Art Quizzes Including Quotes of and About Famous Artists

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Art Quiz - Art Quotes (Questions)

There are many, many memorable quotes on the subject of art. From the sublime: Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth" (Theodor Adorno),
to the ridiculous: "A line is a dot that went for a walk" (Paul Klee).
From scientists: "True art is characterised by an irresistible urge in the creative artist" (Albert Einstein),
and philosophers: "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance" (Aristotle),
to musicians: "Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos" (Stephen Sondheim),
writers: "Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known" (Oscar Wilde),
and politicians: "If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him." (John F. Kennedy).

This quiz is about what the artists themselves have had to say about their craft, their works, their inspirations, and their lives.

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" according to which Spanish artist?

[ ]	Francisco Goya
[ ]	Pablo Picasso
[ ]	Mariano Andreu
[ ]	Salvador Dali

The great Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo said that "There is no greater harm than the wasting of..." what?

[ ]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of time
[ ]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of light
[ ]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of money
[ ]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of our talent

Known as 'the Mother of American Modernism' Georgia O'Keefe was known for painting which type of item, of which she said "I paint them because they're cheaper than models and they don't move"?

[ ]	Buildings
[ ]	Fruit
[ ]	Tin cans
[ ]	Flowers

Which British artist said "I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may; light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful"?

[ ]	John Singer Sargent
[ ]	J. M. W. Turner
[ ]	John Constable
[ ]	Joshua Reynolds

Henri Matisse was a major figure in early 20th century Modern Art. Known for his use of vivid colours, how did he describe the energy which came from them?

[ ]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from the object"
[ ]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft"
[ ]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from God"
[ ]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from within"

Which Dutch artist said "I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process"?

[ ]	Marco van Basten
[ ]	Peter van de Velde
[ ]	Anthony van Dyck
[ ]	Vincent van Gogh

Andy Warhol, the pioneer of 20th century 'Pop Art' famously said that "In the future, everyone will be famous for..." how long?

[ ]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes
[ ]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 1 hour
[ ]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 1 day
[ ]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 1 week

The great Renaissance polymath, Leonardo da Vinci, said that "The noblest pleasure is the joy of..." what?

[ ]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of art
[ ]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of love
[ ]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding
[ ]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of wisdom

"At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since." These are the words of which eccentric 20th century artist?

[ ]	René Magritte
[ ]	Francis Bacon
[ ]	Salvador Dalí
[ ]	Lucian Freud

10.

L.S. Lowry is well known for his matchstick men pictures of northern English towns. He said, "I've a one track mind, sir. Poverty and gloom. Never a joyous picture of mine you'll see. Always gloom," adding that he never paints what kind of picture?

[ ]	I never do an ordinary picture
[ ]	I never do a realistic picture
[ ]	I never do a bright picture
[ ]	I never do a jolly picture

Art Quiz - Art Quotes (Answers)

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" according to which Spanish artist?

[ ]	Francisco Goya
[x]	Pablo Picasso
[ ]	Mariano Andreu
[ ]	Salvador Dali

Picasso is one of the most influential of modern artists and is one of the founders of the Cubist movement.
He had many memorable quotes, including "The chief enemy of creativity is 'good' sense'" and "Good artists copy, great artists steal"

The great Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo said that "There is no greater harm than the wasting of..." what?

[x]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of time
[ ]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of light
[ ]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of money
[ ]	There is no greater harm than the wasting of our talent

Time was not something that Michelangelo often wasted. During his life he created more than 40 sculptures, painted the grand murals in the Sistine Chapel, designed more than a dozen buildings, and created countless drawings. He even wrote poems. He certainly liked to keep himself busy!

Known as 'the Mother of American Modernism' Georgia O'Keefe was known for painting which type of item, of which she said "I paint them because they're cheaper than models and they don't move"?

[ ]	Buildings
[ ]	Fruit
[ ]	Tin cans
[x]	Flowers

O'Keefe often painted enlarged pictures of flowers which gave the impression that they were being seen through a magnifying glass.
She said "I saw a still-life painting with a flower that was perfectly exquisite, but so small you really could not appreciate it" and "I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty"

Which British artist said "I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may; light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful"?

[ ]	John Singer Sargent
[ ]	J. M. W. Turner
[x]	John Constable
[ ]	Joshua Reynolds

Constable, who was active in the late 18th - early 19th centuries, was known primarily for painting landscapes. His most famous work is The Hay Wain painted in 1821.
Despite his later popularity, during Constable's life he was not very successful and he sold more of his work in France than in his native England

Henri Matisse was a major figure in early 20th century Modern Art. Known for his use of vivid colours, how did he describe the energy which came from them?

[ ]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from the object"
[x]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft"
[ ]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from God"
[ ]	"With colour one obtains an energy that seems to stem from within"

Matisse's revolutionary style earned him and his movement the name les fauves which is French for "wild beasts"

Which Dutch artist said "I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process"?

[ ]	Marco van Basten
[ ]	Peter van de Velde
[ ]	Anthony van Dyck
[x]	Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh suffered greatly with his sanity. He had more than one breakdown, spent a year in a mental asylum and in the end, sadly, he committed suicide. The early death of such a great artist was a tragic loss to the world

Andy Warhol, the pioneer of 20th century 'Pop Art' famously said that "In the future, everyone will be famous for..." how long?

[x]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes
[ ]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 1 hour
[ ]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 1 day
[ ]	In the future, everyone will be famous for 1 week

His prediction seems to be coming true, what with "You Tube" channels, reality TV shows and televised talent competitions.
Warhol's most famous work is probably Campbell's Soup Cans, a series of 32 paintings, each depicting a different variety of canned soup

The great Renaissance polymath, Leonardo da Vinci, said that "The noblest pleasure is the joy of..." what?

[ ]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of art
[ ]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of love
[x]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding
[ ]	The noblest pleasure is the joy of wisdom

Leonardo's desire for understanding is evident in his works. He was well ahead of his time in his knowledge of anatomy and engineering. He made designs for hydraulic pumps, finned mortar shells, and even a steam cannon; all of this some 300 years before the industrial revolution began!

"At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since." These are the words of which eccentric 20th century artist?

[ ]	René Magritte
[ ]	Francis Bacon
[x]	Salvador Dalí
[ ]	Lucian Freud

Dalí was well known for his outlandish personality. Here are a couple more quotes from the great man:
"Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic."
"There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad."

10.

[ ]	I never do an ordinary picture
[ ]	I never do a realistic picture
[ ]	I never do a bright picture
[x]	I never do a jolly picture

Lowry did not achieve much success with his art until he was in his 50s, and he remained in employment until his 65th birthday. Recently, long after his death in 1976, one of his paintings entitled Going to the Match was valued at £6,000,000 - £10,000,000