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Art History 201 Final
Early Christian, Byzantine, Islamic, and Barbarian art vocabulary
105
Art History
Undergraduate 2
05/05/2010

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Term
Authoritarianism
Definition
Christianity as the official state religion reflected the authoritarian character of the imperial government. justified by quotations from early authorities and scriptures.
Term
Mysticism
Definition
Emphasis on the spiritual, the common objects such as fish, birds. and plants assumed symbolic meaning related to abstract concepts rather than their material realities. (ex. Light symbolized God)
Term
Inconography
Definition
The study of symbolic picture writing and its hidden meaning within Christian tradition
Term
Icon
Definition
means "image" any image of God, Christ, and today, the Saints
Term
Iconoclastic Controversy
Definition
the prohibition of sacred images of god. a decree by the Byzantine Emperor Leo III in 726 ordering the destruction of all images showing Christ in human form. the prohibition was effective in the Orthodox church until 843
Term
Iconoclasts
Definition
Image destroyers who were lead by Emperor Leo III they believed in the literal interpretation of the biblical ban against graven images as idols they anted to restrict religious art to abstract symbols
Term
catacomb
Definition
a subterranean christian burial place usually with accommodation for a number of niches for sarcophagi and small chapels for funeral feasts and other commemorative services
Term
martyrium
Definition
a shrine or chapel erected in honor of or over the grave of a martyr
Term
baptistery
Definition
the building or the part of the church used for baptism usually containing a font
Term
Orant Pose
Definition
from the Latin word for praying used to describe figures standing with arms outstretched in an attitude of prayer
Term
cathedral
Definition
the principle church of a bishop (head of the diocese) containing his throne or cathedra
Term
christus patiens
Definition
"suffering of Christ" a cross with a representation of the dead Christ
Term
Christus Triumphans
Definition
"triumphant Christ" a cross with a representation of the living Christ eyes open and triumphant over death
Term
Pantocrator
Definition
a representation of Christ as the almighty ruler of the universe an image frequently found in the apse or dome
Term
Diptych
Definition
a painting or relief sculpture consisting of two panels which can be folded together usually of a religious subject
Term
Codex
Definition
a manuscript in a book form with pages bound together between stiffened covers
Term
Squinch
Definition
an architectural device that uses lintels across the corners of a square space to support a dome and to make the transition from square space to a round one
Term
pendentive
Definition
a method of support in a dome over a square space by using concave triangular sections of masonry
Term
lunette
Definition
a semicircular opening or surface s on the wall of a vaulted room
Term
illumination
Definition
the art of decorating manuscripts with designs and pictures in color
Term
mosaics
Definition
the decoration on a floor wall or vault with small pieces of stones glass or ceramic of different colors set in plaster or concrete
Term
tessera
Definition
a small piece of stone or glass used to compose a mosaic
Term
gilede or gilding
Definition
coating a painting sculpture or architectural ornament with gold leaf which is attached with glue
Term
gold leaf
Definition
gold beaten into a leaf 1/300000 of an inch thick used in gilding
Term
madrasa
Definition
Islamic college for teaching theology and common law
Term
oibla wall
Definition
the wall of a mosque facing mecca toward which Muslims must turn when praying
Term
mosque
Definition
Islamic building for communal prayer, a temple
Term
muhammed
Definition
the founder of Islam
Term
cliph
Definition
a leader of Muslims in both a spiritual and a political scene
Term
koran
Definition
the sacred Muslim writings as revealed by Allah to Muhammad and taken down by him or his companions
Term
iman
Definition
Muslim teacher who serving as a priest in a mosque recites the prayers and leads the devotions of the faithful
Term
qibla
Definition
the direction of mecca which Muslims face when praying indicant by the mihrab in the quibla wall of a mosque
Term
sahn
Definition
Arabic name for the open interior courtyard of a mosque it usually has a pool in the center
Term
mihrab
Definition
a nich or flat slab in the qibla wall of a mosque
Term
minbar
Definition
the high pulpit from which an iman leads communal prayers and the addresses of the congregation in a mosque
Term
pointed arch
Definition
