Edfu Temple is an ancient Egyptian temple situated on a mound on the west bank of Nile River. It had the cahracteristics of an Egyptian pylon temple, with its sloping façade walls.

One of the more notable features of the interior design of Eastern Christian churches of the Byzantine tradition is the icon screen, or iconostasis which separates the altarfrom the area occupied by the faithful.

Christian belief in the power of relics, the physical remains of a holy site or holy person, or objects with which they had contact, is as old as the faith itself and developed alongside it. The famous Reliquary Statue of Sainte-Foy, still preserved at the monastery of Conques in France was originally located in a pilgrimage church during the Romanesque Period. Pilgrims would pray to the saint for assistance and guidance in their journey.

Grunewald Isenheim Altarpiece. The focal point of most Christian churches, past and present, is the altar, where the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Mass, is performed. It is a central tenet of Christianity that through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross humanity was cleansed of original sin and salvation made possible. During the Eucharist, that sacrifice is reenacted through the offering of bread and wine. In the pre-Reformation period, it was undisputed Church doctrine that the bread and wine literally became the body and blood of Christ when consecrated. The altarpiece, which formed a backdrop for this most sacred rite, often contained iconography that reinforced the meaning of the Eucharist.

A hall church is a church with nave and side aisles of approximately equal height, often united under a single immense roof. It is characterized by a nave and aisles of the same height, compound piers and rib vaults with pointed arches.

Bernini's Cathedra Petri [Chair or Throne of Peter] The papal insignia are placed evenly around the back of the throneof St. Peter. The two papal keys are held out symmetrically by the flying cherubim who also support the tiara in the center. The Gloria portion circle window encompassed with stain glass golden rays all around. The Holy Spirit is in the center.

An important aspect of Alberti’s design was the correspondence between the façade and the interior elevations, both elaborations of the triumphal arch motif. The nave of the interior is roofed by a barrel vault, one of the first times such a form was used in such a monumental scale since antiquity. Leon Battista Alberti San Andrea, Mantua

Genre scenes are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, and street scenes.

Portrait Painting Historically, portrait paintings have primarily memorialized the rich and powerful. Over time, however, it became more common for middle-class patrons to commission portraits of their families and colleagues. Today, the portrait painting is still commissioned by governments, corporations, groups, clubs, and individuals.

Georgia O’Keefe’s primary subjects were forms found in nature whether they were flowers or skulls.

Minimal Art Minimal art emerged in the 1960s and sculptors tried to seek clarity and truth in their work, which led to a spare universal aesthetic. Typically, Donald Judd used steel and aluminum in his work to achieve this effect.

Louise Nevelson, Tropical Garden I, 1957. Louise Nevelson’s assemblages were usually created out of wood. Her sculptures appear puzzle-like, with multiple intricately cut pieces placed into wall sculptures or independently standing pieces, often 3-D.