Praxis Vocab

stepped mountain made of brick covered earth

a Chinese and Japanese school of Buddhism that believes that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition

a process that involves transferring and cutting pictures into wood blocks, inking the raised surface of the blocks, and printing

media in which the coloring agent is suspended in liquid, such as ink and paints

transparent pigments mixed with water

colors suggesting warmth; contain red and yellow

referring to the space within a form; or within a building when talking about architecture

unique expressions of ideas, beliefs, experiences, and feelings presented in well-designed visual forms

an arched roof or covering made of brick, stone, or concrete; a dome is a hemispherical vault

principle of design; referring to a way of combining art elements in involved ways to create intricate and complex relationships

perspective drawing, the point at which receding parallel lines seem to converge

element of art; describing the lightness or darkness of a hue

look and feel of wholeness or oneness in a work of art

Japanese painting style, which means pictures of the passing world

a half-round panel that fills the space between the lintel and the arch over a doorway of a church

a painting technique designed to foot a viewer's eye by creating a very realistic illusion of 3D qualities on a flat surface

a heavily decorated arch often consisting of a large central opening and two smaller openings, one on each side

a painting on 3 hinged panels that can be folded together

an aisle that cuts directly across the nave and the side aisles in a basilica and forms a cross-shaped floor plan

tall wood posts carved and painted with a series of animal symbols associated with a particular family or clan

the outward forced produced by the weight of an arch or vault; it is counterbalanced by buttressing

element of art; referring to a 2D area clearly set off by one or more of the visual elements such as color, value, line, texture, and space

hole in the floor of a kiva that symbolized the place through which the Pueblo people originally emerged into this world

quick drawing that captures the appearance or action of a place or situation; are often done in preparation for larger, more detailed works of art

mixture of clay and water used in the making of pottery to cement together parts that have been formed separately

material used to thin the binder in paint

element of art; referring to the distance or area between, around, above, below, or within things

art of cutting colored glass into different shapes and joining them together with lead strips to create a pictorial window design

inscribed stone pillar

drawing or painting of an arrangement of inanimate objects, such as food, plants, pots, etc.

small, round burial shrine erected over a grave site to hold relics of the Buddha

artist's personal way of using elements and principles of art to reproduce what is seen and to express ideas and feelings

top step of a 3-step platform used to support a row of colums

pointed, needle-like tool

20th century art style in which dreams, fantasy, and the subconscious served as the inspiration for artists

form, image, or subject representing a meaning other than the one with which it is usually associated

way of organizing the parts of a design so that one side duplicates or mirrors the other; formal balance

of or relating to the sense of touch

textile wall hanging that is woven, painted, or embroidered with decorative designs or colorful scenes

any method of working with art materials to create an art object; manner in which an artist uses the technical skills of a particular art form

paint made of dry pigments, or colors, which are mixed with a binding material

the capacity of a material to withstand bending

colors produced by mixing unequal amounts of 2 primary colors; Intermediate colors

element of art; referring to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched

leader believed to have healing powers

main weight-bearing portion of a column

screen print that has been handmade by an artist

poor peasants who did not have land

colors obtained by mixing equal amounts of 2 primary colors; orange, green, and violet

freestanding sculpture surrounded on all sides by space

3D work of art; can be carved, modeled, constructed, or cast

long roll of illustrated parchment or silk

paint is forced through a screen onto paper or fabric

use of sarcasm or ridicule to expose and denounce vice or folly

coffin, usually of stone, but can be wood, metal or clay; in ancient times they were often decorated with carvings of the deceased or with some religious or mythological subject

annual exhibition of art held by the academics in Paris and London

style of art that portrayed dramatic and exotic subjects perceived with strong feelings

artistic style that, in most areas, took place during the 11th and 12th centuries; most apparent in architecture and was characterized by the round arch, large size, and solid appearance

11th century art style that placed emphasis on portraying the carefree life of the aristocracy rather than on grand heroes or pious martyrs

principle of design; referring to the careful placement of repeated elements in a work of art to cause a visual tempo or beat

principle of design; referring to a way of combining art elements so that the elements are used over and over

period of great awakening; rebirth

image to be printed is raised from the background

type of sculpture in which forms project from a background

forms stand far our from the background

sculpture is shallow; Bas Relief

popular style of art in which artists painted the American scenes and events that were typical of their regions of America

mid 19th century style of art representing everyday scenes and events as they actually looked

sloping element that slants above the horizontal cornice

movement in which a group of Christians led by Martin Luther left the Catholic Church in revolt to form their own religion in 1517

principle of design; concerned with the relationship of certain elements to the whole and to each other

information or ideas purposely spread to influence public opinion

referring to the recklessly wasteful son in the painting by Bartolome Murillo

different ways that the elements of art can be used in a work of art; balance, emphasis, harmony, variety, gradation, movement, rhythm, and proportion

basic colors of red, blue, and yellow from which it is possible to mix all of the other colors of the spectrum

term used when referring to the various cultures and civilizations  found throughout the Americans before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492

an elaborate ceremonial feast that enabled members of one Kwakiutl clan to honor those of another while adding to their own prestige

