Exam 2 Vocabulary

Burin

a hardened steel cutting tool with an oblique sharp point used for engraving materials

Martin Luther

key figure in the protestant reformation that challenged the religious and political authority of the Catholic church

Anamorphosis

a distorted image that appear normal when seen from a particular view point with a mirror or lens

Predella

base or foot piece of a Christian altarpiece that often features small scale paintings or reliefs

Chiaroscuro woodcut

a technique for woodcut prints in which effects of light and shade are produced by printing each tone from a different wood block

Genre painting

a painting that realistically depicts aspects of everyday life such as domestic interiors, tavern scenes, and street scenes

Maulstick

a stick with a padded leather ball at the end held against a work to support and steady a painters brush hand.

Chateau

is a manor house, or palace, usually belonging to someone of nobility

Iconoclasm

the deliberate destruction of religious icons, images, and artworks that is driven by the believe that such depictions violate biblical command

Vernacular

a genre of art where the artwork is made by an artist who is self taught

Thirty Years War

Series of religious and political wars fought in Central Europe. Ended in 1648 and resulted in France and Sweden being more powerful and the Dutch Republic gaining independence

Counter Reformation

period of catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to the protestant reformation

Baldacchino

canopy over an altar, tomb, or throne

Coffer

recessed decorative panel used to decorate ceilings vaults or domes

Tenebrism

describes dark tonality in painting, refers to the use of extreme contrasts of light and shadow to create a dramatic, spot-light effect

Quadro riportato

a part of the overall composition painted illusionistically to look as if it is a framed painting hung overhead

Jesuit Order

order of the Catholic church that focused on converting people to the word of Catholicism

Stucco

a slow dry mixture of lime, sand, and other additives that allows for modeling before it dries

trompe l’oeil

a style of painting that imitates reality so closely it might momentarily fool the viewer

Baroque

an art style that is characterized by drama, deep color, intense light-and-dark contrast, and grandiose, intricate ornamentation

Obelisk

a tall slender tapered monument with four sides and a pyramidal or pyramidion top

Travertine

a form of freshwater limestone deposited around mineral springs

Dutch Republic

northern provinces independent from Spain, predominantly Protestant in the 17th century

Spanish Netherlands

Netherland provinces still under Spanish rule, predominantly Catholic in the 17th century

Marie de’ Medici

wife of King Henry IV and mother of Louis XIII, ruled for a while after the death of her husband and refused to pass over rule to her son when he came of age

Fleur-de-lis

stylized flower used in coats of arms

Peter Paul Rubens

very prolific painter from the Baroque period in northern Europe, had a large studio of students who he taught

Still life

category of subject matter in the arts consisting of arrangements of inanimate objects such as glassware, food, fruit, or flowers.

Vanitas

an allegorical work in which the themes are the transitory nature of earthly pleasure and the inevitability of death and judgement

Memento mori

symbolic reference to mortality, reminder of death

Engraving

a print made by incising an image into a smooth copper plate with a sharp tool called a burin

Etching

a printmaking process in which an etching needle is used to draw into a wax-resist ground applied over a metal plate

King Louis XIV

King of France from 1643-1715, absolutist ruler, he believed in the divine right of kings

Camera obscura

a darkened room, box, or tent, in which an exterior is image is projected inside or onto a translucent screen viewed from outside

Rococo

a style in art that is associated with the regency and reign of Louis XV, it is characterized by delicacy, elegance, airiness, organic shapes, asymmetry, sensuality

Fete galante

a painting representing elegantly dressed men and women engaged in flirtation or amorous play in a a park-like setting

Hotel

elegant private townhouse

Salon

a usually decorated reception room in a nobilities place of residence where they would receive guests

French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture

institution that oversaw and controlled the virtual of arts, provided training, access to commission, and opportunity to exhibit work to artists admitted to the academy.

Enlightenment

18th-Century intellectual and cultural movement, had an emphasis on reason, empirical evidence, and the scientific method. Critical of the rococo style and the divine right of kings.

Industrial Revolution

1740s-1850s, transitional period of the global economy toward more widespread stable manufacturing processes

French Revolution

1789, period of political and societal changes where the common people enacted a coup against the French monarchy and led out mass executions of royalty, nobility, and common people.

American Revolution

1776, war of the American colonies against the British regime that lead to the establishment of the USA

Neoclassicism

style of art and architecture that emerged in mid-18th century; adopted themes and styles from ancient Greece and Rome

Grand Tour

a cultural tour of Europe undertaken by the elite in 18th and 19th centuries, focused on “great” art, architecture, culture sites of Europe

Ancien Regime

the rigid political, social, and economic system in France from the late middle ages that was revolted against in 1789

Philosophes

18th-Century enlightenment intellectuals who championed human reason, empiricism, and skepticism of authority.