Baroque, Dutch Golden Age, Americas, English 18th Century Vocab

baroque

The art style originated in Rome and is heavily associated with the Roman Catholic Church and the Catholic Reformation, in response to the Protestant Reformation. The style is very emotional, dramatic, decorative, and theatrical, often characterized by intense contrast between light and dark and its use of asymmetrical compositions.

biombo/byobu

The Spanish name for decorated Japanese folding screens, which are made from multiple panels attached together.

camera obscura

A darkened box with a convex lens or an aperture for projecting images onto a screen inside, often used to develop photography.

casta painting

Paintings that show the racial hierarchy of a family (casta system is the system of racial hierarchy implemented in society).

Catholic Counter Reformation

This movement was the Catholic Church’s response to the Protestant Reformation. The Catholic Counter Reformation tried to regain its followers by appealing to more people with religious art.

Council of Trent

A meeting of Roman Catholic leaders, led by Pope Paul III, to criticize Protestant reformers.

Di Sotto in Su

A style of painting where the perspective ceiling painting is above the viewer. The figures on the ceiling are often foreshortened to look like they are right above the viewer.

enconchado

The use of mother-of-pearl in an artwork, usually influenced by lacquer-ware from Asia to the New World

engraving

An art technique where a design is etched onto a metal plate and is then used to create multiple prints.

etching

A printmaking technique where a metal plate is covered with an acid resistant ground and worked with an etching needle to create an image.

foreshortening

The art technique where objects appear closer to the viewer to indicate less distance and depth.

Jesuit Order

A Roman Catholic order that is more dedicated to the religion than other orders.

memento mori

A Latin phrase meaning “Remember that you must die.” Artworks often convey the fleeting nature of life.

mestizo

The term that is used to describe someone of mixed Native American and European descent.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement that separated from the Roman Catholic Church.

rubenesque

A style of women in the paintings by Rubens, used to describe voluptuous female nudes.

still life

A picture depicting an arrangement of inanimate objects.

tenebrism

The use of dramatic contrast between light and dark.

Trinitarians

People who believe in the Holy Trinity; God is the father, son, and the holy spirit.

undulating

This means that something is wavy/non-linear in form.

vanitas painting

A type of painting that conveys the fleeting nature of life.

Cardinal Farnese

An Italian cardinal and the grandson of Pope Paul III. He is the patron of Il Gesu.

Marie de Medici

The wife of Henri IV who ruled after he died. She was exiled later.

Henry IV

The king of France who passed away.

Louis XIV

The Sun King, aka the absolute monarch of France. He built the Palace of Versailles.