Art History T1

Prehistory

period before systematic writing

Paleolithic

Ancient Greek "old stone"

Neolithic

Ancient Greek "new stone"

Representational Art

works created by people to "re-present" to other a certain point of view

Incising

A technique in which a design is cut into a hard surface with a sharp instrument.

Pigment

coloring agent derived from naturally occurring organic or mineral material

Polychromatic

a representation that utilizes two or more colors of pigment

Monochromatic

a representation that utilizes only one color of pigment

Silhouette

a representation takes the form of a dark shape against a light background

Perspective

a system for representing three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface

Mixed perspective

a convention in art in which every aspect of a body or object is represented from its most characteristic viewpoint

Continuous narrative

artistic convection by which multiple discrete moments in time are represented in the same frame or scene

Negative space

the space that surrounds an object

Positive space

the space that represents the main focus of a picture

Realism/naturalism

a style of representation that attempts to recreate the actual appearance of a subject

Idealism

A style of representation that attempts to modify the appearance of a subject to match a cultural standard or idea of beauty

Venus Figure

name commonly (and erroneously) given to representations of the female body, often found in paleolithic contexts

Sculpture in the round

a representational object carved in such a way that it is free-standing and can be seen on all sides

Relief sculpture

a representational object carved in such a way that it is remains attached to the material from which it is made

Additive technique (modeling)

a style of sculpting in which the features of an object are created by adding material

Subtractive technique (carving)

a style of sculpting in which the features of an object are created by removing material

Sedentism

a change in behavioral patterns from more to less migratory movement of populations.

Megalithic

name given to prehistoric structures that are built from large stones.

Monolithic

name given to prehistoric structures that are built from one stone.

Dolmen

name given to prehistoric structures that are built a large flat stone set atop two or more upright stones.

Post and lintel

form of construction was two or more vertical elements (posts) support a horizontal element (lintel).

Mortise and Tenon

joining technique for two elements in which a projecting pin (tenon) in one element fits into a hole designed for it (mortice).

Bluestones

smaller stones

Sarsen Stones

big stones

Henge

circular area enclosed by stones or wooden posts, set in place in the neolithic period.

Cairn

a pile of stones that serves as a burial site or a marker for a burial.

Passage grave

a type of prehistoric tomb beneath a cairn reached by a long narrow slab-lined passageway.

Corbeling

early roofing technique in which each layer / row of stone projects outward (or inward) from the layer upon which it rests. Corbeling is used to form arches and vaults.

Ceramics

all types of objects made from fired clay, including pottery, porcelain and terracotta.

Earthenware

ceramics fired to 800-degree Celsius.

Stoneware

ceramics fired to 1200-degree c, which leads to vitrification.

Mesopotamia

the place between the rivers. Region stretching from the Mediterranean to the Persian gulf that was extensively settled beginning in 4000-3000 BC.

Fertile crescent

arc shaped region that was settled near the end of the neolithic period due to its ability to support large scale agriculture.

Ziggurat

a tall, stepped tower, commonly used in Mesopotamia to support a shrine.

Inlay

form of surface decoration that involves setting one material into a shaped space in another.

Register

a device used to arrange space representational images. In sculpture, this often takes the form of horizontal bands that serve as ground lines.

Hierarchical scale

an artistic convention by which the more important people are depicted larger than others.

Polytheistic

Engaging in the practice of worshipping more than one god

Votive Figure

unique form of representation that is dedicated to a god.

Cylinder seal

small cylindrical object with incised designs meant to form images when pressed into wet clay.

Bulla

an envelope-like container, made from clay to hold accounting tokens.

Pictograph

an image or symbol drawn to represent a word or concept.

Cuneiform

latin expression meaning "wedge shaped" used to describe the writing system that develops in Mesopotamia around 3,000 BC.

Lapis Lazuli

a rare, semi-precious stone, prized in antiquity for its deep blue color.

Stele

an upright stone slab or column typically bearing a commemorative inscription or relief design.

Kingdom

period of time in which upper and lower Egypt are under the rule of one king.

Intermediate period

time in which upper and lower Egypt are ruled separately.

Dynasty

period of time in which a series of individuals rule in succession according to family relations or other type of arrangement.

King list

a method of record the passage of time according to the names of rulers.

Sema tawy

symbol representing the union of upper and lower Egypt.

Hieroglyph

Greek word meaning sacred writing given to texts that appeared mainly in religious contexts.

Demotic

Greek word meaning of the people given to texts used in day to day interactions.

Nemes headdress

a linen garment that drapes over the shoulders, worn by Egyptian royals.

Canon of proportions

systematically ordered grid system governing the overall shape and size of the human figure in Egyptian art.

Necropolis

Greek expression, meaning "city of the dead." An area near a settlement reserved for monumental burial structures.

Step pyramid

a rare form of early dynastic burial which decreases in size from bottom to top in clearly defined levels.

Mastaba

from the Arabic word for "bench," a flat topped, one-story structure with slanted walls built atop an Egyptian tomb.

Serdab

a chamber associated with an Egyptian tomb, intended to hold a statue representation of the deceased individual, potentially allowing them to interact with the world of the living.

Sarcophagus

from the Greek word meaning "flesh eater," a container for a decrease's person, which is usually monument in nature.

Faience

a quartz-ish form of ceramic that produces a glassy surface when fired.

Shawbti

a figurine placed in a tomb to assist the deceased in the afterlife.

Amarna Style

Name commonly given to the unique representational style of sculpting / painting associated with the reign of Akhenaten. Derived from Tell al Amarna, the modern name for Akhetaten

Aten

Name of the monotheistic deity worshipped in the reign of Akhenaten in the form of a sun disk.

Hypostyle Hall

Term based on the Greek expression “columns beneath,” a room in which the roof structure is supported by columns, often closely spaced.

Pylon

Massive gateway into an Egyptian temple formed from two solid, tapering walls of  oblong shape

Sunken Relief

Form of relief sculpture in which the sculpted elements are carved into a silhouette of the overall shape of the figure leaving no part projecting from the flat background.

Clerestory

The topmost zone of a wall that is equipped with openings or windows in order to allow light and air into the building. These openings are often positioned above a raised central hallway.

Obelisk

a stone pillar, typically having a square or rectangular cross section and a pyramidal top set up as a monument or landmark.