Late Medieval & Proto-Renaissance Art History Terms

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naturalistic/naturalism

a theory and style of representation that seeks to depict the natural world as it is viewed or experienced through first-hand observation

Illusionistic/illusionism

refers to an artist's attempt to mimic or re-produce a more or less convincing illusion of the natural world;

perspective

the illusionistic depiction on a two-dimensional surface of three-dimensional objects in space.

altarpiece

a work of art that decorates the space above and behind the altar in a Christian church. Painting, relief, and sculpture in the round have all been used in altarpieces, either alone or in combination. They provide a key visual focal point for the congregation as they are lead through the worship rituals; thus, altarpieces are typically very important commissions for artists and tend towards more traditional and conservative approaches and subjects.

baptistry

a separate building or part of a church used especially for the sacrament (sacred ritual) of baptism, wherein a person (typically an infant in Catholicism) gains entry into the Christian faith.

city-state

a political system consisting of an independent city having sovereignty over contiguous territory and serving as a political center. In Renaissance Italy, for example, there were different kinds -- Republics, Monarchies, and Papal States -- that each had certain cities and particuar forms of governance and resulting cultures.

Humanism

an educational theory, a code of conduct and self-discipline, and a scholarly set of disciplines. can also be thought about as an over-arching world-view that prioritizes humans, their needs and behaviors, and their achievements.

guild

effectively similar to a trade union; during the Renaissance, difference professions were divided, which worked to standardize the fields and ensure quality work and equitable pay. important civic institutions, frequently sponsoring public artworks, hospitals, schools, orphanages, public celebrations, etc.

confraternities

organizations of laypeople who dedicated themselves to strict religious observance; these organizations were important in the 14-15th century for carrying out good works in the public realm: tending to the sick, burying the dead, feeding the poor, etc. in addition to sponsoring works of public art.

fresco

a technique of painting wherein dry, powdered pigment (i.e. the colors) are applied directly into semi-wet plaster that has been applied to a wall. A technically very challenging painting technique, they were revered in Renaissance Italy as the most prestigious art form, reserved for large-scale public or religious commissions.

tempera

a technique of painting wherein dry pigments are mixed into egg whites to give them the viscosity needed to apply them to a surface (typically wood board).