AH21 Final Term Guide

local color

absence of shading and modeling

isocephaly

a term referring to an artistic composition in which the heads of human figures are kept at the same height whether the characters are seated, standing, or mounted

benedictine

Monks wo followed the rule of St. Benedict. They lived in a communal life of prayer. They are also referred to as the Black Monks.

cenobitic

communal form of monasticism

eremitic

characterized by ascetic solitude

radiating chapel

projecting chapels arranged radially around the ambulatory of a semicircular east end.

cloister

An open courtyard that connects the buildings of a monastery through a covered walkway.

tympanum

a decorated triangular space over the entrance of a building between the

archivolt

molding around the face of an arch above an opening. Found in Chartres Cathedral.

jamb

the side post or lining of a doorway. typically decorated with structures such as the martyr’s portal in Notre-Dame de Chartres

trumeau

the center post/pillar supporting the lintel in the middle of a doorway.

cistercian

Catholic religious order of monks that branched from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. They were ascetic, therefore they (specifically Bernard of Clairvaux) opposed monumental buildings, distractions in architecture, and monasteries.

franciscan

A group of Mendicant friars led by Saint Francis. They wanted to live their lives closer to Christ and preached in Italian. Appealed to the secular laity because of their humanistic approach. As such, they are anti-institutional and go against the great orders (Benedictines, Cistercians)

mendicant

(friar) a member of any Roma Catholic religious order who assumes a vow of poverty and supports themselves by work and charitable contributions.

dominicans

one of the four great mendicant orders founded by St. Dominic. They lived in community life and are referred to as Black Friars.

friar

a member of a religious order. Like monks, they are devoted to a religious life. Unlike monks, friars live and work among regular people in society and don’t take orders.

ascetic

characterized by self-discipline and abstention from indulgence

aesthetic

concern with beauty or appreciation of beauty

sedes sapientiae

throne of wisdom. the depiction of the Virgin Mary playing a supporting role as the bearer of Jesus; a vision extremely different compared to the cult of Mary.

elevation

height in relation to architecture. Example: two levels consisting of a nave arcade and a gallery

bay

the space between architectural elements.

lintel

a beam placed above the windows and doors of buildings

transverse arch

a supporting arch which runs avross the vault from side to side, dividing the bays.

rib vault

the skeleton of pointed arches that support the ceiling (typical of romanesque and gothic era)

barrel vault

rounded arched ceiling that gives the appearance of a tunnel. (typical of Roman buildings)

flying buttress

a type of buttress that supports a building from one side with the other fastened on the ground away from the building.

continuous narrative

a narrative that displays multiple scenes within a single frame. Usually present in tapestries.

sequential narrative

a narrative that tells a story in a series of images using frames

fresco

a type of wall painting where plaster is applied to the walls while they are still wet. fresco=fresh=wet

giornata

a day’s worth of fresco paint-work

psalter

a copy of the book of Psalms written by the Old Testament’s King Solomon. Consists of 150 psalms and promote private devotion.

bestiary

a descriptive anecdote using real and mythical animals to convey a moral

T-O map

an early world map that represented by a circle with a T inside.

relic

a part of a deceased holy person’s body or belongings kept as an object of reverence

reliquary

a container for relics.

varietas

diversity in architecture in art that promotes different sensory experiences.

value modeling

showing shading