Art History Terminology

noun a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail.

adjective relating to or denoting a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail.

• The baroque style of architecture was popular in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• I love visiting old churches with all that baroque decoration.
• That outfit is so baroque, it's like something out of a period drama.
• Her writing style is quite baroque, with elaborate descriptions and intricate details.

noun the study of symbols and icons in art and culture

• The study of iconology involves analyzing the symbols and imagery used in art and culture.
• Iconology is all about deciphering the hidden meanings behind symbols in art.
• I'm diving deep into iconology to understand the symbolism in this painting.
• Iconology is like decoding a secret language in art.

noun A representation of a female slave or concubine in a harem, especially in Orientalist painting

• The painting depicted an odalisque lounging in a luxurious setting.
• I saw a cool art piece with an odalisque in it.
• That odalisque painting is so boujee.
• She moved gracefully, like an odalisque in a harem.

noun the place of origin or earliest known history of something

• The provenance of the artwork was meticulously researched by the museum's experts.
• They couldn't figure out the provenance of the old vase they found in the attic.
• I'm not sure about the provenance of this car, it seems a bit sketchy.
• The provenance of his wealth is shrouded in mystery.

noun a period in European history, covering the 14th to the 17th centuries, marked by a revival in art, literature, and learning

adjective relating to the Renaissance period or its characteristics

• The Renaissance period in Europe was known for its advancements in art, science, and culture.
• I learned about the Renaissance in history class and it was a pretty cool time.
• The Renaissance was like the ultimate glow-up for Europe.
• Just like a Renaissance painting, her life was filled with vibrant colors and intricate details.

noun a table or shelf behind or at the back of an altar, typically where religious objects are placed

• The retable in the church is a beautiful piece of artwork depicting religious scenes.
• Have you seen the retable in the church? It's really impressive.
• That retable in the church is lit, bro.
• The retable symbolizes the spiritual journey of the congregation.

noun a style of art and architecture popular in Europe in the 18th century, characterized by elaborate decoration and ornamentation

adjective relating to or characteristic of the rococo style

• The rococo style of architecture emerged in the early 18th century in France.
• I love the intricate designs of rococo furniture.
• That rococo dress is so extra, but I love it.
• Her speech was filled with rococo language, making it hard to understand.

verb A verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In this case, 'studied' is a verb indicating the action of learning or examining something.

• She studied diligently for her final exams and achieved excellent grades.
• I studied all night for that test and still didn't do well.
• I totally studied my butt off for that presentation and nailed it.
• He studied the situation carefully before making a decision.

noun a piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving colored weft threads or by embroidering on canvas

• The tapestry hanging on the wall depicted a beautiful scene from ancient history.
• I love the tapestry in your living room, where did you get it?
• That tapestry is so lit, it really ties the room together.
• The tapestry of life is made up of all our experiences woven together.

noun a method of painting walls or buildings with whitewash

verb to cover up or gloss over the faults or errors of (someone or something)

• The practice of whitewashing historical events has been criticized for distorting the truth.
• I can't believe they're whitewashing the story to make themselves look better.
• Stop whitewashing the situation and tell me the truth.
• She tried to whitewash her past mistakes, but everyone could see the truth.

noun a type of tapestry or textile with a background covered in small flowers and plants

adjective describing something as having a background covered in small flowers and plants

• The tapestry displayed a beautiful millefleur pattern of small flowers.
• I love the millefleur design on that vintage dress.
• Check out the millefleur print on my new phone case!
• Her garden was like a millefleur tapestry, filled with a variety of colorful blooms.

noun a town in northern France

• The arras hanging in the grand hall depicted scenes from the kingdom's history.
• I found a beautiful arras to hang in my living room.
• Check out this cool arras I scored at the thrift store!
• The arras of secrecy was finally lifted, revealing the truth behind the scandal.

noun MOMA is an acronym that stands for the Museum of Modern Art, a renowned art museum in New York City.

• The Museum of Modern Art, known as MOMA, is a renowned institution in New York City.
• Let's check out the MOMA exhibit this weekend, it's supposed to be really cool.
• I heard the new MOMA collection is lit, we should totally go see it.
• Her artwork was so avant-garde, it could easily be displayed at MOMA.

noun a type of tin-glazed pottery decorated in bright colors, especially Italian pottery from the Renaissance period

• The maiolica pottery displayed in the museum dates back to the Renaissance period.
• I bought a beautiful maiolica plate from the artisan market.
• Check out this cool maiolica vase I found at the thrift store.
• Her words were like delicate maiolica tiles, carefully crafted and full of meaning.

noun a pedestal or ornament at each corner of a pediment

• The acroter is a decorative element often found on the pediment of classical Greek architecture.
• Have you noticed the acroter on top of that building? It adds a nice touch.
• Check out the cool acroter on that old building!
• The acroter of the team, the star player, led them to victory in the championship game.