Art History Terms

Predella

The narrow ledge on which an altarpiece rests on an altar.

Anamorphosis

 A distorted image that appears normal when seen from a particular viewpoint or with a mirror or lens

Maulstick

 stick used to steady the hand while painting

Iconoclasm

the destruction of religious or sacred images

Vernacular

expresses the daily experiences and cultural values of common people. untrained artists

Baroque

moving away from perfect proportions, dramatic

Baldacchino

Canopy over an altar, tomb, or Throne

Coffer

Recessed decorative panel used to decorate ceilings, vaults or domes

Travertine

a durable, porous form of limestone deposited by mineral springs

Stucco

inexpensive plaster

Tenebrism

term used to describe dark tonality in painting; refers to the use of extreme contrasts of light and shadow

Chiaroscuro

(“light-dark”) = treatment of light and dark in art; esp. high contrast between areas of light and dark

Quadro riportato

(“transferred painting”) = in a ceiling decoration, a part of the overall composition painted illusionistically to look as if it is a framed easel painting hung overhead

Jesuit

focuses on the Society of Jesus's role as prolific patrons and creators of Baroque art, utilizing visual culture for education, devotion, and global missionary work.

Thirty Years War

war of a lot of european countries because of religion

Vanitas

“vanity.” A term describing paintings (particularly 17th-century Dutch still lifes) that include references to death.

Genre painting

depicting daily life (especially dutch)

Marie de medici

Queen of France and second wife of King Henry IV. served as regent of France between 1610 and 1617 during the minority of her son Louis XIII.

King louis xiv

king of france, sun king. believed he was chosen by God to rule and that France revolved around him

Ancien regime

political and social system of france from middle ages until the french revolution