50 Art History Quiz Questions and Answers: Can You Paint a Perfect Score?

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If you love everything that has to do with art, then you are going to enjoy playing this game.

In this Art History Quiz, you will find 5 rounds of questions and answers about art history. This includes famous paintings, sculptures, artists but more importantly the history of it all.

Do you know where the main art movements originated? What about who started them? These are just examples of things that will be tested here.

So, grab yourself a piece of paper and a pen. It’s time to get started and see how much you really know about art history.

Round 1: Easy Art History Trivia Questions

1. In what country did the Renaissance begin?
2. Which Renaissance portrait is most famous for its enigmatic smile?
3. Which biblical figure is depicted touching God’s finger on the Sistine Chapel ceiling?
4. What is the name for a mural painted directly onto wet plaster?
5. Who painted The Rokeby Venus and Las Meninas?
6. Which 18th century cultural movement took inspiration from Greek and Roman artworks?
7. John Everett Millais’ most famous painting depicts the death of which Shakespeare character?
8. Which Edvard Munch painting has the original title ‘Shrik’?
9. What body part did Vincent van Gogh cut off?
10. Georgia O’Keeffe is most famous for painting what?

Round 1: Easy Art History Trivia Questions and Answers

1. In what country did the Renaissance begin? Italy
2. Which Renaissance portrait is most famous for its enigmatic smile? The Mona Lisa
3. Which biblical figure is depicted touching God’s finger on the Sistine Chapel ceiling? Adam
4. What is the name for a mural painted directly onto wet plaster? A Fresco
5. Who painted The Rokeby Venus and Las Meninas? Diego Velázquez
6. Which 18th century cultural movement took inspiration from Greek and Roman artworks? Neoclassicalism
7. John Everett Millais’ most famous painting depicts the death of which Shakespeare character? Ophelia
8. Which Edvard Munch painting has the original title ‘Shrik’? The Scream
9. What body part did Vincent van Gogh cut off? His Ear
10. Georgia O’Keeffe is most famous for painting what? Flowers

Round 2: Art History Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kind of artwork is Vacca’s Lion?
   1. A painting
   2. A sculpture
   3. An engraving
   4. A fresco 
2. Which of the following artists did not paint during the Dutch Golden Age?
   1. Rembrandt
   2. Paulus Potter
   3. Frans Hals
   4. Cornelis van Noorde
3. Which of these Vermeer paintings is considered a ‘Tronie’?
   1. The Girl with the Pearl Earring
   2. The Art of Painting
   3. Girl Reading a Letter by an open Window
   4. The Little Street
4. What was the most commercial genre of painting in 18th century England?
   1. Landscapes
   2. Portraiture
   3. History painting
   4. Still life painting
5. Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres’ most famous work depicts which world leader on this coronation throne?
   1. Napoleon Bonaparte 
   2. King William IV of Britain
   3. Louis XVI of France
   4. Charles IV of Spain
6. The Kiss by Auguste Rodin was originally called Francesca da Rimini after a character from which work?
   1. Paradise Lost
   2. The Lusiads
   3. Don Quixote
   4. The Divine Comedy
7. What is the title of the world’s oldest surviving photograph, also known as the The Niépce Heliograph?
   1. A Sunset over Lyon
   2. View from the Window at Le Gras
   3. Bathers in La Rochelle
   4. Boulevard du Temple
8. Picasso had a notable period in which he heavily utilised just one colour. This is known as his…
   1. Pink period
   2. Red period
   3. Blue period
   4. Yellow period
9. Andy Warhol painted 32 Campbell’s Soup paintings, depicting each of the 32 flavours available at the time. Lacking instructions on how to hang them, how were they ordered by the Museum of Modern Art in New York?
   1. Chronologically by date of painting 
   2. Chronologically by release date of the soup
   3. Alphabetically by title 
   4. With complementary colours facing one another
10. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are named after Renaissance artists. Which of the following names does not live on as a turtle?
    1. Donatello
    2. Michaelangelo
    3. Leonardo da Vinci
    4. Botticelli

Round 2: Art History Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

1. What kind of artwork is Vacca’s Lion? B. A sculpture
2. Which of the following artists did not paint during the Dutch Golden Age? D. Cornelis van Noorde
3. Which of these Vermeer paintings is considered a ‘Tronie’? A. The Girl with the Pearl Earring
4. What was the most commercial genre of painting in 18th century England? B. Portraiture
5. Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres’ most famous work depicts which world leader on this coronation throne? A. Napoleon Bonaparte
6. The Kiss by Auguste Rodin was originally called Francesca da Rimini after a character from which work? D. The Divine Comedy
7. What is the title of the world’s oldest surviving photograph, also known as the The Niépce Heliograph? B. View from the Window at Le Gras
8. Picasso had a notable period in which he heavily utilised just one colour. This is known as his… c. blue period
9. Andy Warhol painted 32 Campbell’s Soup paintings, depicting each of the 32 flavours available at the time. Lacking instructions on how to hang them, how were they ordered by the Museum of Modern Art in New York? B. Chronologically by release date of the soup
10. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are named after Renaissance artists. Which of the following names does not live on as a turtle? D. Botticelli

READ MORE: Art Quiz: 50 Quiz Questions and Answers about Art

Round 3: Art History Quiz – True or False

1. Most cave paintings date back to around 5000 BCE.
2. The oldest known painting of an animal is of a cow.
3. Though they appear pearly white today, most Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures were brightly painted.
4. The Renaissance painter Titian is recorded to have lived for over 100 years.
5. The Swing is one of the most famous paintings of the Neoclassical movement.
6. Van Gogh took up painting at the age of 27, just 10 years before his death.
7. Picasso and his friend tried to steal the Mona Lisa.
8. Georgia O’Keeffe refused to have her work displayed at an exhibition called ‘Women Artists: 1550 to 1950’ saying that she was not one of the best female painters of the period.
9. Frida Kahlo’s interests in physical pain, disability and distortion were inspired by her experience in a tram crash at the age of 18.
10. Janson’s History of Art, one of the most widely read art history textbooks, did not feature a single painting by a woman until 1987.

