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Free Practice Questions for PAU History of Art (Cantabria)

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Key Facts: PAU History of Art (Cantabria) Exam

90 min

Time limit for the written History of Art PAU examination

University of Cantabria (UNICAN) PAU Organising Commission

0–10 scale

Grading scale (minimum 4.0 in Access Phase required)

Cantabria PAU Regulations

5 Blocks

Core thematic blocks from Greco-Roman Antiquity to 20th Century Avant-garde

2º Bachillerato Curriculum (LOMLOE)

100

High-quality practice questions in this OpenExamPrep subject bank

OpenExamPrep

Master the 2026 Cantabria PAU History of Art exam with 100 practice questions covering Classical Antiquity, Medieval Art, Renaissance & Mannerism, Baroque & Goya, and 19th & 20th Century Vanguard Movements. This English-language MCQ bank is a study adaptation of the theory knowledge behind the official written exam.

Sample PAU History of Art (Cantabria) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PAU History of Art (Cantabria) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which classical Greek architectural order is characterized by plain, cushion-like capitals without a base, resting directly on the stylobate?
A.Doric order
B.Ionic order
C.Corinthian order
D.Tuscan order
Explanation: The Doric order is the earliest and simplest of the Classical Greek architectural orders. Its columns feature plain rounded capitals (echinus and abacus) and fluted shafts that rest directly on the temple stylobate without an independent base.
2Who were the primary architects responsible for designing the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis under the supervision of the sculptor Phidias?
A.Mnesicles and Hippodamus
B.Ictinus and Callicrates
C.Anthemius and Isidore
D.Polyclitus and Praxiteles
Explanation: The Parthenon was built between 447 and 432 BCE during the Periclean Golden Age of Athens. It was designed by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates, with master sculptor Phidias overseeing the overall artistic program and sculpting the chryselephantine statue of Athena Parthenos.
3Polyclitus (Polykleitos) formulated a celebrated bronze treatise and sculpture known as the Canon. Which statue embodies his 1:7 ideal proportions and shift of body weight known as contrapposto?
A.Discobolus (Discus Thrower)
B.Apoxyomenos (Scraper)
C.Doryphoros (Spear Bearer)
D.Hermes and the Infant Dionysus
Explanation: Polyclitus created the Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) around 440 BCE to demonstrate his theoretical treatise (Canon) on ideal human proportions (1:7 head-to-body ratio). It perfected contrapposto, balancing engaged and relaxed limbs dynamically.
4Which revolutionary material allowed ancient Roman architects to construct monumental vaulted ceilings, massive domes, and aqueducts that spanned vast distances?
A.Ashlar marble masonry
B.Polychrome terra cotta
C.Mud brick reinforced with straw
D.Opus caementicium (Roman concrete)
Explanation: Opus caementicium (Roman concrete), made from pozzolana volcanic ash, lime, and aggregate, revolutionized ancient architecture. It enabled Romans to cast monolithic barrel vaults, groin vaults, and expansive domes impossible with traditional stone post-and-lintel construction.
5The Pantheon in Rome, rebuilt under Emperor Hadrian, features a coffered concrete dome. What is the central unglazed opening at the top of the dome called?
A.Oculus
B.Lantern
C.Pendentive
D.Tympanum
Explanation: The central circular opening at the apex of the Pantheon's dome is called an oculus ('eye'). Measuring 9 meters in diameter, it provides the sole natural light source for the interior and relieves structural weight at the crown of the dome.
6Myron's fifth-century BCE bronze sculpture 'Discobolus' is famous for capturing which core aesthetic concept of High Classical Greek art?
A.Pathos—intense suffering and violent emotional agony
B.Rhythmos—the momentary freeze of dynamic potential action before release
C.Verism—unforgiving realistic portraiture of aged facial wrinkles
D.Hieratic scale—exaggerating physical size to show divine status
Explanation: Myron's Discobolus represents 'rhythmos', capturing the athlete at the precise instantaneous moment between winding back and releasing the discus. It harmonizes intense physical energy with calm facial composure.
7Lysippus, court sculptor to Alexander the Great, altered the Classical sculptural canon established by Polyclitus. How did his 'Apoxyomenos' change proportions and spatial engagement?
A.Shortened body proportions to a 1:5 ratio to emphasize heavy muscular strength
B.Flattened the sculpture into a relief carved against a decorative stone slab
C.Introduced a slender 1:8 head ratio and extended arms into the viewer's space
D.Returned to the rigid frontality and static stance of Archaic Kouroi
Explanation: Lysippus revised Polyclitus' 1:7 ratio to a taller, more slender 1:8 head-to-body proportion. In Apoxyomenos (The Scraper), he extended the figure's arms forward into the viewer's space, breaking frontality and inviting multiple viewing angles.
8Which masterpiece of Hellenistic sculpture depicts a Trojan priest and his sons being strangled by sea serpents, exemplifying dramatic diagonal lines, muscular tension, and intense agony?
A.Augustus of Prima Porta
B.Riace Bronzes
C.Lady of Auxerre
D.Laocoön and His Sons
Explanation: Laocoön and His Sons, carved by Rhodes sculptors Agesander, Athendoros, and Polydorus (c. 1st century BCE), is a supreme example of Hellenistic art. It conveys extreme psychological anguish, twisting diagonal compositions, and theatrical muscular strain.
9The Arch of Titus in Rome features interior relief panels depicting historical events. What specific historical event is immortalized on these reliefs?
A.The Roman triumphal procession bearing treasures looted from the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE
B.The coronation of Augustus as the first Emperor of Rome in 27 BCE
C.The defeat of the Gauls by Julius Caesar at the Battle of Alesia
D.The dedication of the Parthenon to the goddess Athena
Explanation: Erected by Emperor Domitian c. 81 CE, the Arch of Titus commemorates the military victories of his brother Titus. The interior passageway reliefs depict Roman soldiers carrying spoils from the Second Temple of Jerusalem, including the sacred Menorah.
10Portraiture of the Roman Republic was famous for 'verism'. What defines this sculptural approach?
A.Idealization of subjects into youthfully perfect gods without any physical blemishes
B.An uncompromising, hyper-realistic style recording facial wrinkles, age, and physical flaws as symbols of civic virtue
C.Abstracting features into simplified geometric shapes and patterned lines
D.Covering faces with gold leaf and glass paste inlay to denote royal status
Explanation: Verism (from Latin 'verus', true) was the aesthetic hallmark of Roman Republican portraiture. It recorded every wrinkle, furrowed brow, and scar to convey 'gravitas', wisdom, and lifelong dedication to public service.

