ART 301

Romanesque

A pan-European style characterized by stone architecture and a revival of monumental sculpture.

Pilgrimage Culture

A cultural movement influencing the design of churches and artworks, largely shaped by monastic orders such as Cluny and Santiago de Compostela.

Tympanum

A triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance featuring relief sculptures.

Barrel Vault

A continuous series of arches that creates a tunnel-like structure.

Reliquary

An object or container that houses relics, often associated with saints.

Didactic Relief Sculpture

Sculptural art aimed at teaching a largely illiterate society.

Cluniac vs. Cistercian Aesthetics

Cluniac emphasizes ornate decoration while Cistercian focuses on simplicity and functionality.

Pointed Arch

An architectural feature that allows for greater height and stability, characteristic of Gothic architecture.

Ribbed Vault

An architectural feature in Gothic construction that provides strength and a decorative effect.

Flying Buttress

An architectural element that supports a wall by transferring the weight of the roof through an outer support.

Lux Nova

New light, a concept in Gothic architecture symbolizing the divine light that enters through stained glass.

Interlace Patterns

A decorative technique found in Viking/Norse art where patterns are woven together.

Zoomorphic Patterns

Designs that incorporate forms and features of animals.

Renovatio Imperii

Renewal of the Empire, emphasizing the revival of Roman imperial authority.

Icon

A religious work of art that represents a holy figure or event.

Mosaic

An art form using small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials to create images.

Stupa

Dome-shaped structures serving as Buddhist shrines.

Bodhisattva

A being on the path to Buddhahood who delays their own enlightenment to help others.

Celadon Glaze

A jade-green glaze used in Korean ceramics.

Lost-wax Casting

A metal casting method that involves creating a wax model which is then melted away.