Art History Exam 1 Terms to Know

Council of Trent (1545-1563)

A major Catholic Church council responding to the Protestant Reformation. It set guidelines for religious art—art should be clear, instructive, and emotionally engaging to inspire faith and devotion. Iconography had to be intelligible; no excessive nudity or ambiguity.

The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits)

Founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. Mission: Education, missionary work, and defending Catholicism. Art relevance: Jesuits used dramatic, emotionally engaging art and architecture to inspire devotion, emphasizing clarity, theatricality, and spiritual impact.

Accademia degli Incamminati

Art academy founded in Bologna (c. 1582) by the Carracci family. Focus: Combining naturalism and classical ideals; emphasized drawing from life. Significance: Central to the Bolognese Baroque style, training artists in both realism and ideal beauty.

Chiaroscuro

Italian for “light-dark. Artistic technique using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model three-dimensional forms. Famous example: Caravaggio’s dramatic lighting in The Calling of Saint Matthew.

Valenthuomo Painters

Artists who were noblemen or gentlemen, rather than professional artisans. Significance: Their status gave them social prestige, often influencing art patronage and taste. Example: Pietro Testa in Rome.

Fama

Personification of “fame” or “reputation,” often depicted in art. Also refers to the broader Baroque preoccupation with fame, notoriety, and the social circulation of reputation. Art relevance: Used in allegories or ceiling decorations to glorify patrons or achievements.

Caravaggisti

Followers of Caravaggio’s style. Characteristics: Dramatic chiaroscuro, naturalism, emotional intensity, and realism. Spread Caravaggio’s influence across Italy and Europe (e.g., Artemisia Gentileschi, Orazio Gentileschi).

Bel composto

“Beautifully composed” in Italian. Concept by Annibale Carracci: harmonious integration of painting, sculpture, and architecture into a unified Baroque work. Example: Farnese Ceiling in Rome.

Pope Urban VIII (the Barberini Pope, 1623–1644)

Patron of Baroque art and architecture. Major supporter of Bernini, including St. Peter’s Baldachin. His papacy exemplifies the intertwining of art, politics, and religion.

Pope Innocent X (the Pamphili Pope, 1644–1655)

Commissioned major works by artists like Velázquez (portraiture) and Borromini (architecture). Known for conservative taste compared to Barberini patronage, but influential in shaping Roman Baroque art.

Cassiano del Pozzo (1588–1657)

Scholar, collector, and patron of the arts. Famous for the Paper Museum (Museo Cartaceo), an extensive collection of drawings, prints, and natural specimens. Significance: Documented classical antiquities, natural history, and contemporary art—important figure in art theory and collecting.