7-11 years old
abstract
Not showing people or things in a realistic way; abstract art can show recognisable pictures or nothing in particular. (The Ultimate Art Museum by Ferren Gipson.)
action painting
This describes artists who, instead of using brushes to apply paint to a canvas, throw, drip and splash paint onto the surface. This was most famously done by the American artist Jackson Pollock.
allover composition
A term mainly used to describe paintings - especially ones made by abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock - where paint is used equally all over the canvas.
assemblage
A form of art where artists join together an assortment of found or made objects to create an individual work of art.
autobiographical
Autobiographical art is art which tells the viewer something about the artist's life or personal experiences.
bourgeoisie
A French term which refers to the middle class. The term was popular in the 19th Century when the middle class grew dramatically in Europe.
contrasting colours
Term used to describe two colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel: red and green, orange and blue, yellow and purple. Artists use these colours next to each other to create contrast.
impasto
A type of oil painting in which the paint is applied in very thick layers. (The Ultimate Art Museum by Ferren Gipson.)
Impressionism
An art movement created in the late 19th Century in France by a group of artists who painted scenes from the modern world they lived in, instead of from history or mythology. They mainly painted using loose quick brushstrokes to capture a moment in time.
self-portrait
A picture of yourself - like a selfie, but painted, drawn or sculpted.
collage
A way of making a picture where you cut-out images from magazines or shapes from paper and arrange them to create a new image.
composition
A fancy word for how everything is arranged in a picture.
cultural identity
The group or culture we see ourselves belonging to. This includes what nationality, religion, generation, class, sexuality, etc. that we most associate ourselves with.
globalised
A term used to describe how people and countries across the world are all connected.
grisette
A term used in 18th and 19th Century France to refer to a working class woman. The term has had many meanings and was also used in a demeaning way to describe a flirtatious woman.
post-impressionism
An art movement from the late 19th century that used colour to show emotions. It often only refers to the art of four artists: Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat and Paul Cézanne.
Naïve
A term for an artist who didn’t have any formal training in art.
silver nitrate patina
Used on bronze sculptures to make the surface shiny.
midinette
A seamstress or shop assistant in Paris.
monumental
A term used to describe a sculpture that is very, very big. These are often public works of art, displayed outside, as they can’t fit inside a gallery.
oil paint
A type of paint that is very popular with artists because it dries slowly.
Pop art
An art movement from the 1950s and 60s where artists were inspired by adverts, tv, magazines, supermarkets, celebrities - anything that was popular!
printmaking
A form of art where artists create a design, often using wood or metal, which is then covered in ink or paint and printed onto paper.
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of history during which manufacturing (making things) moved from small workshops to big factories. It began in the 18th century in Britain, when many people moved from the countryside to cities to find work in factories.
Romanticism
Romanticism is the name for a style of art which was popular in the late 18th and early 19th century in Europe. Romanticism often depicted intense scenes from the natural world, like Turner's, The Fighting Temeraire.
found objects
Artists often use found objects in their art - these can be any items that the artist has found (or sometimes bought) which has some meaning to them, which they then include in their artwork. Salvador Dalí's Lobster Telephone is a great example of this.
still life
A genre or type of painting, which represents objects - often flowers, books or food.
portrait
A painting, sculpture, photograph or drawing, of a person. Traditionally this just includes the head and shoulders.
Renaissance
A period of European history when art and culture were reborn and stories, art and literature from the Ancient Greek and Romans became popular.
domestic
In art, a domestic scene depicts an interior of a house and the people that live their going about their daily lives.
11-14 years old
abstract
not showing people or things in a realistic way; abstract art can show recognisable pictures or nothing in particular. (The Ultimate Art Museum by Ferren Gipson.)
abstraction
A style in art that moved away from painting things realistically.
venus pudica
Venus Pudica is a term used to describe a particular type of classical female nude sculpture, sometimes also known as a "modest venus".
classical
Classical art is the name of art which came from the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome.
composition
Composition is a term used to describe the placement of different elements in a work of art to make up the whole picture.