an arch that comes to a point its advantage over the rounded arch is that it can be designed for almost any proportion
Term
minaret
Definition
a Small slender tower attached to a mosque and surrounded by one or more balconies from which the muuezzin calls people to prayer
Term
arabesque
Definition
intricate surface decoration with plant forms spirals knots etc. but without human figures
Term
colonnette
Definition
a tall slender column
Term
iwan
Definition
a large porch or shallow hall with a pointed barrel vault in later buildings it may serve as an entrance or face a courtyard
Term
kufic
Definition
a formal type of Arabic calligraphy used decoratively on a building pottery and textiles
Term
calligraphy
Definition
fine or elegant handwriting with flowing rhythmic strokes and a distinctively personal quality
Term
ka'bah
Definition
the most sacred shrine of the Muslims a small cube shaped building in the great mosque at mecca toward which Muslims face when praying it contains a sacred stone said to have been turned black by the tears of repentant pilgrims or by the sins of those who have touched it
Term
muezzin
Definition
in Muslim countries a crier who calls the people to prayer at sated hours from the minaret
Term
ogee arch
Definition
arch constituted by two ogg lines ogg is a double curved line made up of a concave and a convex parts
Term
islam
Definition
Arabic word meaning submission
Term
muslim
Definition
Arabic word meaning one who has submitted to the will of Allah the one and only god as revealed by the prophet Muhammad in the Koran
Term
moor
Definition
a person of mixed Arabian blood originally inhabiting north Africa
Term
barbarian art
Definition
the art of Germanic tribes from the 4th to the 9th centuries which is characterized by the near absence of the human figure and preference for animal forms and animal interlace metalwork and jewelry were their specialties
Term
animal interlace
Definition
type of ornamentation composed by stylized animal forms of which the extremities have been elongated and interwoven also called lacertine or strap work
Term
enamel
Definition
a colorless or colored vitreous glass paste fused by heat
Term
cloisonne
Definition
a technique of enameling in which the design is laid down in thin metal strips on a metal ground forming chambers to receive the vitreous enamel paste which is fused by heating in a kiln
Term
champleve
Definition
a technique of enameling metal by hollowing out part of the background filling the depressions with the vitreous enamel paste which is fused by heating in a kiln
Term
carolngian art
Definition
Frankish art from the mid 8th to the early 10th century originally promoted by Charlemagne. Carolingian artists of Germanic heritage instilled a new organic vigor into classical models and thus laid the foundation for Romanesque art
Term
choir
Definition
the section of the church between the apse and the crossing usually reserved for the clergy who chanted the music of mass
Term
westwork
Definition
the monumental towered western front of the church
Term
cloister
Definition
and open courtyard surrounded by a covered walkway usually next to the church in a monastery
Term
monastery
Definition
the residence of a community of monks
Term
crypt
Definition
the vaulted area beneath the eastern end of the church
Term
ottonian art
Definition
German art between the early 10th and early 11th century in this period named for Otto II elements of Carolingian roman and byzantine styles rather quickly developed into and unmistakably German style notable for and intense expressiveness
Term
hierarchism
Definition
church government by a ruling body of clergy which s a reflection of the divine order of the universe
Term
asceticism
Definition
monastic life of a self discipline self denial and seclusion from the outside wold of materialism to attain the rich inner spiritual life
Term
monastic virtues
Definition
poverty chastity and humility
Term
serf
Definition
the lower rank of free man in feudal society restricted to the land of the lord
Term
feudalism
Definition
the political economic and strict social structure of medieval Europe it was a government based on the possession of land in which everyone received his power from his immediate superior it included an oath of loyalty and a code of honor by ultimately the power of physical force ruled
Term
fief
Definition
a feudal estate
Term
feudal virtues
Definition
faith courage blind loyalty to superior
Term
bay
Definition
a repeated vertical unit of space marked by architectural members or supports
Term
trumeau
Definition
the center post of a portal (door)
Term
tympanum
Definition
the area between the lintel of the doorway and the arch above it usually decorated with relief sculpture
Term
