Provenance is the history of ownership. In addressing provenance, you answer: Was the work commissioned and why? If not, why was it made? What were the artist′s intentions? Provenance is also an important aspect you will find in the museum′s information. How do factors like the historical context and location shape the meaning of the work? You must also discuss style. Remember that in discussing style, you are often referring to a period style or regional style. In order to discuss style, you must utilize formal analysis to communicate the work′s key features. Give attention to the materials and techniques the artist used to effectively communicate their ideas. Those materials and techniques are also particular to time and place. The possibilities are endless, but you must demonstrate that you understand the existing and accepted interpretations of a work of art architecture. This essay should be thoughtfully responsive to the museum′s research you encountered in your visit, and you will be expanding upon, or even arguing against, previous research.