Conceptual art
Conceptual art, or conceptualism is art in which the idea, or conception, of it holds more importance than the actual artwork itself. Conceptual artworks are often called installations.
contrapposto
The Italian word for "counter" or "opposite" contrapposto is a pose used in sculpture where one leg is bent and one is standing straight - thought to copy the natural standing position.
installation art
an artwork (often a large one) that has been specially designed to change the way people experience a place. (The Ultimate Art Museum by Ferren Gipson.)
negative space
the empty or open space around an object in a painting or sculpture. (The Ultimate Art Museum by Ferren Gipson.)
Abstract Expressionism
Abstract Expressionism was an art movement which emerged in the 1940s in New York. Artists Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock were both abstract expressionist painters. They focused on colour and emotions rather than representing real things.
American Modernism
A cultural movement in America in the early 20th century that moved away from artistic conventions and towards abstraction.
colossal
Often used to describe large sculpture, colossal simply means gigantic or very large.
drip technique
A type of action painting which artists began to use in the early 20th century but which came to prominence in the 1950s and 60s, most notably used by American artist Jackson Pollock - he would drip paint onto the canvas, often using sticks, brushes and other objects.
texture
An important visual element in art - texture usually describes how something feels to touch, but in art it can describe how something looks like it might feel.
Western art
The term, Western Art, defines art which comes from European countries, and later from the USA and Canada.
Pop art
Pop Art was a movement in the 1960s which was influenced by popular culture such as celebrities, television and everyday, mass-produced objects. Andy Warhol is the most well-known Pop artist.
symbolism
Symbolism was an art movement which emerged during the late 19th Century. Artists such as Redon and Gauguin were using dreams and mythology as inspiration for their work.
Ben Day dots
A printing and engraving process, named after illustrator and printer Benjamin Henry Day Jr. in which images were made up of tiny dots. The effect was famously used by the Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, who enlarged the dots in his paintings.
motif
A motif is an element of an image which can be repeated in patterns - for example a star or a flower shape.
extractive technique
A technique used in sculpture where the artist takes away from the starting material, such as carving a shape from a piece of wood.
additive technique
A technique used in sculpture where the artist adds to or builds up from the starting material, such as clay.
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period of European history which began in about 1400. The word itself means "rebirth" and the period was called this because many artists, writers and philosophers became influenced by ancient Greek and Roman thinking. Leonardo da Vinci is probably the most well-known Renaissance artist.
propaganda
Propaganda is a term used for the spreading of false or misleading information in order to influence the general public.
imperialism
Imperialism is the practice of a large or politically powerful country taking control of poorer or weaker countries who might have important resources.
primary colour
Primary colours are colours which cannot be made by mixing other colours together, for example red, yellow and blue.
oil paint
A type of paint that is very popular with artists because it dries slowly.
proportion
Proportion is a design principle or idea, which relates to how different elements in a composition relate to each other.
pedestal
A pedestal is a solid base which usually holds a sculpture or work of art.
nude
The tem nude refers to a human figure in an art work without any clothing on.
Baroque
The dominant style of painting, sculpture, architecture and music in Europe during the 17th century. Characteristics include dramatic contrasts in dark and light and realistic depictions.
body art
Body Art is a type of art in which the human body is the main focus and often the medium - very closely linked with performance art.
Dutch Golden Age
A period of dramatic production in art, science, literature and trade in the history of the Netherlands.
tronie
A genre of painting popular in the Dutch Golden Age, which depicted stock characters often with exaggerated facial expressions or in costume.
monochrome
A colour palette consisting of one colour.
Impressionism
An art movement created in the late 19th Century in France by a group of artists who painted scenes from the modern world they lived in, instead of from history or mythology. They mainly painted using loose quick brushstrokes to capture a moment in time.
male gaze
Coined by feminist theorists, it is a term to describe how woman have been represented in art through a masculine perspective, in turn in a objectified and sexualised way.
triptych
A picture made up of three panels, usually hinged together.
juxtaposition
Two things placed next or near to each other creating sharp contrast.
personification
When something non-human, e.g. an object or animal, is represented with human attributes or characteristics.
