U6 Art

Romanesque

A style of medieval European architecture known for thick walls, heavy stone, and round arches. (Example: Dark, heavy stone churches that look like fortresses)

Gothic

A medieval style that followed Romanesque, famous for being tall, bright, and using pointed arches. (Example: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris)

Ribbed Vaults

A Gothic ceiling design where stone arches intersect like a web, supporting a taller roof. (Example: The crisscrossed stone ceiling lines inside a tall Gothic church)

Flying buttress

An exterior stone arch support that braces a Gothic cathedral's high walls from the outside. (Example: The spider-leg looking stone braces on the outside of Notre-Dame)

Lancet Windows

Tall, narrow windows that come to a sharp point at the top, typical of Gothic architecture. (Example: Slender pointed-arch stained glass windows)

Tomb

A stone monument or chamber where a dead person is buried. (Example: The pyramids or the Taj Mahal)

Effigy

A sculpted model or statue of a person, often placed on top of their tomb lying flat on their back. (Example: A carved stone statue of a knight on his grave monument)

Buon fresco

A fresco painted on wet plaster so the paint chemically fuses with the wall. (Example: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling)

Fresco secco

A fresco painted on dry plaster, making it less durable over time. (Example: Parts of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper that flaked off)

Gesso

A white primer coat painted onto wood or canvas before applying paint. (Example: Chalky white liquid brushed onto raw wood before painting)

Triptych

An artwork made of three hinged panels that can be folded shut. (Example: A three-panel altarpiece behind a church altar)

Orthogonals

The diagonal perspective lines that draw your eye toward the single vanishing point. (Example: The drawn lines of the roof and floor that point to the center dot)

High Renaissance

The brief peak period of Italian art featuring masters like Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. (Example: The painting of The Last Supper)

Runes

Letters of an ancient Germanic and Viking alphabet carved into stone or wood. (Example: Standing Viking stones carved with ancient symbol writing)

Monasteries

Communities where monks lived, worked, prayed, and copied ancient books by hand. (Example: Isolated stone compounds in medieval Europe)

Scribe

A professional writer or copier of books, especially before printing presses existed. (Example: A medieval monk carefully copying a holy book letter-by-letter)

Abbot Suger

The church leader who invented Gothic architecture by redesigning his church to let in more light. (Example: The Father of Gothic Architecture)

Pilgrimage

A religious journey taken to a holy place or shrine. (Example: Medieval Christians walking across Europe to see holy relics)

Brunelleschi

The Renaissance architect who discovered linear perspective and built the massive dome in Florence. (Example: The designer of the Florence Cathedral Dome)

Leonardo da Vinci

The ultimate Renaissance Man who was a painter, scientist, and inventor. (Example: Creator of the Mona Lisa)

Raphael

A High Renaissance painter known for smooth, perfectly balanced, and graceful compositions. (Example: Painter of The School of Athens)

Michelangelo

A Renaissance master sculptor and painter known for powerful, muscular human figures. (Example: Sculptor of the marble statue of David)

Medici Family

A super-wealthy banking family in Florence who paid for much of the Italian Renaissance art. (Example: The powerful patrons who funded Michelangelo)