Round 3: Art History Quiz Answers – True or False

1. Most cave paintings date back to around 5000 BCE. False, most date from over 10000 years ago.
2. The oldest known painting of an animal is of a cow. False, it’s a pig.
3. Though they appear pearly white today, most Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures were brightly painted. True.
4. The Renaissance painter Titian is recorded to have lived for over 100 years. True
5. The Swing is one of the most famous paintings of the Neoclassical movement. False, it’s from the Rococo movement.
6. Van Gogh took up painting at the age of 27, just 10 years before his death. True
7. Picasso and his friend tried to steal the Mona Lisa. False, though they were questioned over its disappearance from the Louvre in 1911.
8. Georgia O’Keeffe refused to have her work displayed at an exhibition called ‘Women Artists: 1550 to 1950’ saying that she was not one of the best female painters of the period. True
9. Frida Kahlo’s interests in physical pain, disability and distortion were inspired by her experience in a tram crash at the age of 18. True
10. Janson’s History of Art, one of the most widely read art history textbooks, did not feature a single painting by a woman until 1987. True

Round 4: Medium Art History Trivia Questions

1. What were most paintings painted on before canvas became widely available during the Renaissance?
2. Which of the five traditional genres is concerned with painting scenes from everyday life?
3. Which renaissance painter did the Pre-Raphaelites take their name from?
4. Which French impressionist is most famous for his paintings of ballet dancers?
5. Liberty Leading the People  is a depiction of which revolution?
6. Which German artist painted The Monk by the Sea and Wanderer above a Sea of Fog?
7. René Magritte is considered to be one of the key figures of which artistic movement?
8. L.S. Lowry is most famous for his paintings of which English city?
9. What was the official art style of the Soviet Union between 1932 and 1988?
10. Sold in 2017 in New York for 450.3 million dollars, what is the highest selling artwork of all time?

Round 4: Medium Art History Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What were most paintings painted on before canvas became widely available during the Renaissance? Wooden panels
2. Which of the five traditional genres is concerned with painting scenes from everyday life? Genre Art
3. Which renaissance painter did the Pre-Raphaelites take their name from? Raphael
4. Which French impressionist is most famous for his paintings of ballet dancers? Edgar Degas
5. Liberty Leading the People  is a depiction of which revolution? The July Revolution (or Second French Revolution)
6. Which German artist painted The Monk by the Sea and Wanderer above a Sea of Fog? Caspar David Friedrich
7. René Magritte is considered to be one of the key figures of which artistic movement? Surrealism
8. L.S. Lowry is most famous for his paintings of which English city? Manchester
9. What was the official art style of the Soviet Union between 1932 and 1988? Soviet realism
10. Sold in 2017 in New York for 450.3 million dollars, what is the highest selling artwork of all time? Salvador Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci

Round 5: Hard Art History Trivia Questions

1. The Lion-man of Hohlenstein-Stadel is the earliest known figurative sculpture. What is it made from?
2. What is the only artwork that Michaelangelo ever signed?
3. Which extremely expensive pigment was often used by pre-19th century painters on the robes of the Virgin Mary to show their devotion?
4. Who painted The Triumph of Venus?
5. Which Spanish painter is often considered to be ‘the last Old Master?’
6. How many artists were there in the ‘Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood?’
7. What does the title of Paul Gauguin’s famous work Nafea Faa Ipoipo mean in English?
8. Moser, Olbrecht and Klimt were all part of what movement?
9. Which famous artist was born in Odessa with the name Sarah Stern?
10. Which artist published his drawings of civilians sheltering from the Blitz on the London Underground in a collection called Shelter Sketchbook?

Round 5: Hard Art History Trivia Questions and Answers

1. The Lion-man of Hohlenstein-Stadel is the earliest known figurative sculpture. What is it made from? Mammoth Tusk
2. What is the only artwork that Michaelangelo ever signed? Pietà
3. Which extremely expensive pigment was often used by pre-19th century painters on the robes of the Virgin Mary to show their devotion? Ultramarine
4. Who painted The Triumph of Venus? François Boucher
5. Which Spanish painter is often considered to be ‘the last Old Master?’ Fransisco Goya
6. How many artists were there in the ‘Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood?’ Seven
7. What does the title of Paul Gauguin’s famous work Nafea Faa Ipoipo mean in English? ‘When will you marry?’
8. Moser, Olbrecht and Klimt were all part of what movement? The Vienna Secession
9. Which famous artist was born in Odessa with the name Sarah Stern? Sonia Delaunay
10. Which artist published his drawings of civilians sheltering from the Blitz on the London Underground in a collection called Shelter Sketchbook? Henry Moore

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