14-18 years old
Art Deco
The dominant style in the 1920s and 30s which encompassed furniture, design, architecture and the visual arts. Key characteristics include geometric shapes, smooth and streamlined forms, and use of bright colours and gold.
Baroque
A style of art and architecture dominant in predominantly Catholic European countries during the 17th century. It is notable for the dynamic and theatrical treatment of subject and form.
cantilever
A rigid architectural element, such as a beam or a roof, that extends horizontally but is only supported at one end.
chiaroscuro
From Italian, literally meaning ‘light-dark’, the creation of form in drawing and painting through the contrast of light and shade.
Classicism
Dating from ancient Greece and Rome, or later examples of art and architecture that conform to the style and examples of these earlier periods. Characterised by order, balance and clarity, the Classical model has remained a major source of reference throughout the history of Western art.
colonisation
The dominance and control of a state, or country, over the people and land of another region. Modern colonialism began in the 15th century with advancements in maritime technologies that extended the reach of European countries, including the enhanced possibility of passage across the Atlantic to the Americas. The late 19th century saw vast colonial expansion across Africa as the established Empires of Europe vied for control of its natural resources.
Conceptual art
Art in which the idea is equally, or more significant, than the physical artwork as image or object. Increasingly influential from the late 1960s onwards, it can take many forms including text, photography and film.
concetto
An Italian term often applied to Renaissance and Mannerist art that refers to the underlying idea or concept that gives the painting meaning.
Confucianism
A philosophical and ethical system of beliefs founded in China in the 6th century BCE. Promoting a respect for ancestors and tradition, it shaped political and spiritual life in China for thousands of years.
continuous narrative
In art, an image that represents multiple scenes to create a flowing narrative.
contrast
The use of markedly different tones or colours often to create visual interest.
Counter-Reformation
The renewal and strengthening of the Catholic Church across Europe during the 16th and 17th Century to counter the spread of the Protestant Reformation. Art played an important role in upholding and reasserting the Catholic faith.
drypoint
Form of engraving in which the design is directly engraved into the metal plate using a sharp needle. The technique is sometimes used to add detail to an etching.
emblematic
Symbolic or representative of a quality, person or thing.
engraving
A form of printmaking in which the design is incised into a metal plate using a pointed tool known as a burin. Ink is applied to the plate, before the surface is wiped with a cloth so that ink is only retained in the incised lines. The plate is passed through a press with a sheet of paper onto which a mirror image of the inked design is transferred.
entablature
etching
Printmaking process in which a design is incised into a metal plate using acid. The plate is first covered with a resistant substance, into which the design is drawn. The plate is submerged in an acid bath resulting in the corrosion of the exposed design. Ink is applied to the cleaned plate and wiped with a cloth so that the ink is only retained in the incised lines. The plate is passed through a press with a sheet of paper onto which a mirror image of the design is transferred.
figura serpentinata
A dynamic representation of the human body in which a figure, or figures, are shown in a twisted or spiralling pose. It is generally associated with the sculpture and painting of the Mannerist period.
French colonialism
French colonialism would result in one of the largest of the European Empires beginning with the colonisation of parts of North America and the West Indies in the 16th century. By the start of the 19th century the majority of these territories had been lost, however this decline was followed by a second colonial expansion which saw France take control of large parts of North and West Africa, as well as Indochina.
High Renaissance
Period covering the four decades leading up to the sacking of Rome in 1527, generally considered to have witnessed the creation of some of the most remarkable works in the history of western art, including those by Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
hybridisation
The coming together and merging of different cultures resulting in cultural transformation. It is often recognised as a result of increased globalisation.
Industrial Revolution
The transformation of society in Europe and America beginning in the late 18th century that resulted in a shift away from a predominantly rural agricultural system to one which is urban and industrial. This was initially driven by the development of steam power and was enhanced by later technological discoveries including electricity, steel and the petrol engine.
