Humanities CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Get ready for your CLEP Humanities exam with our comprehensive quiz. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Practice this question and more.

What is a vanitas painting?

A self-portrait
A portrait of royalty
An allegory of the transience of life
An indoor landscape scene

The correct answer is: An allegory of the transience of life

Vanitas paintings are still-life artworks that are meant to symbolize the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. They often include objects such as skulls, wilting flowers, and burning candles to represent mortality and the passage of time. Option A and B (a self-portrait or a portrait of royalty) do not accurately describe the subject matter of a vanitas painting. Option D (an indoor landscape scene) may include elements of a vanitas painting, but it does not encompass the full meaning and symbolism behind the genre. Therefore, the best answer is C (an allegory of the transience of life).