Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumArtistic Patronage and Sculpture: Olowe of Ise

In the carved wooden palace doors from Ikere, Yoruba master sculptor Olowe of Ise depicts the historic 1897 meeting between the Ogoga (king) of Ikere and the British traveling commissioner Major W. Reeve-Tucker. How does the artist visually reinforce the prestige and political authority of the Yoruba ruler relative to the British visitor?

  1. A
    By inserting metal nails and iron blades into the surface of the doors to spiritually activate them and protect the palace against colonial incursions
  2. B
    By designing the doors as static, flat panels intended only to be viewed during private initiation masquerades rather than as public architectural elements
  3. By depicting the Ogoga seated majestically on his throne in high relief while the British commissioner is shown smaller and seated in a hammock carried by attendantsAnswer
  4. D
    By constructing the palace entryway from imported European stone ashlar masonry to mimic Western architectural monuments and assert technological equality

Answer

By depicting the Ogoga seated majestically on his throne in high relief while the British commissioner is shown smaller and seated in a hammock carried by attendants
The correct answer correctly identifies that Olowe of Ise visually elevates the Ogoga's stature by carving him in high relief, seated majestically on a throne. Conversely, the British traveling commissioner is shown on a smaller scale, slung in a hammock, which subtly de-emphasizes colonial authority and projects the sovereign power of the Yoruba king within his own palace domain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the iconography of the palace doors from Ikere by Olowe of Ise.
Identify that the doors show the Ogoga of Ikere on the left panel and the British commissioner Major Reeve-Tucker on the right panel.
Understanding the visual representation of both figures is key to comparing their depicted status.
2
Examine the formal elements and hierarchical scale used by Olowe of Ise to portray the figures.
The Ogoga is rendered in high relief, projecting outward, wearing a large beaded crown and seated on a throne. In contrast, the British commissioner is depicted as smaller, sitting in a low-slung hammock carried by Yoruba attendants.
Hierarchical scale and physical projection are primary methods used by Olowe of Ise to communicate political authority and power.

Key Concept

Yoruba royal patronage and the use of hierarchical scale and relief carving to project political prestige in architectural sculpture by Olowe of Ise.
Rate this question

Topics

Artistic Patronage and Sculpture: Olowe of Ise

More questions from this topic