Installation Art
A large-scale artwork consisting of multiple parts and often constructed from a variety of materials. Installation art tends to be immersive, designed for the viewers to walk through, or around, the work.
International Style
The dominant architectural style of the early 20th Century, pioneered by architects such as Walter Gropius and Le Corbusier. Characteristics of buildings in this style are rectilinear, undecorated, asymmetrical and white.
Japonisme
A French term coined in the late 19th century to refer to the growing fashion for Japanese art and design in Europe following the opening up of trade in the 1850s. It would play a significant role in the development of modern art, influencing a range of artists associated with Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
Mannerism
Style in art dating from the 16th century characterised by complex and sophisticated compositions. Although influenced by the paintings of the High Renaissance, artists of this later period tended to reject balance and harmony in favour of asymmetry and exaggerated arrangements of human figures.
minaret
A slender tower of a mosque. It functions to call Muslims to prayer and also as a landmark of Islamic presence.
narrative
A story conveyed by a painting or sculpture.
Neo-Baroque
A movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which saw a revival of the Baroque style of the 16th Century. In architecture, the movement incorporated key characteristics of the Baroque style, in particular grand ornamentation and a sense of movement through curved forms, with modern materials and building techniques.
Neo-Classicism
A Western art movement prevalent between 1750 and 1850. It emerged in response to the drama and decorative styles of Rococo and Baroque art and was inspired by the subject matter and style of Greek and Roman art. It championed simplicity, balance, and ideal virtues.
octagonal
having the shape or cross section of an octagon; eight-sided.
organic architecture
A form of architecture designed to fit in with its surroundings and embody the forms and principles of nature. The term was coined by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 20th century.
Parametricism
A style of architecture that emerged in the 1990s with the development of computer software and digital animation techniques. It came to prominence in the early 21st Century through the designs of Zaha Hadid and was coined by her long-term architectural partner Patrik Schumacher in 2008. It rejects Postmodernism and is characterised by curved lines and organic forms.
pediment
A triangle gable end positioned above the portico of a Classical temple, sometimes containing sculptural elements.
pilaster
A rectangular column-like architectural feature that protrudes from a wall, serving a decorative rather than structural function.
polychromatic
Many-coloured.
Postmodernism
A cultural movement that emerged in the latter part of the 20th Century as a rejection of Modernism. It uses and combines elements from earlier movements and styles. Postmodernist architecture is characterised by an electric, colourful style.
psychological lines
Imaginary lines within an image created in the mind of the viewer. They may be evoked by the gaze of the subject, or the implied movement of an object or figure.
pyramidal
A compositional arrangement based on the form of a pyramid. As an underlying structure, order - by means of the solid base – is balanced with a sense of upward movement as the pyramidal shape diminishes towards the apex.
ukiyo-e
Popular Japanese art form from the 17th to the 19th century. Translated as ‘pictures of the floating world’, this relates to the theatre and brothel districts of Japan’s cities populated with courtesans and actors that appear in some ukiyo-e. Also depicting landscapes and folktales, ukiyo-e were widely available as relatively inexpensive woodblock prints.
reductive technique
The process of making by the removal of material, such as carving.
reclining nude
Or recumbent nude. The depiction of a naked human body in art, often as an expression of ideal beauty and taste.
realism
An art form that depicts the reality of life, as opposed to idealism and romanticism. Realism with a capital R specifically applies to the 19th-century French movement associated with Gustave Courbet, which took as its subject matter the daily lives of ordinary people depicted in a detailed, sombre manner.
site-specific installation
An artwork in which the concept and/or structure is intrinsically linked to its location.
symbolism
The use of symbols to represents things or concepts.
tenebrism
A painting that employs chiaroscuro, often dramatically, to create a contrast between light and shadow or the appearance of night.
