Unit Five: Indigenous Americas, 1000 BCE–1980 CE

Bestiary

A collection of illustrations of real and imaginary animals.

Carolingian (adj.)

Pertaining to the empire of Charlemagne (Latin, Carolus Magnus) and his successors.

Carpet pages

In early medieval manuscripts, decorative pages resembling textiles.

Cathedral

A bishop's church.

Cloister

A monastery courtyard, usually with covered walks or ambulatories along its sides.

Hiberno-Saxon

An art style that flourished in the monasteries of the British Isles in the early Middle Ages. Also called Insular.

Molding

In architecture, a continuous, narrow surface (projecting or recessed, plain or ornamented) designed to break up a surface, to accent, or to decorate.

Ottonian (adj.)

Pertaining to the empire of Otto I and his successors.

Relics

The body parts, clothing, or objects associated with a holy figure, such as the Buddha or Christ or a Christian saint.

Reliquary

A container for keeping relics.

Rib

A relatively slender, molded masonry arch that projects from a surface. In Gothic architecture, the ribs form the framework of the vaulting. A diagonal rib is one of the ribs that form the X of a groin vault. A traverse rib crosses the nave or aisle at a 90-degree angle.

Tapestry

A weaving technique in which the weft threads are packed densely over the warp threads so that the designs are woven directly into the fabric.

Transverse arch

An arch separating one vaulted bay from the next.

Westwork

The facade and towers at the western end of a medieval church, principally in Germany

Archivolt

The continuous molding framing an arch. In Romanesque or Gothic architecture, one of the series of concentric bands framing the tympanum.

Baptistery

In Christian architecture, the building used for baptism, usually situated next to a church.

Buttress

An exterior masonry structure that opposes the lateral thrust of an arch or a vault. A pier buttress is a solid mass of masonry; a flying buttress consists typically of an inclined member carried on an arch or a series of arches and a solid buttress to which it transmits lateral thrust.

Campanile

A bell tower of a church, usually, but not always, freestanding.

Clerestory

The fenestrated part of a building that rises above the roofs of the other parts. The oldest known clerestories are Egyptian. In Roman basilicas and medieval churches, clerestories are the windows that form the nave's uppermost level below the timber ceiling or the vaults.

Compound pier

A pier with a group, or cluster, of attached shafts, or responds, especially characteristic of Gothic architecture.

Crusades

In medieval Europe, armed pilgrimages aimed at recapturing the Holy Land from the Muslims.

Embroidery

The technique of sewing threads onto a finished ground to form contrasting designs.

Enamel

A decorative coating, usually colored, fused onto the surface of metal, glass, or ceramics.

Feudalism

The medieval political, social, and economic system held together by the relationship of a liege lord and vassal.

Groin

The edge formed by the intersection of two vaults.

Jambs

In architecture, the side posts of a doorway.

Pillar

Usually a weight-carrying member, such as a pier or a column; sometimes an isolated, freestanding structure used for commemorative purposes.

Rib vault

A vault in which the diagonal and transverse ribs compose a structural skeleton that partially supports the masonry web between them.

Romanesque

"Roman like." A term used to describe the history, culture, and art of medieval western Europe from ca. 1050 to ca. 1200.

Tapestry

A weaving technique in which the weft threads are packed densely over the warp threads so that the designs are woven directly into the fabric.

Trumeau

In church architecture, the pillar or center post supporting the lintel in the middle of the doorway.

Tympanum

The space enclosed by a lintel and an arch over a doorway.

Altarpiece

A panel, painted or sculpted, situated above and behind an altar. See also retable.

Armature

The crossed, or diagonal, arches that form the skeletal framework of a Gothic rib vault. In sculpture, the framework for a clay form.

Crypt

A vaulted space under part of a building, wholly or partly underground; in churches, normally the portion under an apse or a chevet.

Flamboyant style

A Late Gothic style of architecture superseding the Rayonnant style and named for the flamelike appearance of its pointed bar tracery.

Flashing

In making stained-glass windows, fusing one layer of colored glass to another to produce a greater range of colors.

Fleur-de-lis

A three-petaled iris flower; the royal flower of France.

