What accounts for Renaissance oil paintings having such brilliant, vibrant qualities compared to the more subdued appearance of medieval tempera...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
What accounts for Renaissance oil paintings having such brilliant, vibrant qualities compared to the more subdued appearance of medieval tempera works? Experts in art history attribute this visual distinction to crucial differences in the binding substances employed by painters during these respective eras. Artists from the Renaissance era combined their pigments with oil-based mediums, producing a substance capable of transparent layering and enabling refined color transitions. In contrast, medieval painters employed egg tempera for binding their pigments, a substance that set rapidly and resulted in solid, uniform color coverage. These distinct material characteristics produced the Renaissance paintings' signature dimensionality and brilliance, while simultaneously defining the characteristic stylized aesthetic of medieval artwork.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
The passage presents a question regarding two distinct artistic eras, followed by a potential explanation.
The passage analyzes methods employed by two artist groups, subsequently evaluating their relative merits.
The passage outlines artistic materials from different periods, followed by an account of their historical progression.
The passage introduces a hypothesis regarding artistic progression, then presents contradictory evidence.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "What accounts for Renaissance oil paintings having such brilliant, vibrant qualities compared to the more subdued appearance of medieval tempera works?" |
|
| "Experts in art history attribute this visual distinction to crucial differences in the binding substances employed by painters during these respective eras." |
|
| "Artists from the Renaissance era combined their pigments with oil-based mediums, producing a substance capable of transparent layering and enabling refined color transitions." |
|
| "In contrast, medieval painters employed egg tempera for binding their pigments, a substance that set rapidly and resulted in solid, uniform color coverage." |
|
| "These distinct material characteristics produced the Renaissance paintings' signature dimensionality and brilliance, while simultaneously defining the characteristic stylized aesthetic of medieval artwork." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The visual differences between Renaissance and medieval paintings result from the different binding substances used—oil-based mediums versus egg tempera.
Argument Flow: The passage opens with a question about why Renaissance and medieval paintings look different, then provides an expert explanation focusing on binding materials. It details each era's technique and concludes by connecting these material differences to the distinct visual characteristics of each period.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The overall structure of the text—how the passage is organized from beginning to end.
What type of answer do we need? A description of the passage's structural pattern or organizational approach.
Any limiting keywords? "Overall structure" tells us we need to capture the big-picture organization, not focus on specific details or portions.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage follows a clear question-and-answer structure
- It starts by asking why Renaissance paintings look different from medieval ones, then provides a systematic explanation through expert opinion
- The structure moves from problem (visual differences) to solution (different binding materials) to detailed support (specific techniques for each era) to conclusion (how materials create the visual effects)
- The right answer should recognize that the passage presents a question about artistic differences and then provides an explanation for those differences
The passage presents a question regarding two distinct artistic eras, followed by a potential explanation.
- Accurately captures the question-then-explanation structure
- "Question regarding two distinct artistic eras" matches the opening inquiry about Renaissance vs medieval differences
- "Followed by a potential explanation" matches the expert attribution to binding substances
- Reflects the passage's movement from problem to solution
The passage analyzes methods employed by two artist groups, subsequently evaluating their relative merits.
- "Analyzes methods" is partially accurate since the passage discusses techniques
- "Evaluating their relative merits" is wrong—the passage explains differences but doesn't judge which approach is better
- Trap: Students might focus on the comparison aspect without noticing there's no evaluation of superiority
The passage outlines artistic materials from different periods, followed by an account of their historical progression.
- "Outlines artistic materials" is accurate for part of the passage
- "Account of their historical progression" is wrong—the passage doesn't show how materials evolved over time, just contrasts two different periods
- Trap: Students might see the chronological element (medieval then Renaissance) and assume the passage traces historical development
The passage introduces a hypothesis regarding artistic progression, then presents contradictory evidence.
- "Introduces a hypothesis regarding artistic progression" doesn't match—there's no hypothesis about how art progressed
- "Presents contradictory evidence" is wrong—the passage provides supporting evidence for the binding substance explanation, not contradictory evidence
- Completely mischaracterizes the passage structure