Art History Exam

Animal Style

stylized, abstracted animal form

Canon

rule or law

Composite view

head legs profile, frontal torso

Continuous narrative

same figure in multiple scenes to narrate a story

Contrapposto/Chiastic pose

balanced asymmetry, Naturalism, more human

Fresco

pigment applied to wet or dry plaster

Flying buttress

external support; arch extending to pier

Gender bias

(in art) the unequal treatment and representation of individuals based on gender; stereotyping resulting in marginalization

Hieratic scale

size denotes importance

Icon

image of sacred person, revered, worshipped

Iconography

images and their meaning, subject matter and symbols

Idealized

perfection in body

Lintel

horizontal beam spanning an opening (door or window)

Literal

meaning, exact or original meaning

Mosaic

pattern/design made of coloured tile of glass or stone

Narrative

visual story

Narrative technique or strategy

method used to “tell” a story

Naturalism

as seen in nature, more human

Oculus

circular opening in ceiling

Pax Romana

Roman Empire, 200 year period of peace and prosperity

Pilgrimage

journey of penitence, reflection

Portal

door, entrance

Rayonnant

radiating or shining, radiant light (Court Style)

Realism

representing very truthfully

Registers

lines/divisions on a narrative that direct the story

Relic

religious objects (body or part of saint) venerated, worshipped

Reliquary

shrine or container for relics

Rib vaulting

vaulting with rib joints that support, open up space

Scriptorium

workroom in monastery for copying or illustrating manuscripts

Stylized

simplified or abstracted

Symbolism

image with meaning, one thing that represent an idea or another thing

Tesserae

coloured glass or stone tiles used in a mosaic

Tympanum

semi-circular area above lintel

Visual metaphor

image that suggests similarity or connection to something else

Visual propaganda

visual image conveying message through emotion, control and sometimes manipulation

Victory Stele of Naram Sin

Palette of King Narmer

Doryphoros

Parthenon

Dying Gaul/ Trumpeter

Augustus of Primaporta

Pantheon, interior view

Column of Trajan

Painted ceiling, catacomb SS Pietro e Marcellino

San Vitale

Emperor Justinian and His Attendants

Virgin and Child Enthroned Between Saints and Angels

Purse Cover

Chi Rho Iota page, from Book of Kells

Gero Crucifix

Temptation and Fall, from the Doors of Bishop Bernward

Bayeux Tapestry

Pilgrimage Church Plan

Durham Cathedral,

West portal, with Last Judgement by Gislebertus on tympanum,

North Portal, Eve by Gislebertus on lintel

Our Lady of the Beautiful Window (Notre Dame)

Ste.-Chapelle