Chiaroscuro
From the Italian for “light-dark”; an artistic technique in which subtle graduations of value create the illusion of rounded, three-dimensional forms in space; also called modeling
Glaze
In painting, a semitransparent coating on a painted surface that provides a glassy or glossy finish
Horizon Line
In linear perspective, the imaginary line (frequently where the earth seems to meet the sky) along which converging lines meet; also see vanishing point
Iconography
A set of conventional meanings attached to images; as an artistic approach, representation or illustration that uses the visual conventions and symbols of culture. Also, the study of visual symbols and their meaning (often religious)
Madrigal
A song for two or three voices unaccompanied by instrumental music
Mannerism
A style of art characterized by distortion and elongation of figures; a sense of flattened space rather than depth’ a lack of defined focal point and the use of clashing pastel colors
Orthogonal
In perspective, a line pointing to the vanishing point
Patronage
In the arts, the act of providing support for artistic endeavors
Peristyle
A series of column enclosing a court or surrounding a building
Pieta
In artistic tradition: a representation of the dead Christ, held by his mother, the Virgin Mary (from the Latin work for “pity”)
Polyphony
Music with two or more independent melodies that harmonize or are sounded together
Sacophagus
A coffin; usually cut or carved from stone although Etruscan sarcophagi were made of terracotta
Terza rima
A poetic form in which a poem is divided into sets of three lines (tercets) with the rhyme schele aba, bcb, cdc, etc
Triglyph
In architecture, a panel incised with vertical grooves (usually three, hence, tri-) that serve to divide the scenes in a Doric Frieze
Vanishing Point
In linear perspective, a point on the horizon where parallel lines appear to converge
Venus pudica
A representation of a nude Venus with her hands held over her genitals for modesty
Leonardo da Vinci
Began to write to his treatises on art and science (1490-1495)
The Aldine Press
Was established in Venice
Strozzi
Wrote his poem on Michelangelo’s”Night”
Vittoria Colonna
Began writing poms in memory of her husband
Martin Luther
Translated the Bible into German (1527)
Castiglione
Published “The Courtier”
Michelangelo
Began exchanging letters and poems with Colonna
Cellini
Wrote his autobiography (1558)
Sir Thomas Hoby
Translated “The Book of the Courtier” into English
Sixtus IV
Established the Sistine Choir
Leonardo da Vinci
Painted the “Madonna of the Rocks”
Rome
Because the Vatican is within this city, it is most closely associated with fostering the artistic creativity of Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael
Raphael
This artist’s “The School of Athens” reveals his respect for pagan philosophers
Michelangelo
Created the magnificent frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Venice
Is the city most closely associated with Titian and the late Renaissance in Italy
Pontormo
“Entombment” illustrates the characteristics of Mannerism, especially in its use of distortion and ambiguity of space
Venus of Urbino
Titian’s love of the nude female body is displayed in this work
Venice
Italian city is most famous for its oil paintings (not frescoes)
sprezzatura
Used by Castiglione, this term means “effortless mastery.”
Leonardo da Vinci
The creator of Madonna of the Rocks and The Last Supper
Bramante
Pope Julius II commissioned this architect to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
Terribilità
Describes awe-inspiring power and grandeur, and is often used to describe Michelangelo’s Moses
Raphael
The Artist’s Madonna of the Meadow includes Mary, Jesus, and John the Baptist
The Creation of Adam
This panel is one of the most famous on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, partly because of its use of negative space
Castiglione
The Book of the Courtier contends that the true courtier should be a person of humanist learning, impeccable ethics, refined courtesy, physical and martial skills, and fascinating conversation
a cappellla
Music sung without instrumental accompaniment.
Michelangelo
Summoned to Rome to create a monumental tomb for Pope Julius II
Cellini
Artist and creator of a bronze statue of Perseus also was imprisoned for assault, was banished from Florence, and fled Rome after murdering a man
The School of Athens
Plato and Aristotle appears in this painting
Willaert
Dutch composer became choirmaster of Saint Mark’s Basilica
Palestrina
Musician composed over 100 masses and directed all music for the Vatican during the final twenty years of his life
Bronzino
Painted “Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time”
Sofonisba Anguissola
Painted portraits of her three sisters around a chessboard.
El Greco
Spanish artist incorporated Venice’s color and Mannerism’s use of distortion into his paintings
Josquin des Prez
Music director of the Sistine Choir is most famous for his polyphonic motets
Vittoria Colonna
Corresponded with Michelangelo and wrote more than 400 poems, mostly Petrarchan sonnets
