art history midterm

ha112 ted ford

altarpiece

panel, situated above and behind an alter

contrapposto

disposition of human figure, shows weight shift in one leg

diptych

2 paneled painting or altarpiece

donor portraits

portrait of individuals who donated a religious work

grisaille

monochrome painting done mainly to simulate sculpture

perspective

method of presenting and giving a 3D impression of work on a 2D surface

humanism

emphasis on education and expanding knowledge

orthogonals

line imagined to be behind and perpendicular to the picture plane, recede toward a vanishing point on the horizon

polyptychs

altarpiece composed of more than 3 sections

refectory

the dining hall of a Christian monastery

sfumato

italian, “smoky” a smokelike haziness that subtly softens outline in paintings (leonardo davinci and correggio)

tondo

circular painting or relief sculpture

triptych

3 paneled painting or altarpiece (also small, portable shrine with hinged wings used for private devotion)

neo-platonism

ancient school of philosophy based on the ideas of Plato, revived during Renaissance and modified by Christian teachings

predella

lower part of an altarpiece, decorated with small scenes relating to the main scene

gospel

from old english word “good tidings,” depictions in story of jesus christ

giornata

section of a mural painted by an artist in a single effort

cartoon

in painting, a full-size preliminary drawing from which a painting is made

chancel

space around the altar

chiaroscuro

treatment and use of lights and darks, gradations of light to give 3D illusions

doges

italian “duke”

duomo

italian “cathedral”

fresco

paintings on lime plaster (dry - __ secco, wet - buon __)

giornato

italian “day” the section of plaster that a fresco painter expects to complete in one session

humanism

emphasis on education and expanding knowledge, an individuals potential and desire to excel

international gothic

style of 14th and 15th century painting, Simone Martini french gothic manner and sienese art - appealed to aristocacy because of color, costume, orientation

maniera greca

italian “greek manner” Italo-Byzantine painting style of the 13th century

patron

person, group or institution that commissions a work of art from an artist

Renaissance

french “rebirth” term describing history, culture, and art of the 14th to 16th century of western Europe (classical style)

tempera

basic technique of medieval panel painting (finely ground pigments w water-diluted egg yolk) - used in fresco and panel painting