Scholars generally agree that the Maesta, the high altarpiece painted

Words: 361
Read Time: 4 mins 30 sec
Paragraph structure: Controversial “Maesta” painting based on two reason.
Paraphrasing:
Para 1: Scholars doubt date of early commission and early completion of painting “Maesta” painted by Duccio by two reasons.
Reason 1: dubious interpretation of document
Para 2:
Reason 2: the painting would have completed in less than 3 years (1308 to 1311), assumption
• might be frescoing a wall, but it appears to be wildly improbable thesis (white’s) or
• would be carried out by his disciples, under Duccio supervision. (Stubblebine)

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1. Which of the following titles best summarizes the content of the passage?
(A) Competing Views of Duccio’s Influence on Fourteenth-Century Italian Painting
Wrong – passage highlights more on conterversial doubt about painting date of completion and commission, not the views
(B) New Theories on How the Maesta Came into Being
Wrong – No Theories discussed
(C) Duccio’s Techniques in Painting the Maesta: A Scholarly Dispute.
Wrong – assumed techniques mentioned in the passage, which can indicate the completion of the painting, but assumed techniques are attempt to understand, when the painting got completed.
(D) When Work on the Maesta Was Begun? : An Unresolved Question
Correct - As mentioned in the passage,” Some scholars have argued that the painting was commissioned in 1308 and completed by the summer of 1311, but the former date seems improbable for two reasons”
(E) The Maesta: Duccio’s Masterpiece?
Wrong –always avoid open ended question in the remarks, it drives you to no conclusion.

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2. According to the passage,
the author’s response to White’s explanation of how the Maesta was painted is most directly influenced by which of the following?
as mentioned in the passage, “White suggests that “the actual work of painting a large panel was much more like frescoing a wall than might at first thought,”
thus, implying that the panel was painted by Duccio as quickly as a fresco would be painted.
But this appears a wildly improbable thesis,
given the intricate design and complexity of the painting on the main panel.”

(A) The complexity of the painting on the main panel
– Correct, as mentioned above.
(B) The evidence of studio intervention on the back panels
Wrong – as mentioned in the passage, it is for “the narrative scenes on the back show intermittent evidence of studio intervention”
(C) The terms of the commission for the Rucellai Madonna
Wrong – as mentioned in the passage, it is for “on a dubious interpretation of a document”
(D) The work of Simone Martini and the Lorenzetti brothers
Wrong – as mentioned in the passage, it is for “Stubblebine attempts to explain the rapidity of the production”
(E) The comparison of Duccio’s work with that of other artists
Wrong –, Irrelevant

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3. The passage implies which of the following about frescoes?

I. They are generally more intricate in design than panel paintings.
II. Wall frescoes were generally painted more quickly than panels of comparable size.
III. Artists in fourteenth-century Italy preferred them to panel paintings.

As mentioned in the passage, White suggests that “the actual work of painting a large panel was much more like frescoing a wall than might at first thought,” thus implying that the panel was painted by Duccio as quickly as a fresco would be painted.”
Correct Option (B) II only

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4. According to the passage, the commission for the Rucelfai Madonna differs from the document highlighted in line (8) in that the former
As mentioned in the passage, “First, the argument that the painting was commissioned in 1308 is based on a dubious interpretation of a document.”
(A) specified the (date by which the painting) was to be completed Wrong –
(B) specified what the (painting was to represent) – Correct, as mentioned above
(C) indicated how much (Duccio was to be paid) when the painting was completed Wrong –
(D) indicated (which artists would assist) Duccio in completing the painting Wrong –
(E) (specified Duccio’s role) in the execution of the painting Wrong –

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5. According to the passage,
the practice by masters of relying on the members of their shops
to help complete a work was
as mentioned in the passage, “Although the painting of large altarpieces was often carried out by the designing master with the help of members of his shop, it is doubtful that in a commission of such solemnity Duccio would have allowed his disciples to undertake such a large portion of the work on their own”

(A) unusual in the case of DuccioWrong – and a trap! (it’s a doubtfull)
(B) put into effect when the commission was a the Maesta Wrong – irrelevant
(C) the only way to explain the narrative consistency of the Maesta Wrong – Irrelevant
(D) common when the work was a large altarpiece – Correct, as mentioned above
(E) the cause of a dispute between Duccio and those who commissioned the painting Wrong – and a Trap!
Its not about “those who commissioned the painting” but about “those who painted the painting”

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6. The author assumes which of the following in analysing
White’s and Stubblebine’s arguments?
As mentioned in passage, “Second, scholars who argue that the 1308 agreement was the commission for the entire Maesta must explain how Duccio managed to complete the altarpiece in less than three years”

Eliminate, A, B and D – Out of scope or irrelevant, no infer from the passage
(A) Duccio often carefully supervised the work of his assistants
(B) It was common for Italian artists of the fourteenth century to begin work on a project before it was commissioned
(D) Duccio’s work on the Rucellai Madonna made it impossible for him to devote full time to the Maesta.

(C) The narrative consistency of the Maesta can be explained
by the short time it took Duccio to complete it.
Wrong – Trap! It’s a authors assumption,
"the absolute narrative consistency of the whole cycle of paintings in the altarpiece would be inexplicable”

(E) The Maesta must have been completed by the summer of 1311 – Correct, as mentioned above