TERMS LIST #1
INTRODUCTION
form & content
style
iconography
period/style category
representation(al)
abstract(ion)
non-objective
naturalism, realism
illusionism
idealization
Visual elements
point
line: actual, implied
shape, mass
    geometric, biomorphic
modeling
value, value scale
color wheel
color: primary, secondary, tertiary
            hue, value, intensity
            complementary, analogous
            local color – descriptive
    afterimage
texture: actual, implied
space: 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional
            recession
            perspective
            atmospheric perspective
            1-point linear perspective
            2-point perspective
                        vanishing point, horizon line
For Design Elements( Principles of Design), see the Vocabulary of Form webpage
composition
hatching, cross-hatching
stippling
pigment
binder
charcoal
Sculpture: in-the-round, relief
 
PREHISTORIC ERA
paleolithic
mesolithic
neolithic
post and lintel
passage tomb
dolmen
cromlech
megalithic
monolithic
mortice and tenon
 
ANCIENT NEAR EAST
conventions of representation
registers
cuneiform
pictograph
ziggurat
glyptic
intaglio
cult statue/votive figure
inlay
hieratic/hierarchical scale
stele
lost wax casting (cire perdu)
citadel
cyclopean masonry
lamassu
column: base, shaft, capital
impost block
crenellated
addorsed
hypostyle hall
Ahura Mazda
repoussé
 
EGYPT
hieroglyphs
palette
ka statue
closed, open form
canon of proportions
composite view
naturalism, idealization
Imhotep, 1st architect
mastaba
pyramid
corbeled
ashlar masonry/dressed stone
valley temple
funerary temple
pylon
obelisk
hypostyle hall
clerestory
 
AEGEAN
Cycladic
Minos, minotaur
Homer -- Iliad, Odyssey
Greek mythology
labyrinth
terra cotta
megaron
frieze
fresco (true, dry)
corbel, corbelled
relieving arch
cyclopean masonry
tholos, dromos
repoussé
 
GREECE
city-state, polis
democracy
classical civilization
canon of proportion
geometric style
archaic style
meander, key, fret
Greek vase shapes
black-figure, red-figure
white ground
foreshortening
encaustic
kouros, kore
classical style
contrapposto
lost-wax bronze casting (cire perdu)
athletics, Olympics
Polykleitos' canon
Greek orders of architecture: Doric, Ionic (volutes), Corinthian (acanthus leaves)
Column: base shaft, capital
stereobate, podium, stylobate
entablature: architrave, frieze
triglyph, metope
pediment, cornice
naos, portico, peristyle
peripteral, dipteral
plan, section, facade
entasis
caryatid
nike
Hellenistic
 
ETRUSCAN, ROMAN
Etruria
tufa
Vitruvius
cinerary urn
sarcophagus
pilaster
attached column
tumulus
reserve
Rome: Republic, Empire
domus:
    atrium
    impluvium, compluvium
    tabernae
    peristyle
insula
villa
castrum plan
arcuated architecture
arcades
voussoirs
springing
centering
spandrels
dome
tunnel/barrel vault
groin vault
concrete
forum
basilica
ampitheater
coffers
oculus
spolia
ancestor worship
naturalism
idealization
portrait
verism
mural painting
genre scene
still life
encaustic
 
PAGAN, EARLY CHRISTIAN, JEWISH
icon, iconic
Torah
menorah
Ark of the Covenant
synagogue
house church
catacomb
loculus
cubiculum
Edict of Toleration
longitudinal plan
central plan
aisle
nave
transept
crossing
cruciform
mausoleum
baptistery
ambulatory
gallery
vault
mosaic
tesserae
putto, putti
Eucharist
Chi-Rho
bishop
cathedra, cathedral
pendentives, squinches
screen wall
halo
mandorla
rotulus, codex
parchment, vellum
 
ISLAM
Islam, Islamic, Muslim
5 Pillars of the Faith
Mecca, Medina
sanctuary, shrine
mosque
minaret, mihrab niche, qibla wall
sahn
plans: hypostyle, 4-iwan, central
iwan
calligraphy, kufic script
 
EARLY MEDIEVAL, ROMANESQUE, GOTHIC
Migration Period
Anglo-Saxon
Hiberno-Saxon
Celtic
cloisonné
interlace
historiated
runes
manuscript illumination
scriptorium, scriptoria
monastery, monastic, monk, abbot
schematism
Carolingian, Ottonian, Romanesque
alternating support system
pilgrim, pilgrimage, pilgrimage church
radiating chapels
ambulatory
transverse ribs, arches
rib vault, groin vault
relic, reliquary
portal: voussoir, archivolts, tympanum, lintel, jamb, trumeau
portal program
mandorla
evangelist, evangelist symbol
prophet
Apocalypse
Old Testament, New Testament
champlevé enamel
Psalter
Evangeliary
campanile
Norman Invasion
Norman architecture
column
pier
compound pier
buttress
flying buttress
Abbot Suger
elevation
gallery
triforium
stained glass
rose window
lancet
tracery
guilds
west facade
north, south transept
portal programs
corbel
trefoil
quatrefoil
pinnacle
crocket
Flamboyant Gothic
Scholasticism
virtues and vices
sexpartite vault
fan vault
Decorated Style
loggia
ProtoRenaissance
preaching orders
pulpit
stigmata
grisaille
altarpiece
urbanism
government
allegory
Book of Hours