trellis
typology
Typology refers to the study and interpretation of the bible through types and symbolism. It is the belief that stories from the Old Testament foreshadow and prophesied the New. For example that the story of Moses is reflected in the life of Christ.
woodblock
A type of print made by cutting a design in relief into a block of wood. The inked block is pressed onto the paper or cloth producing a mirror image of the design. To create coloured designs multiple blocks are used.
advanced
Abstract art
A style of art that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, which moved away from representing real things and focused more on colour and shape.
aerial perspective
The formation of pictorial space through the modulation of colour and clarity. Also known as atmospheric perspective, by rendering distant forms in less detail and with little tonal contrast, the illusion of depth is created.
agni
A Hindu term meaning fire. The Hindu god Shiva is often represented holding it in his left hand, as a symbol of the destruction of the universe.
allegorical
The depiction of an arrangement of symbolic figures or objects in order to convey a moral, political or philosophical meaning or comment.
amphitheatre
An open air theatre that was popular during Ancient Greece and Rome. They are often oval or circular in shape with a central stage surrounded by tiers of seats for spectators. The most famous example is the Colosseum in Rome.
Antiquity
Relating to the Mediterranean regions dominated by Greek and Roman civilisations, and pre-dating the 5th Century AD.
aperture
A general term to describe an opening between the interior and exterior of a building, e.g. a door, window, etc.
Apollonian
Displaying qualities of reason, harmony and restraint, associated with the Greek god of knowledge, beauty and healing, Apollo. The term was used by the German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche as the antithesis of Dionysian.
Ars Nova
In Latin translates to 'new art' and is used to describe a period of flourishing in music during the 14th Century.
Avalokiteshvara
A powerful Buddhist deity known as a bodhisattva, who personifies compassion.
avant-garde
balustrade
A row of small columns topped by a rail, often seen lining staircases.
Baroque
A style of art and architecture dominant in predominantly Catholic European countries during the 17th century. It is notable for the dynamic and theatrical treatment of subject and form.
benediction
In Christianity, a blessing, which is often said at the end of a service.
bodhisattva
A Buddhist deity who has reached the peak of enlightenment, but has put off becoming a Buddha and entering paradise to help others achieve enlightenment.
centering
A temporary wooden structure used to hold the materials in place when constructing an arch.
chiaroscuro
From Italian, literally meaning ‘light-dark’, the creation of form in drawing and painting through the contrast of light and shade.
Chola
A period in Indian history between 880 and 1279 AD.
Christendom
Countries and regions where Christianity was the dominant religion and was central to shaping the wider culture. In European history it is generally applied to the Medieval and Early Modern periods.
Christus Mortuus
A Latin term meaning "dead Christ". It refers to the depiction of Christ's body after his crucifixion and serves as a powerful symbol of his sacrifice.
chryselephantine
Sculpture made from gold and ivory.
Classical
Dating from ancient Greece and Rome, or later examples of art and architecture that conform to the style and examples of these earlier periods. Characterised by order, balance and clarity, the Classical model has remained a major source of reference throughout the history of western art.
coffered barrel vault
A ceiling, formed of a continuous arched shape, which is decorated with a pattern of sunken panels, either square, rectangular, or octagonal shaped.
coffers
A series of sunken square, rectangular or octagon shaped panels.
colossal
An extremely large-scale statue.
commission
The act of appointing and paying an artist to produce a particular artwork.
complementary colours
The placement of a primary colour (red, yellow, blue) next to a secondary colour composed of the other two primary colours, which results in it appearing stronger or brighter.
composition
The arrangement and combination of elements within a painting or sculpture that creates the overall appearance of the artwork.
concave
Curving inwards.
contrapposto
A representation of the human form that positions the body in such a way that the upper and lower parts of the torso are orientated to face slightly opposing directions to create a sense of asymmetry and balance. Its development in the statues of ancient Greece was a major contribution to a greater naturalism in art.
convex
Curving outwards.
