Artworks Key Terms Year 12 Classics

Tesserae

Small pieces of stone, marble or glass that were used to make up a mosaic

Opus vermiculatum

"little wormlike art" - Very small tesserae arranged in winding rows to create outlines and effects like highlighting and shading.

Opus sectile

An inlaid pattern made up of shapes/designs in different coloured stone or marble. Usually used in pavements.

Polychrome

Made up of many/multiple colours

Monochrome

Made up of just black and white colours

Emblemata

Prefabricated mosaic centrepieces, set in panels in a workshop and then transported to the house and floor where they were to be placed. (Singular = emblema)

Subject matter

What or who the artwork is about/what story is being shown or told in an artwork

Composition

How the artist has used the space available to them. How have they arranged the figures or objects within a scene? E.g what is in the foreground/midground/background?

Narrative technique

How the artist has told the story in an artwork. This is usually portrayed through gestures, poses, facial expressions, what figures are holding or wearing or doing in a scene.

Sarissa

A long spear (usually 5 - 7 metres in length) used by soldiers in Alexander the Great's army

Cuirass

A piece of armour consisting of a breastplate and backplate fastened together.

In situ

In it's original place (for example a mosaic which was completely constructed in the place where it was located)

Apotropaic

A symbol thought to have the power to ward off evil or bad luck.

Overlapping

When one feature or figure overlaps another in an artwork to help give the impression of depth/3D space.

Musculature

How the artist has depicted human anatomy such as muscles

Drapery

How the artist has depicted clothes/fabric in an artwork