Gothic

Originally a derogatory term named after the Goths, used to describe the history, culture, and art of western Europe in the 12th to 14th centuries.

Hallenkirche

German, "hall church"; a church design favored in Germany, but also used elsewhere, in which the aisles rise to the same height as the nave.

Moralized Bible

A heavily illustrated Bible, each page pairing paintings of Old and New Testament episodes with explanations of their moral significance.

Pietà

A painted or sculpted representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ.

Rayonnant

The "radiant" style of Gothic architecture, dominant in the second half of the 13th century and associated with the French royal court of Louis IX at Paris.

Rose window

A circular stained-glass window.

Zoomorphic

having or representing animal forms or gods of animal form

Fibula

A decorative pin, usually used to fasten garments.

illuminated manuscript

a handwritten book decorated with bright colors and precious metals

insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

Carpet pages

medieval manuscripts with pages which resembled textiles

Serpintine

snakelike in shape or movement; winding as a snake

Hibernia

Roman name for Ireland

Chirhoiota

8th-9th century

tempera on vellum

Book of Kells

is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables.

Celtic Cross

cross with a ring surrounding the intersection

equestrian statue

a statue of a rider mounted on a horse

Repouse

(of metalwork) hammered into relief from the reverse side.

nave

the central area of a church

Transept

The part of a church with an axis that crosses the nave at a right angle.

crossing tower

the tower placed at the intersection of the nave and transept of a church

Westwork

The facade and towers at the western end of a medieval church, principally in Germany.

facade

the front of a building

Bishop Bernward

Commissioned the bronze doors at St. Michaels

Hildesheim column

with 28 scenes taken from Christ's life - of those not on doors - From Baptism -> Jerusalem Entry

from the St. Michael's church

1015 casted

13' high - inside cathedral

Archivolts (Romanesque)

a band of molding, resembling an architrave, around the lower curve of an arch.

Jambs

In architecture, the side posts of a doorway.

Lintel

A horizontal beam used to span an opening.

trumeau

In church architecture, the pillar or center post supporting the lintel in the middle of the doorway.

tympanum

Half-round panel that fills the space between the lintle and arch over the doorway of the church.

Voussoirs

wedge shaped blocks holding the curve of the arch

Pilgrimage

A one month long journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.

abbey

The group of buildings which collectively form the dwelling-place of a society of monks or nuns.

Crusiform

cross shaped

Bayeux Tapestry

A tapestry that recounts the battle of hastings, A piece of linen about 1 Ft.8 in. Wide by 213 ft.long covered with embroidery representing the incidents of Willam the conqueror's expedition to England.

abbey

the building or buildings occupied by a community of monks or nuns.

Archivolts (Romanesque Facade)

- Bands or molding surrounding an arched opening.

Jambs

In architecture, the side posts of a doorway.

Lintel

A horizontal beam used to span an opening.

trumeau

In church architecture, the pillar or center post supporting the lintel in the middle of the doorway.

tympanum

the space enclosed by a lintel and an arch over a doorway

Voussoirs

wedge shaped blocks holding the curve of the arch

Romanesque Architecture

rounded arches, vaulted ceilings, heavy walls ornately decorated.

Gothic Architecture

Characterized by pointed arches, high ceilings, flying buttresses, and large stained-glass windows

cruciform

in the shape of a cross

reliquary

a container for holy relics

Bishop Bernward of Hildesheim

comissioned the bronze doors of St. Michael's

West work church

The facade and towers at the western end (Westwerk) of a medieval church, principally in Germany, to make a church look more fortified so enemies won't attack it. Example: Saint Michael's

Hildesheim Doors

now installed at St. Mary's Cathedral, which are sculpted with scenes of Genesis

Bronze casted relief

read from top of left (Old Testament) to bottom and bottom of right (New Testament) to top

Most re-created scene = The Judgment

nave

the central part of a church building, intended to accommodate most of the congregation

Lindau Gospels

Gold cover

youthful

Christ nailed to Cross = central motif

Surrounded by pearls and jewels so catch and reflect light

Figure = repousse - beardless, suffering Christ