reliquary
Definition
a container for relics of saints kings queens and clergy usually decorated with precious materials
Term
scriptorium
Definition
a room in a monetary where monks copied books
Term
miniator
Definition
a painter of small illuminations scenes
Term
rubicator
Definition
a painter of initial letters
Term
illumination
Definition
the art of decorating manuscripts with designs initial letters pictures in color and using elaborate calligraphy it was produced by monks
Term
font
Definition
a receptacle in a church or baptistery for the water used in baptism it is usually of stone or bronze and frequently decorated with sculpture
Term
mandorla
Definition
Italian for almond a large oval surrounding the figure of god Christ the virgin Mary or occasionally a saint it is a symbol of heaven indicating divinity or holiness
Term
campanile
Definition
the bell tower of a church either attached to it or freestanding near by
Term
ribbed bault
Definition
a vault where there is a framework of ribs or arches under the intersections of the vault
Term
nimbus
Definition
a halo a disc or a ring of light around the head of a sacred figure
Term
archivolt
Definition
the molding made up of layers of increasingly larger arches around an arch door or window
Term
apsidal chapels
Definition
the small chapels that radiate out from the apse and house chapels to the virgin Mary and saints
Term
dualism
Definition
the expression of conflict of the time reflected in the arts through dead weights and dynamic forces thrust and counter-thrust the particular and the universal monophonic and polyphonic choruses preformed alternately etc.
Term
scholasticism
Definition
a theological and philosophical approach to faith based on reason espoused by peter Abelard st Thomas Aquinas and the Nominalisis
Term
opus francigenum
Definition
a phrase meaning french work it refers to the style of Gothic architecture which was born in France at ile-de-france
Term
liberal arts
Definition
the medieval studies comprising the trivium and quadrivium which were taught in universities they were intended to provide chiefly general knowledge and to develop reason and judgment
Term
trivium
Definition
a group of studies consisting of grammar rhetoric and logic forming the lower division of the seven liberal arts in medieval universities
Term
quadrivium
Definition
a group of studies consisting of arithmetic music geometry and astronomy forming the upper division of the seven liberal arts in medieval universities
Term
franciscan humanitarianism
Definition
the teachings of st Francis of Assisi that all men are brothers and god reveals himself to man in all his creations so to love life is to love god st Francis did not avoid the world only wordily pursuits
Term
medieval naturalism
Definition
with the major emphasis on observation the Nominalists lead the way to modern science in art it meant a new emphasis on the natural observing man and nature
Term
tracery
Definition
the supportive decorative stonework on windows and sometimes on walls
Term
flying buttress
Definition
and arch that springs from the upper part of the pier buttress of a church spans the aisle roof an abuts the upper nave wall to counteract the thrust of the wall
Term
chapter house
Definition
the building used for the business meetings of the monks or canons of the cathedral
Term
guild
Definition
a professional organization which often regulated training materials and standards for a particular craft
Term
jambs
Definition
the vertical sides of a door
Term
lancet window
Definition
a tall pointed Gothic window without tracery
Term
pilgrim
Definition
one who journeys to a sacred place
Term
cult of saints
Definition
the worship of venerated people as intercessors focusing on the miraculous powers of their physical remains
Term
labors of the month
Definition
occupations traditionally associated with a specific month often depicted with the signs of the zodiac
Term
rose window
Definition
a round stained glass window with tracery resembling a rose usually placed at the center of one of the facades of a Gothic church
Term
ambulatory
Definition
the walkway around the apse of the church it allowed pilgrims to reach the radiating chapels to pray to the saints
Term
book of hours
Definition
a private prayer book arranged according to canonical hours of the church often decorated with illuminations
Term
stained glass
Definition
glass given translucent color by staining with metallic oxides and joined with lead strips to form a design or scene
Term
bible in stone
Definition
reference to stone sculpture portraying scenes from the bible
Term
palmer
Definition
a pilgrim with a palm leaf from the holy land
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