After the splendid outburst of painting in the first half of the fourteenth century, there came a lull. The thoughts and sentiments of medieval Italy had been now set forth in art. The sincere and simple style of Giotto was worked out. But the new culture of the Revival had not as yet sufficiently penetrated the Italians for the painters to express it; nor had they mastered the technicalities of their craft in such a manner as to render the delineation of more complex forms of beauty possible. The years between 1400 and 1470 may be roughly marked out as the second period of great, activity in painting.

1) Which of the following best describes the author’s primary purpose in this passage?

A. To describe and explain the progress of Italian painting from the 13th to the 14th centuries.
B. To describe the influence of Giotto upon painters of the 14th century.
C. To describe the technical superiority of 14th century paintings to their 13th century predecessors.
D. To describe the end of the Revival around the middle of the 13th century and the beginning of a new era of art in the 14th century.
E. To compare and contrast two important eras of Italian painting.



2) The author implies that a second great period of Italian painting began around 1400 for which of the following reasons?

A. The influential painter Giotto finally established a simple and sincere style for others to emulate.
B. Medieval Italian culture could not be effectively expressed artistically before this time because artistic expression had been limited by the influence of Giotto.
C. Revival Italian culture had had time to ferment and artistic technique had had time to develop.
D. Once Medieval Italian culture had been thoroughly explored in art, painters were able to progress into a new era.
E. New painting techniques were developed around this time, enabling artists to create more complex works.



3) Which of the following is clearly implied by the author?

A. Italian painters of the Revival period expressed Italian culture as effectively as painters of the Medieval period.
B. Italian paintings of the Revival period were aesthetically superior to those of the medieval period.
C. There were very few Italian paintings produced during the second half of the 14th century.
D. Italian paintings of the Revival period tended to be more complex than those of the medieval period.
E. Italian painters of the medieval period were satisfied with a simpler style and not interested in more complex techniques.




Consider each of the three choices separately and select all that apply.

4) The author gives which of the following as a reason for the artistic “lull” described in the passage?

I. Revival culture was too new and unfamiliar for artists to incorporate effectively into their work.
II. Medieval culture had been thoroughly explored artistically.
II. New artistic techniques take time to develop.