The Formal Analysis museum essay can focus on any artwork/object from prehistory to industrialization as long its Western, and needs to be selected from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This can include Ancient Egypt, Greece, or Rome; and Middle Ages on up to 1900. Apart from including title, author or culture, medium, dates, and ascension number (this is a series of numbers assigned to it in order to keep track of it in the museum’s collection), you have to primarily describe the work on formal terms and how these elements convey ideas, emotion or meaning in an artwork/object. Thus, pay attention to shape, color, and so forth. Be as descriptive as possible. Are there designs on the work; and if so, do you think it helps in the way the work may look to you overall?
Also, describe how the formal/compositional elements work together to create meaning. Think of line, shapes, colors etc. What is the medium, since this goes into the overall visual presence of the work? What are its design qualities, composition and so forth that reflect the context in which it was made?
You have to give your own subjective opinion about the work. Please include a cover sheet with the title of your paper, your name, my name, class title, and due date. (Double space, 12 font, Times New Romen)
No Plagiarism, outside sources must be cited in Chicago style
The object from the Met:
Terracotta tripod kothon (vessel for perfumed oil)
Period: Archaic
Date: mid-6th century B.C.
Culture: Greek, Boeotian
Medium: Terracotta; black-figure
Dimensions: H. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm) diameter 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm)
Classification: Vases
Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1960
Accession Number: 60.11.10
Here is an example of a formal analysis essay (attached)