French art movement that immediately followed Impressionism; artists involved showed a greater concern for structure and form than did the Impressionist artists

simplest and oldest way of constructing an opening; 2 vertical posts were used to support a horizontal beam, or lintel, creating a covered space

image of a person, especially of the face; can be made of any sculptural material or any 2D medium

door or gate, usually of importance or large in size; most Catholic cathedrals had 3 portals in the main facade

fine-grained, high-quality form of china made primarily from a white clay know as kaolin

an art style that portrayed images of the popular culture such as comic strips and commercial products

surface; Cezanne applied patches of color placed side by side so that each one represented a separate place

journey to a holy place

flat, rectangular columns attached to a wall; maybe decorated or used to buttress the wall

finely ground powder that gives every paint its color

sculpture or painting of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of Christ; Italian word for pity

massive vertical pillar that is used to support an arch or vault made of cut stone

technique of capturing optical images on light-sensitive surfaces

an art movement of the late 20th century in which the style is so realistic it looks photographic

an active effort to promote human welfare

an Egyptian king or ruler, also considered to be a god in the eyes of the people

method for representing 3D objects on a 2D surface; Aerial and Linear

a triangular section of the top of a building framed by a cornice, along with a sloping member called a raking cornice

surface film, produced naturally by oxidation, on bronze or copper; can be produced artificially by the application of acid or paint to a surface

pigments mixed with gum and pressed into a stick form for use as chalky crayons

story that contains as symbolic message

historical period believed to have lasted from 30,000 BC until about 10,000 BC; Old Stone Age

painting technique in which forms are created with patches of color rather than with hard, precise edges

tower several stories high with roofs slightly curved upward at the edges

20th century art style in which artists sought to create an impressionism of movement on the picture surface by means of optical illusion

mixture of dry paints pigments with oils, turpentine, and sometimes varnish

tall, four sided shaft of stone, usually tapering, that rises to a pyramidal point

African ruler or king

any artwork that contains no apparent reference to reality

recess in a wall

19th century French art style that sought to revive the ideals of ancient Greek and Roman art and was characterized by balanced compositions, flowing contour lines, and noble gestures and expressions

long, wide, center aisle

large design or picture, painted directly on the wall of a public building

prayer caller

principle of design; used to create the look and feeling of action and to guide the viewer's eye throughout the work of art

Muslim place of worship

decoration made with small pieces of glass and stone set in cement

consisting of only a single color

way of life in which individuals joined together in isolated communities called monasteries spend their days in prayer and self-denial

tools for working with, or modeling clay

sculpture technique in which a soft, pliable material is built up and shaped into a sculptural form

construction made of shapes that are balanced and arranged on wire arms and suspended from a ceiling or base so as to move freely in the air currents

use of several different materials in one work of art

spiral tower attached to a mosque

niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca and is large enough to accommodate a single standing figure

large monument created from huge stone slabs

material used by an artist to produce a work of art

act of focusing thoughts on a single object or idea; important element in the Buddhist religion

low, rectangular Egyptian tomb made of mud brick with sloping sides and a flat top, covering a burial chamber

European art style that rejected the calm balance of the High Renaissance in favor of emotion and distortion

wax model is coated to form a mold, heated in a kiln, and the wax melts and is allowed to run out; cire-perdue

graphic representation of a company name or trademark

printmaking method in which the image to be printed is drawn on a limestone, zinc, or aluminum surface with a special greasy crayon

realistic presentation of subject matter in a work of art; aesthetic quality favored by imitationalism

true to fact; the realistic presentation of the subject matter

horizontal beam spanning an opening between here, to the realistic presentation of subject matter

graphic system that showed artists how to create the illusion of depth and volume on a flat surface

painting technique in which importance is placed on contours or outlines

Element of art; refers to the continuous mark made on some surface by a moving point

painting, photograph, or other work of art that shows natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and lakes

a Greek statue of a male youth who may have been a god or an athlete

a Greek statue of a clothed maiden

holy scripture of Islam

circular underground sculpture that serves as a spiritual and social center in Pueblo cultures

sculptural form that actually moves in space

the central and highest top stone in an arch

brilliantly colored and patterned fabric

columns with an elaborate base and a capital carved into double scrolls that look like the horns of a ram