Counter-Reformation
The renewal and strengthening of the Catholic Church across Europe during the 16th and 17th Century to counter the spread of the Protestant Reformation. Art played an important role in upholding and reasserting the Catholic faith.
Corinthian
One of the Classical Orders of architecture characterised by volute and acanthus leaf adorned capitals that crown the fluted columns of a building.
cornice
A decorative band found in an entablature on the facade of a building. It lies where the wall meets the ceiling.
crenellations
Evenly spaced gaps that line the top of a building. These originate in castle architecture, as they gave space for soldiers to shoot out from.
cross-section
The view of an object seen as if it had been cut through.
Darshan
A term used in Hinduism meaning to behold a god or deity (especially in the form of an image).
Dionysian
Displaying qualities of passion, irrationality and debauchery, associated with the Greek god of wine, fertility and religious ecstasy, Dionysus. The term was used by the German philosopher Frederich Nietzsche as the antithesis of Apollonian.
donor portraits
A portrait that is part of a larger painting, which represents the person or persons who commissioned or paid for the artwork.
Doric
One of the Classical Orders of architecture, characterised by fluted columns, often without a base, and a simple, geometric capital. One of the finest examples of the Doric order is the Parthenon in Athens.
drum
Cylindrical horizontal section of a column.
Dutch Golden Age
Period of great wealth, power and prosperity following the formation of the Dutch Republic in 1588. Lasting for almost one hundred years, the era would see a great expansion of secular art linked to the patronage of the growing mercantile class.
Early Modern period
The era between the end of the Medieval period and the arrival of the industrial and political revolutions of the late 18th century.
entablature
The upper horizontal section of a classical building that rests on the capitals of columns. It consists of the architrave, frieze and cornice.
entasis
The slight convex curvature applied to the shape of a column. It serves an aesthetic purpose by countering the optical illusion of a concave curve which is seen when viewing a perfectly straight column.
façade
The principal exterior wall of a building that faces out the front onto a street or open space. Often the most decorated part.
Fauvism
Group of early 20th century French modern painters, including Henri Matisse, Andre Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck, known for their non-naturalist use of bright colours and painterly approach to composition. The term Fauves – meaning ‘wild beasts’ – was coined by the critic Louis Vauxcelles on seeing their work exhibited together in Paris in 1905.
Florentine Renaissance
Also known as the Early Renaissance, the Florentine Renaissance refers to the origins of the Renaissance in the republican city state of Florence. The wealth and independence of the city saw wide patronage of the arts.
fluting
A recessed vertical groove carved into the shaft of a classical column.
flying buttress
A wall-supporting structure prevalent in Gothic architecture. In contrast to a solid buttress, a Flying Buttress incorporates a series of half arches which provide greater vertical support, as well as adding a decorative potential.
foreshortening
The use of perspective to create the illusion that an object or person, when positioned at an angle to the picture plane or disappearing into the distance, is longer than it has actually been depicted.
frieze
The central section of the entablature. It is often carved in relief.
Gothic
Relating to the medieval period, particularly in architecture, typified by tall pointed arches, flying buttresses and elaborative decoration. It was seen as a derogatory categorisation during the Renaissance, equated with barbarianism. By the mid 18th century however there was a revival of interest that would continue to influence contemporary architecture and design up until the early 20th century.
Haussmannisation
The radical transformation and modernisation of Paris in the mid 19th century by Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann. Commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III, the project lasted almost 20 years and saw large areas of the medieval city levelled and replaced with wide tree-lined avenues, grand squares and parks. The new open layout of the city was in part designed to enable the quelling of any future public disorder in a city that had experienced notable uprisings.
Hellenistic
Period in the ancient Greek world dating from 323 BCE, with the death of Alexander the Great, to the emergence of the Roman Empire in 31 BCE. In architecture there was an increased popularity in the Corinthian order which had first appeared during the preceding Classical period.
hemispherical
having the shape of a half of a sphere or a roughly spherical body.
