western artistic traditions from ancient Greece and Rome through 20th-century American and European movements. You won't encounter questions about Asian, African, Islamic, or indigenous American art unless they directly influenced Western artists. The geographic scope covers primarily Europe and North America, with emphasis on major artistic centers like Florence, Rome, Paris, and later New York. However, the exam does include Byzantine art, which bridges Eastern and Western traditions, and may reference classical influences from ancient Near Eastern cultures on Greek and Roman art.
The exam focuses primarily on factual knowledge of artworks, artists, dates, and historical contexts rather than theoretical analysis or critical interpretation. You'll encounter questions about artistic techniques, materials, and stylistic characteristics, but not complex theoretical frameworks or modern critical theory. Some questions address patronage systems, cultural contexts, and artistic influences between periods. The emphasis remains on recognizing major works, identifying artists and movements, understanding chronological development, and knowing key historical facts rather than engaging in interpretive analysis or aesthetic philosophy.
Each period covers multiple art forms including painting, sculpture, and architecture, with some decorative arts. Ancient sections emphasize sculpture and architecture over painting due to survival rates. Medieval coverage includes manuscript illumination, cathedral architecture, and sculptural programs. Renaissance questions span painting, sculpture, and architectural innovations. Baroque/Rococo sections feature painting techniques, architectural grandeur, and sculptural drama. Impressionism focuses heavily on painting techniques and color theory. Modern movements cover painting primarily, with some sculpture and architectural developments. The exam balances different media but emphasizes works most commonly featured in survey textbooks and museum collections.
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