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Art and Design Quiz - Historical Development of Art (Questions)

This quiz addresses the requirements of the National Curriculum KS1 in Art and Design for children aged 5, 6 and 7 in years 1 and 2. Specifically this quiz is aimed at the section dealing with knowing about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understanding the historical and cultural development of their art forms.

Studying art and design is partly about learning new techniques, like shading or colour mixing, and partly about learning about the historical development of art. Art forms have changed in many ways over time and historical influences have shaped the art forms we see today. This quiz is all about the course of this development.

1. Very early examples of art can be found on cave walls, painted thousands of years ago. What might have been used as paint?
[ ] Wax crayons
[ ] Water colours
[ ] Dirt
[ ] Oil pastels
2. The Ancient Greeks were great artists. What did they often paint on vases?
[ ] Flowers and plants
[ ] People and animals
[ ] Cars and trains
[ ] Lots of lines
3. The Ancient Egyptians produced wall paintings, architecture and sculptures. Which creature did they like to sculpt in particular?
[ ] Worms
[ ] Cats
[ ] Sharks
[ ] Sparrows
4. Gothic Art developed in France in the 12th century. It can mostly be seen where?
[ ] On the floors of libraries
[ ] On the walls of abbeys and cathedrals
[ ] On the side of office buildings
[ ] Underneath railway bridges
5. Chinese painting is one of the oldest art forms that continues to exist today. Where did it first appear?
[ ] On cave ceilings
[ ] On palace roofs
[ ] On the Great Wall of China
[ ] On items of pottery
6. Early Indian paintings usually had what as their subjects?
[ ] Birds or animals
[ ] Fish or whales
[ ] Buildings or transport
[ ] Gods or kings
7. Ancient Roman paintings give the first example of a trompe-l'œil. What does this mean?
[ ] A trick of the eye
[ ] A trumpet covered in oil
[ ] A town and a wheel
[ ] A trampled egg
8. Paintings from centuries ago are useful today. Why might this be?
[ ] They give us a glimpse of life in the past
[ ] The are still nice to look at
[ ] Some new artists might want to copy them
[ ] They are good if they're made into postcards
9. At the beginning of the 20th century, several artists developed what we now call what?
[ ] Ancient art
[ ] Unusual art
[ ] Popular art
[ ] Modern art
10. Many things have influenced art over history. What have been two major influences?
[ ] Nature and food
[ ] War and religion
[ ] Buildings and construction
[ ] Transport and communication

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize – Art and Design

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Art and Design Quiz - Historical Development of Art (Answers)
1. Very early examples of art can be found on cave walls, painted thousands of years ago. What might have been used as paint?
[ ] Wax crayons
[ ] Water colours
[x] Dirt
[ ] Oil pastels
The dirt or charcoal would have been mixed with spit or animal fat to make paint!
2. The Ancient Greeks were great artists. What did they often paint on vases?
[ ] Flowers and plants
[x] People and animals
[ ] Cars and trains
[ ] Lots of lines
The pictures on the vases often told a story
3. The Ancient Egyptians produced wall paintings, architecture and sculptures. Which creature did they like to sculpt in particular?
[ ] Worms
[x] Cats
[ ] Sharks
[ ] Sparrows
Many Egyptians worshipped their cats like gods!
4. Gothic Art developed in France in the 12th century. It can mostly be seen where?
[ ] On the floors of libraries
[x] On the walls of abbeys and cathedrals
[ ] On the side of office buildings
[ ] Underneath railway bridges
Gothic art was heavily influenced by the Bible
5. Chinese painting is one of the oldest art forms that continues to exist today. Where did it first appear?
[ ] On cave ceilings
[ ] On palace roofs
[ ] On the Great Wall of China
[x] On items of pottery
Very early Chinese painting included spirals, dots, squiggly lines, and various animals
6. Early Indian paintings usually had what as their subjects?
[ ] Birds or animals
[ ] Fish or whales
[ ] Buildings or transport
[x] Gods or kings
Sometimes the paintings were huge but some were incredibly small and detailed
7. Ancient Roman paintings give the first example of a trompe-l'œil. What does this mean?
[x] A trick of the eye
[ ] A trumpet covered in oil
[ ] A town and a wheel
[ ] A trampled egg
An example would be of a door painted onto the wall, but made to look real
8. Paintings from centuries ago are useful today. Why might this be?
[x] They give us a glimpse of life in the past
[ ] The are still nice to look at
[ ] Some new artists might want to copy them
[ ] They are good if they're made into postcards
We can see what daily life was like, how buildings used to look and how the world has changed
9. At the beginning of the 20th century, several artists developed what we now call what?
[ ] Ancient art
[ ] Unusual art
[ ] Popular art
[x] Modern art
Modern art covers all sorts of styles and movements and is changing and developing all the time
10. Many things have influenced art over history. What have been two major influences?
[ ] Nature and food
[x] War and religion
[ ] Buildings and construction
[ ] Transport and communication
There have been many more influences over the years but these two things have had a huge impact