High Renaissance
Period covering the four decades leading up to the sacking of Rome in 1527, generally considered to have witnessed the creation of some of the most remarkable works in the history of western art, including those by Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
hortus conclusus
A Latin term literally translated as ‘enclosed garden’. It is used to describe scenes, mostly from Western art in the Medieval and Renaissance period, showing the Virgin Mary in a walled or fenced garden to symbolise her virginity.
Humanism
A system of beliefs and philosophical thought centred on the importance and influence of humans and their actions, rather than that of divine or supernatural forces.
Impressionism
Influential art movement originating in France in the 1870s. Epitomised by the work of Claude Monet, artists associated with the group aimed to capture in paint the transient quality of light and its effects on the changing appearance of colour and form in nature.
International Gothic
A movement often seen as a bridge between the Medieval period and the Renaissance. It was prevalent in the courtly commissions of the 14th and 15th centuries in Europe. Its style was highly decorative and its characteristics include stylised figures, naturalistic details and rich use of colours and gold leaf.
lantern
An open structure on the top of a dome designed to let in light or let out smoke.
linear perspective
Pictorial system that creates the illusion of depth through the convergence of parallel lines at a single vanishing point at the centre of the horizon. First documented by Leon Battista Alberti in his 1435 treatise De Pictura (On Painting), the system based on mathematical principles would become central to the development of Renaissance art.
loggia
A vaulted corridor often attached to the exterior of buildings as decoration. They usually consist of a series of arches that are open to the exterior.
lost-wax technique
A method of casting a sculpture, usually in bronze, by pouring molten metal over a wax mould.
low tensile strength
Refers to brittle materials. Marble has a low tensile strength, meaning that it can break easily, and this makes working with marble (to carve sculptures) extremely challenging.
mandorla
A term used to describe the halo or aura surrounding the heads of Christian figures in art.
memento mori
Latin for ‘remember you have to die’. In art, a memento mori is a symbol used as a reminder of death. It is most commonly represented by a skull, but other symbols include a clock or hourglass, an extinguished candle, or decaying fruit or flowers. It was especially popular in the Renaissance and Baroque period and ties in with Christian beliefs, reminding the viewer of their own mortality and how they must use their life to repent.
metopes
A sometimes-decorated block of stone that is placed alternatively alongside the triglyphs in a Doric frieze creating a sense of order and rhythm.
naturalism
An accurate rather than stylised or idealised, representation of nature in art.
Neo-Platonic
Far reaching Philosophy indebted to the ancient writings of Plato that suggests the world we experience is an inferior version of an ideal reality. Originating with the theories of Plotinus in the 3rd century AD, Neo-Platonism argues that the achievement of beauty in art has the potential to replicate this ideal.
niche
In architecture, a recess in a wall often containing a decorative element, such as a statue.
Northern Renaissance
A term to describe artists working in Europe north of the Alps during the 15th and 16th centuries (eg. Jan van Eyck, Hans Holbein, Pieter Bruegel), as opposed to the Italian Renaissance (e.g. Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo). Key characteristics include the use of aerial perspective and perfecting the use of oil paint which allowed for minute details and an increased sense of realism.
octagonal
having the shape or cross section of an octagon; eight-sided.
octostyle
A temple or portico with eight columns in front, the most famous example being the Parthenon in Athens.
oculus
The Latin word for 'eye'. In architecture it is a circular opening in a wall or dome. Originating in Roman architecture, its most famous use is in the Pantheon, Rome.
orders
The classical orders, or styles of architecture recognisable by their differing forms of columns and entablature. There are five main orders, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan and Composite.
orthogonals
Lines that are perpendicular, creating a right angle where they intersect.
paragon
patronage
The provision of financial support to an artist by a group or individual. This can be by means of commissioning a single artwork or assisting them over longer periods throughout their career.
pediment
A triangle gable end positioned above the portico of a Classical temple, sometimes containing sculptural elements.
pendentive
A curved triangular shape, formed at the points at which a dome meets its supporting arches, which allows the dome to be placed over a square room.
peripteral
A Classical temple that is surrounded by a row of columns on all four sides.
pinnacle
A pointed vertical architectural decorative feature often located high up on a building. Commonly used in Gothic architecture.
pilaster
A rectangular column-like architectural feature that protrudes from a wall, serving a decorative rather than structural function.
plinth
A base that holds a sculpture.
portico
A structure seen at the entrance to grand buildings consisting of a roof supported by a series of columns at regular intervals.
