Art History Exam 2 Terms

Verism

truthfulness, an interest in the faithful reproduction of the visual and tactile appearance of a subject

Contrapposto

standing posture of unequal weight distribution, usually though the appearance of one slightly bent knee

Orator pose

Roman convention gesturing out with one arm as if speaking to a crowd

Atmospheric perspective

distant objects are represented as less distinct that closer objects

Still life

creates illusion of solid objects in real space

Modeling

use of highlight and shadow to create the impression of 3D

Barrel vault

series of connected arches that extend in a sequence along a line

Dynastic sanctuary

place of worship and politics

Chiro

symbol of Jesus (looks like an asterisk mixed with a P)

Tetrarchy

two emperors and two adopted princes

Christianity

Jewish sect rising in the year 200 around Jesus of Nazareth. Beliefs of love, compassion, humility, and salvation. Belief that Jesus performed miracles, was executed, and came back to life. Eventually becomes its own religion, no ethnic or class ties required.

Constantine

the first Christian emperor

Celtic

tribes of people in Europe who communicated with each other in a common language and shared visual culture of styles and motifs

La Tene style

named after the site in Switzerland with many archeological finds, describes Celtic culture and art style derived from the spread of Hallstatt culture

Gauls

name used by the romans to describe Celtic people in central Europe

Druid

some sort of priestly class described by Romans, often used mistletoe for spells and decoration

Repousse

metalwork relief created by hammering on reverse side

Enamel

glass fused to metal surface

Apotropaic

with the purpose to ward off evil

Amorphous

shifts forms the longer you look

Triskeles

three interlocking spirals

Torque

worn by Gaulic peoples as sign of military achievement or nobility

Monastery

physically isolated communities, center of prayer and education, trade and produce books

Manuscript

hand-written book

Illuminated Manuscript

a book that has been decorated with pigments and gold

Parchment

sheep or goat skin paper

Gospel Book

4 books of Christian new testament

Carpet page

no words, purely decoration

Interlace

a complicated, intertwining knotwork pattern

Zoomorphic interlace

animal forms worked into the interlace

Man with wings

symbol of Matthew

Christian Bible

combination of Hebrew Text and Latin text (old/new testaments)

Lion

symbol of Mark

Ox

symbol of Luke

Eagle

symbol of John

Norse

community of people, mainly merchants, farmers, and craftsmen. Also explorers and mercenaries

Vikings

groups within Norse community

Viking Age

8th-11th century. After raid of Lindisfarne, Vikings travel around globe exploring, raiding, trading, and settling.

Harald Bluetooth

Norse uniter king

Cruciform halo

halo with a cross in it

Great beast

large creature with antlers, claws, a mane, and long tongue

Gripping beast

fantasy creature with defined limbs

Ribbon animal

elongated animals with simplified features

Ambiguous forms

perhaps animals or plant

Cinnabar

bright red pigment made with mercury

The Qur'an 

sacred text of Islam consisting of the divine revelation to the prophet Muhammad in Arabic

The Hadith

collection of stories about the activities and sayings of the prophet Muhammad

Ma'il

appearance of slanted text in Muslim work

Calligraphy

the art of beautiful writing

Diacritical marks

red marks helping with vowels and pronunciations

Centrally planned building

shape marks a clear center of the building

Idolatry

worship of images

Justinian

Byzantine king aspiring to be a great Christian ruler like Constantine

Roundel

circular portrait frame

Basilica Plan

large rectangular structure of roman origin

Modified basilica

centrally planned/square structure

Floating dome

dome on top of a ring of windows

Apse

rounded section of church designating the front of the church, holds the altar

Altar

table where mass is read and ritual of transfiguration takes place, center of Christian group worship

Icon

intercessory image connected to prototype, aids in devotion, channel to subject

Iconoclasm

destruction of images or hostility toward visual representation in general

Charlemagne

first king of the Holy Roman Empire

Palace School

workshop in Charlemagne's castle, produced art in a Roman style

Cabochon gems

uncut gemstones polished, shaped, and put into metalwork

Votive

gift given with expectation of something in return, usually in a religious context

Filigree

wirework

Horseshoe arch

like a roman rounded arch, but the bottom of the arch (about midway) comes in a little, popularized by Visigoths

Hypostyle

held up with columns

Mozarabic

"mustarb" Arabized, Christians living under Muslim rule who drew from Arabic visual culture. Involves dark outlines and color-blocking

Beatus

a textual commentary on the apocalypse, Revelations

Tapestry

textile that would be displayed in front of the altar or on a wall of a Church

Wheel of Creation

biblical creation of the Earth

Pilgrim

a person who is traveling for spiritual purpose

Convivencia

relationship between Muslims, Christians, and Jews living together in Iberian medieval cities in somewhat peaceful coexistence

Historiated pier

a pier that tells a narrative or story

Simplified naturalism

no exactly fully natural, but not cartoonish

Pilgrimage

a journey undertaken as part of a spiritual journey

Cross-shaped Basilica plan

two intersecting rectangular sections and an apse

Ambulatory

space used to walk around the exterior space

Radiating chapels

small chapels attached to the main structure, like niches.

Romanesque Architecture

having features similar to roman architecture. Includes thick walls, small windows, rounded arches, barrel vaults, and Corinthian columns

Engaged columns

fake columns that are not for structural support but purely decorative

Tympanum

half-moon shape above the church door, primary space for decoration in Romanesque churches

Compound piers

give the appearance of a group of columns, illusion of being lighter

Reliquary

vessel for a saintly relic

Gothic

style of art preceding the renaissance, deviates from classical roman style. Named after the "barbarous" Goths

Capetian dynasty

France 10th to 14th century

Locus of power

where kings are crowned

Pointed arch

Gothic feature, distributes load to the ground, less lateral thrust

Ribbed vaults

vaults with visual ribbing dividing sections into curved, triangular sections

Gothic Art

originally French style of art characterized by high ceilings, open bright interiors, ribbed vaults, and pointed arches.

Cathedral

seat of a bishop, a high ranking clergy member

flying buttresses

exterior support structures on a large cathedral

Rose window

round window with a flower-like design

Rayonnant Style

nearly transparent walls, use of decorative tracery. "radiating style"

Tracery

stonework over window

Grisaille

painting in shades of gray

Book of Hours

book with a set of prayers to be said at certain hours of the day. most popular type in the medieval period

Patient Christ

Christ who is suffering, close-eyed and slumped

Triumphant Christ

Christ is not suffering, awake and alert