Ap art history unit 3 vocab

Ambulatory

Walkway around a churches apse or choir

Apse

Semicircular or polygonal recess, often at the eastern end of a church, usually containing an altar

Axial plan (Basilican plan)

A church layout organized along central longitudinal axis, often featuring a nave, aisles, and an apse

Basilica

A large, rectangular building used in Ancient Rome for public gatherings, later adapted ad a Christian church layout with a nave, aisles, and an apse

Catacombs

Underground burial sites, often consisting of tunnels and chambers, used by early Christians and others for burials and religious practices

Cathedral

A large, important Christian church that serves as the central church of a diocese, housing the bishops seat

Central plan

A building layout designed around a central point, often circular, square, or polygonal with symmetry radiating from the center

Clerestory

The upper part of a building, especially in a church, with windows that allow light to enter above the nave or aisles

Cornice

Decorative horizontal molding that runs along the top edge of a building or structure, often found at he junction of walls and ceilings or roofs

Encaustic

A painting technique sing pigments mixed with hot wax, applied to a surface and then heated to fuse the colors

Encharist

A Christian sacrament in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumes, symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus

Gospels

The first four books of the New Testament, detailing the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. They are attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Icon

A religious image or painting especially in eastern Christianity, used as a representation of sacred figures like Jesus, the Virgin Mary or saints

Iconoclasm

The rejection or destruction of religious images or icons. Notably practices during the Byzantine period in history

Localized

Small, rectangular burial niches, typically found in catacombs, where bodies were placed in the walls

Lunette

A half-moon-shaped architectural space, often above a door or window, or a semicircular painting or window

Iconostasis

A screen or wall in eastern Christian churches that separate the sanctuary from the nave, decorated with icons of religious figures

Mosaic

A pice of art created by arranging small, colorful pieces of material (like glass, stone, or tile) into patterns to images

Narthex

The entrance or lobby area of a church, located at the western end, before entering the main sanctuary

Nave

The central, long hall of a church, extending from the entrance to the altar, where the congregation sits

Orant figure

Representation of a person, often in a prayerful pose with arms raised our outstretched, commonly seen in early Christian art particularly in frescoes and catacombs

Spolia

The reuse of older building materials, sculptures, or other objects in new structures, often taken from earlier monuments or buildings

Pendentive

Is a curved triangular section of a vault that allows a circular dome to rest on a square or polygonal base, commonly used in Byzantine and Romanesque architecture

Relic

An object or personal item, associated with a saint or religious figure, often venerated in religious practices

Romanesque

An architectural style that developed in medieval Europe, characterized by thick walls, rounded arches, vaulted ceilings, and small windows. It often featured heavy, solid, construction and an emphasis on symmetry

Transept

A cross-shaped part if a church, located perpendicular to the nave, forming the arms of the cross in a basilica or cathedral layout

Theotokos

A Greek term meaning “g-d bearer” or “mother of g-d” used to refer to the Virgin Mary in Christian theology, emphasizing her role as the mother of Jesus

XP (Chi Rho)

A Christian monogra, formed by combining the first two letters of “the other word for Jesus” in Greek (x and p). It is often used as a symbol of Jesus

Animal style

An artistic style characterized by the depiction of animals, often in abundance highly stylized or abstract manner. It is commonly associated with the art of nomadic cultures, particularly in early medieval Europe and Central Asia.

Chasing

A metalworking technique where design is created by hammering or pushing the metal from the front, often to create fine details or patterns on the surface. It is typically used in combination with repoussé, where the metal is shaped from the back

Cloisonné

an enamelware technique in which colored enamel is applied within a thin metal partitions, often creating intricate designs or patterns on objects like jewelry, vases or religious artifacts

Codex (pl. codices)

An ancient manuscript book, typically made of parchment or vellum, consisting of pages bound together, It was the precursor to the modern book replacing scrolls

Colophon

A statement or inscription at the end of a book or manuscript, providing information about its production, such as the author, scribe, publisher, or date, of completion

Horror Vacui

The artistic principle of filling every part of a space with detail, leaving no empty or unadorned areas. It is often seen in works of art that a are dense key packed with patterns, figures, or decorations.

Illuminated manuscript

A hand-crafted book, often from the medieval period, decorated with gold, silver, and vibrant colors, especially on initials, borders, and illustrations to enhance the text

Parchment

A writing material made from animal skins, usually sheep, goat, or calf, that has been processed and stretched to created a durable surface for working or drawing

Zoomorphic

Art or design that takes animal forms or characteristics, often used to describe representations of animals or stylized animal shapes in various artistic traditions