Primitivism
Perceived as providing more authentic or genuine forms of expression, modern artists looked for inspiration among the art and artefacts of non-western tribal cultures, such as those of sub-Saharan Africa, South America and the Pacific islands. European folk art, and the art of children and psychiatric patients were also valued for its naivety and unsophistication.
propaganda
Propaganda is a term used for the spreading of false or misleading information in order to influence the general public.
pyramidal
A compositional arrangement based on the form of a pyramid. As an underlying structure, order - by means of the solid base – is balanced with a sense of upward movement as the pyramidal shape diminishes towards the apex.
quattrocento
An Italian term for 15th Century.
realism
An art form that depicts the reality of life, as opposed to idealism and romanticism. Realism with a capital R specifically applies to the 19th-century French movement associated with Gustave Courbet, which took as its subject matter the daily lives of ordinary people depicted in a detailed, sombre manner.
recumbent nude
Or reclining nude. The depiction of a naked human body in art, often as an expression of ideal beauty and taste.
relief
A three-dimensional artwork or design that projects from a flat surface.
Renaissance
Inspired by the Classical past, the Renaissance – or rebirth – was shaped by a growing awareness of humankind’s pivotal position in the world. In the arts this led to a prioritising of human anatomy and the development of perspective. The Renaissance occurred from the late 14th century to the end of the 16th century.
Rococo
A period of opulent frivolity in the arts associated with the 18th century reign of the French king Louis XV. In the decorative arts it is recognisable for its use of natural motifs, scrolls, serpentine lines and asymmetry. Rococo painting often prioritised themes of love and playfulness depicted in soft pastel colours and a gentle atmospheric light.
Romanticism
Form of art that favours subjectivism, and the expression, or evocation of emotions and feelings. It is usually viewed as a rejection of the ordered balance and rationality of Classicism.
sacra conversazione
In Italian it translates as ‘holy conversation’. It was popular in Western art in the Medieval and Renaissance periods and is particularly prevalent in altarpieces. It was a way of representing the Virgin and Child, along with a number of saints, in an engaging and unified scene.
single point perspective
The illusion of three-dimensional space or volume on a two-dimensional surface suggested through the depiction of objects which decrease in size towards a single imaginary vanishing point. It is a form of perspective that assumes that the scene is viewed from a fixed, single point.
spectral palette
The range of colours used by an artist that avoids the use of black. Light and shadow is created through the modulation of colour rather than ranges of grey.
still life
A genre of painting that depicts an arrangement of inanimate manmade, or natural, objects or things. Throughout the history of art items have been painted for their symbolic meaning, although modern artists have tended to use it as a rather neutral subject in order to forefront the formal qualities of their work.
tonal value
The range of light and dark in a painting, drawing or print. White being the lightest value, and black the darkest.
triglyphs
A block of stone carved with three vertical bars that sits alongside the metopes in a Doric frieze. They decoratively represent the ends of wooden beams that would have been present in earlier wooden structures.
vanishing point
In painting or drawing, the imaginary horizon point where the receding lines of perspective converge.
vanitas
An allegorical still life, which might include depictions of skulls, hour glasses, flowers or food, that acts as a reminder of the transience of life and human mortality.
vault
A ceiling or roof structure consisting of an arrangement of arches.
varadamudrā
A gesture common in Buddhist iconography, where the right hand is positioned down the side, with the palm uppermost and fingers outstretched. It symbolises the offering of help.
Venus Pudica
A classical pose which describes a naked female figure shown with one hand on her genitals.
volute
A spiral scroll decoration used on Ionic and Corinthian capitals.