About the PAU History of Art (Cantabria) Exam

Comprehensive 100-question practice test bank for the Cantabria (Universidad de Cantabria / UNICAN) PAU exam in History of Art (Historia del Arte).

Exam sponsor: University of Cantabria (UNICAN) PAU Organising Commission. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The Cantabria PAU exam in History of Art (UNICAN) runs 90 minutes and is a modality-specific subject for 2º Bachillerato. It evaluates formal analysis, historical context, iconography, and architectural/artistic techniques across major European and Spanish artistic periods from Greco-Roman antiquity to 20th-century avant-garde.

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase.

Exam / Certification Fees

EUR 71.09 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

20%

Classical Antiquity: Greek & Roman Architecture, Sculpture & Art

Greek architectural orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian), temple typology, Classical and Hellenistic sculpture evolution, Roman structural engineering (arches, vaults, concrete, domes), civil works, and portraiture.

20%

Medieval Art: Paleochristian, Byzantine, Islamic, Romanesque & Gothic Art

Paleochristian basilicas, Byzantine mosaics and Hagia Sophia, Islamic architectural vocabulary (Mosque of Córdoba, Alhambra), Romanesque pilgrimage architecture and stone iconography, and Gothic cathedral engineering and stained glass.

20%

Renaissance & Mannerism: Italian Quattrocento/Cinquento & Spanish Renaissance

Florentine linear perspective and humanism, High Renaissance masters (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael), Venetian colorism, Mannerist spatial complexity, and Spanish Renaissance styles (Plateresque, Herrerian, El Greco).

20%

Baroque & Neoclassicism: European Baroque, Velázquez, Caravaggio, Bernini & Goya

Italian Baroque theatricality and Tenebrism, European Baroque painting (Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer), Spanish Baroque masterpieces (Velázquez, Zurbarán, Murillo), Churrigueresque architecture, Neoclassicism, and the groundbreaking oeuvre of Francisco de Goya.

20%

19th & 20th Century Movements: Impressionism, Avant-garde, Picasso, Dalí & Modern Architecture

19th-century Realism and Impressionism, Post-Impressionist foundations, Catalan Modernisme (Gaudí), early 20th-century Avant-garde (Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism), Picasso, Dalí, and 20th-century functionalist architecture.

Preparing for the PAU History of Art (Cantabria) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Marked on a 0–10 scale. Minimum 4.0 required in Access Phase.
  • Assessment: The Cantabria PAU exam in History of Art (UNICAN) runs 90 minutes and is a modality-specific subject for 2º Bachillerato. It evaluates formal analysis, historical context, iconography, and architectural/artistic techniques across major European and Spanish artistic periods from Greco-Roman antiquity to 20th-century avant-garde.
  • Time limit: 90 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: EUR 71.09 base registration fee for PAU Access Phase. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PAU History of Art (Cantabria): Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorize the key structural elements of classical orders (architrave, frieze, triglyphs, metopes, capital forms) and cathedral architecture (flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, transverse arches).
2Compare artistic transitions, such as Archaic to High Classical to Hellenistic sculpture, or Romanesque solid wall structures to Gothic stained glass light-filled naves.
3Analyze master painters by their distinct techniques: Leonardo's sfumato, Caravaggio's tenebrism, Velázquez's aerial perspective, and Monet's optical color mixing.
4Understand the evolution of Francisco de Goya from lighthearted tapestry cartoons to critical etchings and dark Quinta del Sordo frescoes.
5Practice analyzing artworks using formal criteria: historical context, materials, composition, light, color, spatial depth, and iconographic meaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this practice bank in the same format as the real Cantabria PAU exam?

No. The official Cantabria PAU paper for Historia del Arte is a 90-minute written exam in Spanish requiring structured artwork analysis (comentario de obras de arte) and essay development. This bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation designed to drill core historical knowledge, terminology, and stylistic identification.

What topics are covered in the Cantabria PAU History of Art syllabus?

The syllabus covers five primary blocks: Classical Antiquity (Greece and Rome), Medieval Art (Paleochristian, Byzantine, Islamic, Romanesque, Gothic), Renaissance and Mannerism, Baroque and Goya, and 19th-20th Century Movements (Impressionism, Avant-garde, Picasso, Dalí, Modern Architecture).

How is the PAU exam graded in Cantabria?

The exam is graded on a 0–10 scale. In the mandatory Access Phase, a minimum score of 4.0 is required so that the mark can be combined with the Bachillerato GPA (60% Bachillerato + 40% Access Phase) to determine overall university admission.