Unit 2 Medieval & Renaissance Europe Terms

Aniconism

practice of not creating images of divine figures like gods/prophets; this practice was common in parts of Eastern Mediterranean and part of the reason we might not see Christian art until 3rd century is because of this practice

Roman Catacombs

a series of tunnels cut into the Tufo under the city used for burials, mostly in 3rd century CE. The burials here are generally lower to middle class; religious symbols in catacombs include many faiths, later Christians collected body parts and other objects from tombs as relics of martyrs

Constantine

son of western junior emperor (Constantinus the Pale) seized control of empire after battle of Milvian Bridge on Oct. 28th, 312 BC

Spolia

reused/repurposed architecture, sculpture, or other monuments in new constructions was a feature of Roman architecture for a long time, but became a defining feature of Late Antique and Early Byzantine art and architecture

Encaustic

painting technique where hot beeswax is colored with pigments and applied to wood or canvas, results are very durable; this technique was the same used for Roman Egyptian funerary paintings and became the dominant method for making Byzantine icons

Iconoclasm

intentional destruction of a culture’s own religious art and other monuments; due to widespread destruction of earlier art and the lack of production in these periods, we have little evidence for Byzantine art from ~726-842

Frankokratia

Rule of the Franks, after 4th crusaders several catholic crusaders seized parts of Byzantine empire, name Greeks called this period; this period was highly chaotic, where diverse Catholics from musch of Europe ruled over a Greek Orthodox population. The Franks and Greeks both negotiated this change through art and architecture

Cloisonne

technique popular in works from Merovingians and Carolingians period, especially using garnet. In this technique, colored materials like gemstones are held in places by gold strips/wire; Although known from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, during the early Medieval period, this was most important artform for elite in Western Europe

Renovatio imperii Romanorum

latin, Charlemagne declared his intent to restore Roman Empire; this desire and phrase can be seen on his coins, his title, and his architectural program, especially at Aachen and Rome

Flying Buttresses

grand height of Gothic cathedrals enabled by use; supports that transfer the outward pressure of high walls to carry it across the interior aisles and ground it in heavy pillars. This also allows for walls to be interrupted by larger windows, opening the interior space.

Animal Style

decorative artistic approach characterized by heavy emphasis on stylized, abstracted, and intertwined animal motifs; The Bayeux Tapestry, though probably made in Normandy, France, includes elements of Anglo-Saxon design, including use of animal style along the borders. The use of this style indicates a mixing of established Anglo-Saxon traditions with Norman traditions.

Maniera Greca

“Greek manner” works in maniera greca became very popular in Late Medieval period in Italy. These works were a fusion of Italian and Greek styles, influenced by earlier Byzantine presence in Italy and the Italian role in Frankokratia, which included several Italian cities establishing colonies in Greece

Mozarabic

influence of Muslim art and architecture throughout Spain, including in areas that remained Christian, was so strong that by 10th c. art in “Arabized” Christians was popular and very high status and used for Christian religious art and architecture

All ’Antica

in the style of the ancients; refers to adaptions/claimed revival of Classical Greek and Roman style, iconography, and proportions. In Florence, the Medici championed this visual language to legitimize their rule as a rebirth of Roman civic virtue

Reception

process by which later cultures interact with, interpret, and adapt the art of past societies; in Renaissance Rome, this often-included artists recreating ancient art in their attempts to repair fragmentary finds, in effect creating co-authored Renaissance/Antique works

Cretan School

refers to group of icon painters in and or from Crete under Venetian role. Works from Cretan school incorporated Venetian and Renaissance styles and techniques into traditional Byzantine icon paintings and were popular in Venice itself.

Guild

professional associations of crafts/trades people, were common fixtures of Medieval and Renaissance life; These guilds functioned by maintaining monopolies on their craft in their area, maintaining standards and restricting membership to protect their own welfare

Triptych

a work of art, almost always a panel painting but sometimes a carved work, that is divided into three sections on hinges. This allows the work to be opened and revealed or closed and hidden. This form allows for a work to be closed and protected when not in use or opened for holy days