Eskimos inhabiting the area from Greenland to western arctic Canada

quality of brightness and purity of a color

process in which ink is forced to fill lines cut into a metal surface

style of painting in which artists captured the impression of what they eye sees at a given moment and the effect of sunlight on the subject

theory of art that places emphasis on the literal qualities; most important thing about a work of art is the realistic representation of subject matter

manuscript paintings, particularly those done during the Medieval period

a manuscript, popular during the Medieval period, in which the pages are decorated with silver, gold, and rich colors; contain small pictures know as illuminations or miniatures

interest in the art and literature of ancient Greece and Rome

color's name

characters and picture-writing used by the ancient Egyptians

period of Mediterranean culture influenced by Greece following the conquests of Alexander the Great; expression of inner emotions were more important than beauty to the artists of this period

principle of design; referring to the way of combining similar elements in an artwork to accent their similarities

20th century movement in painting in which the edges of shapes are crisp and precise rather than blurred

vault formed when 2 barrel vaults meet at right angles

oral historians who are also musicians and performers

principle of design; referring to a way of combining art elements by using a series of gradual changes in those elements

period that began around the middle of the 20th century and lasted to the end of the 15th or 16th centuries

mixture of glue and a white pigment such as plaster, chalk, or white clay

name given to the years 900-700 BC when geometric shapes were used on Greek pottery

representation of people, subjects, and scenes from everyday life

grotesque carved monsters that project out from the upper portions of huge churches

refers to the intended use or purpose of an object; applied to manufactured products, particularly crafts and designs for architecture

decorative horizontal band running across the upper part of a wall

method of painting in which pigments are applied to a thin layer of wet plaster so that they will be absorbed and the painting becomes part of the wall

theory of art that emphasizes design qualities; most important thing about a work of art is the effective organization of the elements of art through the use of principles

element of art; describes an object with 3 dimensions

way of drawing figures or objects according to the rules of perspective so that they appear to recede or protrude into 3D space

buttress in which it is not in contact with the wall all the way to the ground

sculpture, painting, and architectural arts that generally have no practical function and are valued by their success in communicating ideas or feelings

system in which weak noblemen gave up their lands and much of their freedom to more powerful lords in return for protection

early 20th century style of painting in France; leader of the Fauves was Henri Matissse

artists whose paintings were so simple in design, so brightly colored, and so loose in brushwork that an enraged critic named them Fauves or Wild Beasts

front of a building that accents the entrance and usually prepares the visitor for the architectural style found inside

those qualities having to do with the meaning, mood, or idea communicated to the viewer through a work of art; favored by Emotionalists

20th century art movement in which artists tried to communicate their strong emotional feelings through artworks

to engrave a metal plate with acid; you can make a print off of an etching by inking the surface of the engraved metal plate

outdoor artworks that are designed to become part of the natural landscape

the upper portion of a classical building that rests on the columns and consists of the lintel, frieze, and cornice

method of cutting or incising a design into a material, usually metal, with a sharp tool; a print can be made inking the engraved surface

principle of design; referring to the way of combining elements to stress the differences between those elements

theory of art that places emphasis on the expressive qualities; most important thing about a work of art is the vivid communication of moods, feelings, and ideas

basic components or building blocks, used by artists when producing works of art; color, value, line, shape, form, texture, and space

style of composed elements drawn from various sources

period that dates from C AD 476 to 1050

a period during which a single family provided a succession of rulers

media that is applied dry and include pencil, charcoal, crayon, and chalk or pastel

Simple, heavy columns without a base, topped by a broad, plain capital

hemispheric vault or ceiling placed on walls that enclose a circular or square space

