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Final Vocabulary Terms
Herron H101 Honors 2011
63
Art History
Undergraduate 1
12/03/2011

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Term
Altneuschul
Definition
the oldest functioning synagogue in Europe, specifically located in Prague; demonstrates the adaptability of the Gothic hall-church design for non-Christian use
Term
Ambulatory
Definition
the passage (walkway) around the apse in a basilica or around the central space in a central-plan building
Term
Aniconism
Definition
the practice of creating symbolic representations without images of human figures; commonly found in Islamic art
Term
Animal style
Definition
decoration made of interwoven animals or serpents, often found in Celtic and early Medieval Northern European art
Term
Apse
Definition
a large semicircular or polygonal niche protruding from the end wall of a building
Term
Archivolts
Definition
a molded band framing an arch, or a series of stone blocks that rest directly on the columns
Term
Atrium
Definition
an unroofed interior courtyard or room in a Roman house, sometimes having a pool or a garden, sometimes surrounded by columns; can also be the open courtyard in front of a church
Term
Ballcourt
Definition
a large structure used in Mesoamerica for over 2,700 years to play the Mesoamerican ballgame
Term
Bar tracery
Definition
the type of tracery in which mullions are fitted into an opening in the wall to make a frame for stained glass windows
Term
Basilica plan
Definition
a structure with an axial plan, usually includes a narthex, nave, side aisles and an aspe
Term
Catacombs
Definition
a subterranean burial ground consisting of tunnels on different levels, having niches for urns and sarcophagi and often incorporating rooms
Term
Central plan
Definition
any structure designed with a primary central space surrounded by symmetrical areas on each side (eg: a rotunda)
Term
Clerestory
Definition
the topmost zone of a wall with windows in a basilica extending above the aisles roofs; provides direct light into the nave
Term
Cloister
Definition
an open space within a monastery surrounded by an arcade or colonnaded walkway, often having a fountain and gardens
Term
Confucianism
Definition
the system of ethics, education, and statesmanship in China which stressed love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct
Term
Cong
Definition
a square or octagonal jade tube with a cylindrical hole in the center; a symbol of the earth it was used for ritual worship and astronomical observations in China
Term
Daoism
Definition
a philosophical system advocating a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to attain a happy existence in harmony with the Tao
Term
Flying buttress
Definition
an arched bridge above the aisle roof that extends from the upper nave wall, where the lateral thrust of the main vault is greatest, down to a solid pier
Term
Handscroll
Definition
a long, narrow, horizontal painting or text (or combination thereof) common in Chinese and Japanese art and of a size intended for individual use
Term
Historiated capitals
Definition
a capital displaying a figural composition of a narrative scene
Term
Horseshoe arches
Definition
an arch of more than a half-circle common in Western Islamic architecture
Term
Iconoclasm
Definition
the banning or destruction of religious images in Byzantium during the eighth and ninth century
Term
Iconophile
Definition
from the Greek for "lover of images"
Term
Iconostasis
Definition
the partition screen in a Byzantine/Orthodox church situated between the altar and the nave; used to conceal parts of the liturgy laymen were not allowed to see
Term
Icon
Definition
an image representing a sacred figure or event in the Byzantine, and later Orthodox, Church; often venerated by the faithful, who believed them to have miraculous powers to transmit messages from God
Term
Illuminated manuscripts
Definition
a painting on paper or parchment used as an illustration and/or decoration in Medieval books; richly colored, often supplemented by gold and other precious materials
Term
Jade
Definition
a precious stone that is typically a shade of green; primarily used in carvings
Term
Jambs
Definition
the vertical element found on both sides of an opening in a wall, and supporting an arch or lintel
Term
Kaaba
Definition
a cube-shaped building in Mecca, the most sacred Muslim pilgrim shrine, into which is built the black stone believed to have been given by Gabriel to Abraham. Muslims turn in its direction when praying
Term
Lancets
Definition
a tall, narrow window crowned by a sharply pointed arch, typically found in Gothic architecture
Term
Lintel
Definition
a horizontal element of any material carried by two or more vertical supports to form an opening
Term
Literati
Definition
the English word used for the Chinese wenren or the Japanese bunjin, referring to well educated artists who enjoyed literature, calligraphy and painting as a pastime
Term
Mandorla
Definition
light encircling or emanating from the entire figure of a sacred person
Term
Martyrium
Definition
a church, chapel, or shrine build over the grave of a martyr or the site of a great miracle
Term
Mecca
Definition
birthplace of Muhammad and spiritual center of Islam
Term
Mihrab
Definition
a recess or niche that distinguishes the wall oriented toward Mecca in a mosque
Term
Minbar
Definition
a high platform or pulpit in a mosque
Term
Mullions
Definition
a slender vertical element or colonnette that divides a window into subsidiary sections
Term
Narthex
Definition
the vestibule or entrance porch of a church
Term
Nave
Definition
the central space of a basilica, two or three stories high and usually flanked by aisles
Term
Orant
Definition
the representation of a standing figure praying with outstretched and upraised arms
Term
Pagoda
Definition
an East Asian reliquary tower built with successively smaller, repeated stories; each story is usually marked by an elaborate projecting roof
Term
Pendentives
Definition
the concave triangular section of a vault that forms the transition between a square or polygonal space and the circular base of a dome
Term
Piers
Definition
a masonry support made up of many stones, or rubble and concrete, often square or rectangular in plan, and capable of carrying very heavy architectural loads
Term
Plate tracery
Definition
the type of tracery that involves cutting holes in the wall to fit the stain glass windows exactly
Term
Putti
Definition
plump, naked little boys who are often winged; can be called a cupid or a cherub
Term
Qibla Wall
Definition
the mosque wall oriented towards Mecca, indicated by the mihrab
Term
Quatrefoils
Definition
a four-lobed decorative pattern common in Gothic art and architecture
Term
Ribbed vault
Definition
masonry which demarcates the junction of a groin vault; may function to reinforce the groin vault or may be purely decorative
Term
Rose window
Definition
a circular window decorated with tracery symmetrical about the center
Term
Sarcophagus
Definition
a stone coffin often decorated with relief sculpture
Term
Scriptoria
Definition
a room in a monastery for writing or copying manuscripts
Term
Side aisles
Definition
passage or open corridor of a church, that parallels the main space, usually on both sides and is delineated by a row, or arcade, of columns or piers
Term
Silk Road
Definition
an ancient trade route spanning 4,000 miles between China and the Mediterranean
Term
Spolia
Definition
Latin for "hide stripped from an animal"; used to describe fragments of older architecture or sculptured reused in a secondary context
Term
Stave churches
Definition
a Scandinavian wooden structure with four huge timbers at its core
Term
Taotie
Definition
a mask with a dragon or animal-like face common as a decorative motif in Chinese art
Term
Tessarae
Definition
the small pieces of stone, glass, or other object that is pieced together with many others to create a mosaic
Term
Transept
Definition
the arm of a cruciform church, perpendicular to the nave
Term
Tree of Jesse
Definition
a pictorial or sculpted image representing the genealogy of Christ
Term
Trumeau
Definition
a column, pier, or post found at the center of a large portal or doorway, supporting the lintel
Term
Tympanum
Definition
the area over a door enclosed by an arch and a lintel often decorated with sculpture of mosaic
Term
Westwork
Definition
the monumental west-facing entrance of a church
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