Art Hist

Front 1

Orant

Back 1

a figure in a posture of prayer, usually standing upright with raised arms

Front 2

Pendentive

Back 2

a curved triangle of vaulting formed by the intersection of a dome with its supporting arches.

Front 3

Buddha

Back 3

ascetic and sage who achieved enlightenment and taught the middle way to followers. Born siddhartha gautama.

Front 4

Nirvana

Back 4

Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away.

Front 5

Jataka

Back 5

any of the various stories of the former lives of the Buddha found in Buddhist literature.

Front 6

bodhisattva

Back 6

a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings.

Front 7

yaksha/yakshi

Back 7

nature spirits, benevolent caretakers of natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots.

Front 8

Mudra

Back 8

The thumb and forefinger on each of the hands are joined, forming a zero. The rest of the fingers are extended. The hands are placed palms-up on the thighs or knees while sitting in vajrasana.

Front 9

stupa

Back 9

hemispherical structure containing relics (remains of monks or nuns) used as place of meditation

Front 10

chaitya hall

Back 10

A chaitya is a Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a stupa at one end.

Front 11

nave

Back 11

the central aisle of a basilica church, or the main body of a church

Front 12

lunette

Back 12

a half-moon shaped space, either filled with recessed masonry or void.

Front 13

clerestory

Back 13

high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. The purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both.

Front 14

icon

Back 14

religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and certain Eastern Catholic churches

Icons may also be cast in metal, carved in stone, embroidered on cloth, painted on wood, done in mosaic or fresco work, printed on paper or metal, etc.

Front 15

Iconoclasm

Back 15

Iconoclasm is the destruction of religious iconsand other images or monuments for religious or political motives

Front 16

mandorla

Back 16

a pointed oval figure used as an architectural feature and as an aureole enclosing figures such as Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary in medieval art.

Front 17

hieratic scale

Back 17

the use of different sizes for significant or holy figures and those of the everyday world to indicate importance.

Front 18

aniconic

Back 18

symbolic or suggestive rather than literally representational

Front 19

qibla

Back 19

the point toward which Muslims turn to pray, especially the Kaʿba, or House of God, at Mecca.

Front 20

mihrab

Back 20

semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla; that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying

Front 21

minaret

Back 21

The minaret then, is a tall, slender tower that is a significant feature of every mosque, and is one of the earliest characteristics of Islamic architecture.

Front 22

horseshoe arch

Back 22

The horseshoe arch (Spanish: arco de herradura /ˈarko de eraˈduɾa/), also called the Moorish arch and the Keyhole arch, is the emblematic arch of Islamic architecture. Horseshoe arches can take rounded, pointed or lobed form.

Front 23

muqarnas

Back 23

f

form of architectural ornamented vaulting, the "geometric subdivision of a squinch, or cupola, or corbel, into a large number of miniature squinches, producing a sort of cellular structure", sometimes also called a "honeycomb" vault.

Front 24

cloisonne

Back 24

decorative work in which enamel, glass, or gemstones are separated by strips of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing.

Front 25

choir

Back 25

A choir, also sometimes called quire, is the area of a church or cathedral that provides seating for the clergy and church choir. It is in the western part of the chancel between the nave and the sanctuary which houses the altar and Church tabernacle.

Front 26

transept

Back 26

In churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform ("cross-shaped") building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture.

Front 27

cloister

Back 27

quadrilateral enclosure surrounded by covered walkways, and usually attached to a monastic or cathedral church and sometimes to a college.

Front 28

buttress

Back 28

an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall

Front 29

compound pier

Back 29

a clustered column or pier which consists of a centre mass or newel, to which engaged or semi-detached shafts have been attached,

Front 30

central pier

Back 30

the central pillar or mullion supporting the tympanum of a large doorway,

Front 31

campanile

Back 31

a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells, even if it has none

Front 32

stringcourse

Back 32

continuous row or layer of stones or brick set in a wall

Front 33

archivolt

Back 33

an ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch.

Front 34

tympanum

Back 34

the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, door or window

Front 35

Back 35

*Lion Capital, India, c.250 BCE

- polished sandstone

- may symbolize the buddha

Front 36

c

Back 36

Great Stupa at Sanchi, India, 3rd century BCE

- oldest stone structure in india

- commissioned by Ashoka in 3rd century BCE

Front 37

c

Back 37

Yakshi Bracket figure from East Torana of Great Stupa, c. 1st C. CE

- reflects more accepting attitude towards sensual female figures

- sandstone

Front 38

c

Back 38

Buddha and Attendants from Mathura, India, late 2nd C. CE

- Buddha is portrayed as a traditional yogi, seated on a throne, and dressed as a monk

- halo behind him proclaims his divinity

Front 39

c

Back 39

Standing Buddha from Sarnath, India, 5th C. CE

- sandstone

- its buddha

Front 40

c

Back 40

Teacher with Pupils, Orant, and Woman & Child, Rome, 3rd C.

