Lecture 15 Art History

Panel Painting

A painting on a plank of wood or multiple planks joined together

Tempera

A fast-drying paint made from a mixture of powdered pigment and a binding agent, typically egg yolk

Tondo (plural Tondi)

A work of painting or relief sculpture in a circular format

Damnatio Memoriae

A Latin phrase meaning “damnation of memory,” referring to the practice of erasing a person’s presence from history by destroying or defacing their images and removing their name from inscriptions and documents

Triumphal Arch

A freestanding archway that often spans a road or marks an entrance and is often decorated with relief carvings that celebrate a significant event

Attic

On a facade or triumphal arch, the section above the entablature, usually decorated with painting, sculpture, or an inscription

Vault

An arched structure, usually built of stone masonry, brick or concrete, that serves to cover a space

Groin Vault

Vault built of rounded arches

The Tetrarchy

Augustus and Caesar of East and West

Porphyry

A very hard, purplish, stone containing quarried in the Eastern desert of Egypt, in the Roman empire, it was reserved for sculptures of the imperial family and the gods

Spolia

A term used to describe building materials or reliefs salvaged from other works and reused in a different structure

Iconic

With regard to style, a term that refers to a simplified, highly symbolic way of representing a subject that favors instant recognition over realistic detail. In this sense, an image acts like a “visual shorthand” —- using flat shapes, bold lines, and specific colors to transform a complex person or idea into a permanent, universal sign

Pier

An upright post that supports horizontal elements, such as a ceiling or arches

Coffer

A recessed panel or series of panels in a ceiling

Clerestory

The term used to describe the upper story of a basilica extending above the roofs of the aisles. The clerestory was usually pierced by windows to admit light into the interior