Glossary
Apse
A large, semicircular or polygonal recess in a church, often vaulted and located at the eastern end, typically containing the altar.
Example:
The mosaics in the apse of San Vitale in Ravenna depict Emperor Justinian and his retinue, emphasizing the sacred space and imperial authority.
Axial Plan
A building plan organized along a central axis, directing the viewer's attention towards a specific point, typically the altar in a church.
Example:
The axial plan of Santa Sabina effectively guides the worshiper's gaze from the entrance directly to the apse and altar, creating a clear processional path.
Basilica Plan
A rectangular building plan with a long central nave, side aisles, and an apse at one end, adapted from Roman civic buildings for Christian churches.
Example:
Santa Sabina is a quintessential example of the early Christian basilica plan, with its clear axial focus towards the altar, guiding the worshiper's gaze.
Byzantine Art
Art of the Byzantine Empire, characterized by religious themes, rich symbolism, and often gold backgrounds, spanning from the 4th to the 15th century CE.
Example:
The intricate mosaics of Hagia Sophia are prime examples of Byzantine art's grandeur and spiritual focus, reflecting imperial power and divine presence.
Catacomb
Underground burial tunnels used by early Christians, often decorated with frescoes, serving as both cemeteries and places of secret worship.
Example:
The Catacomb of Priscilla served as a hidden burial ground and place of worship for early Christians during times of persecution, preserving their faith.
Content
The subject matter, themes, and meaning conveyed by an artwork, including its iconography, narrative, and symbolic elements.
Example:
The content of Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait includes numerous symbols related to marriage, fidelity, and domestic life, revealing its complex meaning.
Context
The historical, social, political, religious, and cultural circumstances surrounding the creation and reception of an artwork.
Example:
Understanding the context of the French Revolution is essential to interpreting the political messages in Jacques-Louis David's Neoclassical paintings, like the Oath of the Horatii.
Contrapposto
A sculptural pose in which the weight is shifted to one leg, creating a natural, relaxed stance with a slight S-curve in the body, originating in classical art.
Example:
Michelangelo's David famously employs contrapposto, giving the figure a sense of dynamic readiness rather than rigid stillness, embodying classical ideals.
Dome
A rounded vault forming the roof of a building or structure, typically hemispherical, often symbolizing the heavens in religious architecture.
Example:
The Pantheon in Rome boasts one of the largest unreinforced concrete domes in the world, a testament to Roman engineering and architectural ambition.
Early Christian Art
Art produced by Christians or under Christian patronage from the late 2nd to the early 6th century CE, often adapting Roman forms for new spiritual themes.
Example:
The Catacomb of Priscilla showcases early Christian art's use of Roman forms for new religious narratives, like the Good Shepherd.
Encaustic Icon
A religious devotional image painted using the encaustic method, which involves mixing pigments with hot wax, creating durable and vibrant colors.
Example:
The Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George is a rare surviving encaustic icon, showcasing the vibrant colors achieved with this ancient technique.
Foreshortening
A method of rendering a subject or an object in a drawing or painting so as to give the illusion of recession or projection in space by contracting its length.
Example:
Andrea Mantegna's Lamentation over the Dead Christ uses dramatic foreshortening to bring the viewer intimately close to the deceased figure, enhancing emotional impact.
Form
The physical attributes and visual characteristics of an artwork, including its materials, composition, and artistic techniques.
Example:
The form of a Greek kouros statue is characterized by its rigid, frontal pose and idealized musculature, reflecting Archaic Greek sculptural conventions.
Frescoes
A mural painting technique involving applying pigment to wet plaster, allowing the paint to become an integral part of the wall as it dries.
Example:
The vibrant frescoes in the Villa of the Mysteries at Pompeii demonstrate the Roman origins of this painting method, depicting Dionysian rites.
Function
The intended purpose or use of an artwork, which can be religious, political, commemorative, decorative, or practical.
Example:
The function of the Great Pyramids of Giza was primarily as tombs for pharaohs, ensuring their passage into the afterlife and demonstrating their power.
Good Shepherd
An iconographic motif depicting Jesus as a youthful, beardless figure carrying a lamb on his shoulders, symbolizing his role as protector and guide.
Example:
The Good Shepherd motif in the Catacomb of Priscilla offered comfort and hope to early Christians, portraying Jesus as a caring guardian of his flock.
Hagia Sophia
A monumental Byzantine church in Constantinople (Istanbul), renowned for its massive central dome and innovative combination of basilica and central plan.
Example:
The immense dome of Hagia Sophia was an engineering marvel, appearing to float above the interior space due to its ring of windows, creating a sense of divine light.
Icon
A religious image, typically painted on a wooden panel, used in Eastern Orthodox Christianity for veneration and spiritual connection.
Example:
Many Orthodox Christians pray before an icon of their patron saint, believing it facilitates a direct connection to the divine and aids in devotion.
Iconoclasm
The deliberate destruction of religious images or icons, particularly prevalent in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries, due to theological debates.
Example:
During the period of Iconoclasm, many precious Byzantine icons were destroyed, leading to a significant loss of artistic heritage and intense religious conflict.
Illuminated Manuscript
A handwritten book decorated with drawings, paintings, or elaborate lettering, often produced in monasteries during the medieval period.
Example:
The Vienna Genesis is an early example of an illuminated manuscript, combining Greek text with vivid biblical illustrations to tell sacred stories.
Mosaics
Art created by assembling small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials (tesserae) to form an image or pattern, often used for wall and ceiling decoration.
Example:
The glittering mosaics inside the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna depict Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora in rich detail, showcasing Byzantine imperial power.
Nave
The central and principal part of a Christian church, extending from the entrance to the chancel or apse, where the congregation typically sits.
Example:
Walking down the long nave of a Gothic cathedral, one is often struck by the soaring height and stained-glass windows, creating an awe-inspiring space.
Orant Figure
A figure depicted with arms outstretched and palms open, in a gesture of prayer or supplication, common in early Christian art.
Example:
An Orant figure in a Roman catacomb might represent the soul of the deceased in prayer, awaiting salvation and eternal peace.
Patronage
The support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another, often commissioning artworks.
Example:
The Medici family's extensive patronage of artists like Michelangelo and Botticelli was crucial to the flourishing of the Renaissance in Florence, shaping its artistic output.
Symbolism
The use of images or objects to represent ideas or qualities, often abstract or religious, conveying deeper meaning beyond literal depiction.
Example:
In early Christian art, a fish could be a powerful symbol for Jesus Christ, representing his name (Ichthys) and serving as a secret sign among believers.
Theotokos
A Greek title for Mary, meaning 'God-bearer' or 'Mother of God,' often depicted in Byzantine icons emphasizing her divine motherhood.
Example:
The Theotokos is frequently shown enthroned with the Christ Child, emphasizing her divine motherhood and central importance in Christian theology and veneration.