Artistic Styles & Techniques

Abstraction

Simplifying or changing realistic forms into shapes or patterns.

Naturalism

Showing people or objects like they appear in nature.

Niello

Black material used to fill engraved designs in metal.

Pelta (plural: peltae)

Crescent-shaped shield motif used in decoration.

Icon (Greek: eikon)

Sacred image, usually of Christ, Mary, or a saint.

Torc

Rigid metal neck ring, often worn as jewelry.

Mosaic

Image made from small pieces of colored stone or glass.

Cloisonné

Decorating metal with colored materials separated by thin metal strips.

Tessera (plural: tesserae)

Small piece of stone or glass used in a mosaic.

Filigree

Delicate decoration made from thin metal wires.

Hieratic scale

Making important figures larger than less important ones.

Book-cut marble

Marble slabs arranged to create mirrored patterns.

Encaustic

Painting technique using colored pigments mixed with hot wax

Isocephaly

Arranging figures so their heads are at the same height

Low relief

Sculpture that projects slightly from a flat surface.

High relief

Sculpture that projects far out from a flat surface.