Iconography of power Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Iconography of power - Case Study Example Ancient art uses hierarchy of scale to underpin images of power. It can be defined as specific manipulation with the sizes of objects and space in order to stress the most important ones in a composition. For instance, in the Standard of Ur people of high social status are significantly bigger than their servants. The same applies to Naram-Sin's depiction because it is bigger than any other object in the composition. Important figures are often depicted in conceptual poses which add special meaning to an artwork. In the Naram-Sin victory stele, the king stands above all his followers to present his power over them. The heads of the followers are turned to Naram-Sin to show their respect. In the Standard of Ur, all kings sit while their slaves stand. Sitting is a privilege as it stresses people's high social status compared to those who stand close to them. Narrative composition is a composition which "tells a story" by placing objects in their relation to one another. For instance, W arka vase is a good example of a narrative composition; it shows the relations between people, divinities, animals, water and plants. All objects have the same proportions; connections between them create the story which explains many details about the culture that created the vase. Another good example of narrative composition is the Battle of Till Tuba; this stone relief depicts a battle scene where all characters are depicted in action. Unlike hieratic composition, where relations between people are rendered.