- lighting and form more naturalistic than later medieval christian art

- catacomb of priscilla contains some of the earliest known Christian art

Front 41

c

Back 41

Nave of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 400s

Front 42

c

Back 42

Good Shepherd Mosaic, Italy, c.425-6

- christ dressed in regal attire

- early appearance of halo

Front 43

c

Back 43

Church of Haga Sophia, Turkey, 500s

- construction ordered by Justinian I

- was once a mosque, became church under Justinian

Front 44

Back 44

Interior and Dome of Haga Sophia, Turkey, 500s

- windows ringing top are link to the heavens (light)

- in eighth century, period of iconoclasm resulted in destruction of some mosaics

Front 45

c

Back 45

Justinian and Attendants, Italy, 500s

- Justinian saw himself as defender of the christian faith, his duty to spread orthodoxy throughout the empire

- christ dressed in imperial purple

Front 46

c

Back 46

Empress Theodora & Attendants, Italy, c.547

- robed in imperial purple

- depicted with same halo as christ and justinian

Front 47

c

Back 47

Virgin and Child with Saints and Angels, Egypt, 6th Century

- uses classicized style of rome; realistic faces

- child christ is well rendered relative to other early depictions

Front 48

c

Back 48

Interior of Dome of the Rock,, Israel, 600s

- contains the Foundation Stone, extremely holy relic site in Judaism and Islam where Abraham proposed to sacrifice his son

- one of the first monumental islamic buildings constructed

Front 49

c

Back 49

Prayer Hall, Great Mosque, Spain, 700s

- historians believe the site used to be a temple dedicated to Janus

- Hypostyle hall expanded in 900s, contains Mihrab (indicator of direction of Mecca)

Front 50

c

Back 50

Textile with Elephants and Camels, Iran, c.900s

- discovered in France, most likely brought back by knights in the first crusade

- geometric design and tiraz (woven band of script) technique derives from both China and Persia, evidence of trade

Front 51

c

Back 51

*Post from Oseberg Ship Burial, Norway, c.800s

- precise use unknown, most likely religiously significant and part of funeral rite

- one of the most detailed pieces of Viking art, slots for inlays and silver rivets

Front 52

c

Back 52

Purse Cover from Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, England, 600s

- lid was made to cover a leather pouch containing gold coins

- gold and garnets

Front 53

c

Back 53

chi rho iota page, Scotland, 800s

- depicts Chi and Rho, first two greek letters of christ

- created by a monastery monk

Front 54

c

Back 54

Interior, Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne, Germany, 700s

- most well preserved example of Carolingian building; Charlemagne's series of projects patronizing Christianity

- used architecture and materials invoking Roman styles to imply lineage

Front 55

c

Back 55

Matthew the Evangelist (Book of Ebbo), France, 800s

- style is late classical but with more energetic postures and movement

- influential of Carolingian art and the Romanesque and Gothic art to follow

Front 56

c

Back 56

Cover of Lindau Gospels, France, c.800s

- rich decor serves to elevate and emphasize the book and owner's status

- back cover and manuscript were produced ~one hundred years after the cover

Front 57

c

Back 57

Bronze Doors of St. Michael’s Hildesheim, Germany, 1000s
- scenes from book of Genesis on left door, Jesus's life on the right

- each door is a massive single fifteen-foot bronze cast

Front 58

c

Back 58

Abbey Church of St. Foy, France, 1100s

- reliquary contains the remains of a 2nd century martyr, St. Foy.

- archetypal example of romanesque architecture, with arcades and columns

Front 59

c

Back 59

Christ in Majesty, France, c.1000s

- show's Christ's judgment at the end of days

- intended to remind arrivals to the church of Christ's sacrifice and impending judgment

Front 60

c

Back 60

parts

Front 61

c

Back 61

Last Judgement by Gislebertus, France, 1100s

- vivid depiction of hell with demons and flayed sinners

- angels aid good souls in their journey upward, to heaven

Front 62

c

Back 62

Nave of Durham Cathedral, England, 1200s

- architectural development of the rib vault allows ceiling to look thinner and more elegant versus a visually wider groin vault

- designed and built by command of William the Conqueror

Front 63

c

Back 63

Pisa Cathedral, Italy, 1000s

- features distinctive wall of arcades

- contains a tomb of the emperor Henry VII, added in the 1300s

Front 64

c

Back 64

Basilica of St. Ambrogio, Italy, 1000s

- interior ceiling uses ribbed vaults

- contains altar which was cladding for sarcophagus of St. Ambrose

Front 65

c

Back 65

East End and Choir Ambulatory, Abbey Church of Saint-­Denis, France, 1100s

- original architectural model of subsequent Gothic cathedrals

- choir features stain glass for heavenly aesthetic

Front 66

c

Back 66

W. Facade, Chartres Cathedral, France, c.1200s

- rich array of stain glass and gothic sculpture

- northwest spire added in 1500s

Front 67

c

Back 67

Nave of Chartres Cathedral, France, 1200s

- exemplifies Gothic architecture's precise usage of ribbed vaults for added height

- stain glass adds sense of heavenly light key to Gothic architecture

Front 68

c

Back 68

Beau Dieu Trumeau, France, c.1200s

- means 'handsome god', focal point of the church's west front entrance

- philosopher's robe and scripture book denote Christ as teacher

Front 69

c

Back 69

Annunciation and Visitation,

- roman-like depictions using contrapposto

- depict mary and st. elizabeth on right, on left Gabriel is bringing news of conception to Mary

Front 70

c

Back 70

Sainte Chappelle interior, France, 1200s

- walls carry no weight due to the distribution of arches

- ultimate usage of stain glass for heavenly light

Front 71

c

Back 71

W. Façade, Church of Saint Maclou, France, 1400s

- tympanum depicts Last Judgement

- tallest spire added in 1868 to add further height

Front 72

c

Back 72

Betrayal and Arrest, and Annunciation – Petites Heures of Jeanne d’Evreux, c.1300s

- book's small size was impressive at the time

- figures rendered by Pucelle in shades that lend a sculptural quality

Front 73

c

Back 73

Salisbury Cathedral, England, 1200s

- largest cloisters and tallest spires in England

- north nave aisle contains Europe's oldest working clock

Front 74

c

Back 74

Ekkehard and Uta, Naumberg Cathedral, Germany, 1200s

- unusual attention to naturalism for the era

- two of twelve of the cathedral's founders

Front 75

c

Back 75

Vesperbild, Germany, c.1300s

- unusual and at time shocking depiction of Mary mourning a dead Jesus

- painted wood