Having slanted direction; suggests movement and tension

how well the work is organized or put together; favored by Formalism

skilled blend of the elements and principles

early 20th century art movement that ridiculed contemporary culture and traditional art forms

museum employee responsible for securing and exhibiting artworks for the general public and scholars to view

writing with wedge-shaped characters

20th century art movement in which artists tried to show all sides of 3D objects on a flat canvas

standards for judgment; rules or principles used for evaluation

an effort by the Catholic Church to lure people back and to regain its former power

horizontal element positioned across the top of the frieze

columns with elongated capitals decorated with leaves

associated with water, sky, springs, foliage, and suggest coolness; contain blue and green and appear on the color wheel opposite of the warm colors

outwardly rounded

principle of design; closely related to emphasis and refers to the way of combining art elements to stress the differences between those elements

way of sculpting a human figure in a natural pose with the weight of the body balanced on one leg while the other is free and relaxed

line or lines that surround and define the edges of an object or figure

drawing in which contour lines alone are used to represent subject matter

subject matter in a work of art

inwardly curved

colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel; when mixed together can form gray; red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow

upright pose used to bear weight; usually consist of a base at the bottom, a shaft, and a capital

element of art; made up of 3 distinct qualities: hue, intensity, and value

line of columns supporting lintels or arches

technique that involves adding materials such as newsprint clippings, wallpaper pieces, or photographs to the surface of a picture

indented panel

an open court or garden and the covered walkways surrounding it

arrangement of dramatic contrasts of light and shadow

underground tunnels in which early Christians met and buried their dead; some contained chapels and meeting rooms

the process of pouring melted-down metal or other liquid substances into a mold to harden

the process of cutting or chipping a form from a given mass of material to create a sculpture

top element of pillar or column

unposed views of people

bell tower near, or attached to, a church

art of Eastern Roman Empire; paintings and mosaics are characterized by a rich use of color and figures that seem flat and stiff

support or brace that counteracts the outward thrust of an arch or vault

steel engraving tool

religious belief based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who held that suffering is a part of life but that mental and moral self-purification can bring about a state of illumination, carrying the believer beyond suffering and material existence

roller used to ink a surface by hand

a Buddha-to-be

liquid that holds together the grains of pigment in paint

large enclosed Roman structures that contained libraries, lecture rooms, gymnasiums, pools, shops, restaurants, and pleasant walkways

type of public building erected to hold large numbers of people

sculpture in which the forms project only slightly from the background

a high-round stone ceiling made by placing a series of round arches from front to back; tunnel vault

art style characterized by movement, vivid contrast, and emotional intensity

principle of design; refers to the way of combining art elements to create a feeling of equilibrium or stability in a work

imaginary line that is traced through an object or several objects in a picture

perspective that uses hue, value, and intensity to show distance in a painting; aerial perspective

way of organizing the parts of a design so that one side differs from the other without destroying the overall harmony; informal balance

process in which the artist gathers and joins together a variety of different materials to construct a 3D work of art

number of 3D objects brought together to form a work of art

popular name identifying the group of artists who made realistic pictures of the most ordinary features of the contemporary scene

first large exhibition of modern art in American, held in 1913

persons of high rank and privilege

the art and science of designing and constructing structures that enclose space to meet a variety of human needs

a channel system that carried water from mountain streams into cities by using gravitational flow

semicircular area at the end of the nave of a church

design or decoration of functional objects to make them pleasing to the eye

colors that are next to each other on the color wheel and are closely related; blue, blue-green, green

semi-circular aisle curving around the apse of a church behind the main altar

fortified Moorish palace

scholar who specializes in the study of the nature of beauty and art

branch of philosophy concerned with identifying the clues within works of art that can be used to understand, judge, and defend judgments about those works

qualities that can increase our understanding of artworks and serve as the criteria on which judgments are based

achieved by using hue, value, and intensity to show distance in paintings; atmospheric perspective

an ax-like tool with an arched blade at right angles to the handle

sun-dried clay

art schools

20th century painting style in which artists applied paint freely to huge canvases in an effort to show feelings and emotions rather than realistic subject matter

artworks that stress the importance of the elements and principles rather than the subject matter; artists select and then exaggerate or simplify the forms suggested by the world around them

painting technique in which there are no harsh outlines, and areas of different colours blend together

painting that is intended to be painted over in a system of working in layers

painting technique, used mostly in oil painting, in which layers of wet paint are applied to previous layers of wet paint; alla prima

fresco painting technique in which pigments ground in water are tempered using egg yolk or whole egg mixed with water which are applied to plaster that has been moistened to simulate fresh plaster

Italian term meaning "pastework", is low relief decoration, normally modelled in gesso or white lead, applied to build up a surface that may then be gilded or painted, or left plain

a scene painted on the edges of the pages of a book

style of genre painting and it represented scenes set in the 18th century; named from the garment in fashion among the gentlemen of that period

where paint is laid on an area of the surface very thickly so the brushstrokes are visible; paint can also be mixed right on the canvas; when dry it provides texture so much that the paint appears to be coming out of the canvas