Final SG Flashcards
Tympanum
The semi-circular or triangular decorative space above a door or window, often filled with sculptural reliefs, typical in Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Medieval mystics
Religious figures who sought direct experiences with God through intense personal devotion, prayer, and asceticism. Notable figures include Hildegard of Bingen and St. Francis of Assisi.
Flying buttresses
Architectural elements in Gothic cathedrals that provide support to the walls, allowing for taller structures and larger windows, especially stained glass.
Stigmata
The appearance of bodily wounds corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Christ, experienced by mystics like St. Francis of Assisi.
heresy
Beliefs or opinions that go against the established doctrines of the Church, often leading to accusations, trials, and sometimes punishment.
Memento mori
A symbolic reminder of human mortality, often depicted in art as a skull, hourglass, or decaying objects to remind viewers of life’s fleeting nature.
Scholasticism
A medieval philosophical and theological system that aimed to reconcile faith with reason, developed by thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas.
Humanism
A cultural and intellectual movement during the Renaissance focused on the revival of classical antiquity and the belief in the value and potential of human beings.
Renaissance humanism
A more specific form of humanism that emerged in the Renaissance, emphasizing the study of classical texts, individualism, and human potential.
Linear or one-point perspective
A technique in art that creates the illusion of depth and space on a flat surface by using converging lines toward a single vanishing point.
Sfumato
An Italian term meaning “smoky,” it refers to a painting technique, especially used by Leonardo da Vinci, where colors and tones blend seamlessly to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
Patrons/patronnage
Wealthy individuals or organizations who financially support artists, enabling them to produce works of art. Notable patrons include the Medici family.
Abbot Suger
The French abbot who initiated the Gothic architectural style, particularly in the renovation of the Abbey Church of Saint-Denis.
Hildegarde of Bingen
A 12th-century German abbess, mystic, and polymath known for her visionary writings, musical compositions, and theological works.
St. Thomas Aquinas
A Dominican friar and theologian, he is best known for integrating Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, particularly in his work Summa Theologica.
St. Francis of Assisi
Founder of the Franciscan order, he is known for his poverty, humility, and devotion to nature, as well as for receiving the stigmata.
Enrico Scrovegni
A wealthy Italian banker and patron of the arts, he commissioned Giotto’s famous Arena Chapel in Padua.
Leon Battista Alberti
An Italian architect, artist, and theorist whose writings, such as On Painting and On Architecture, were foundational to Renaissance art and architecture.
Cosimo de’ Medici
The patriarch of the powerful Medici family, Cosimo was a key patron of the arts during the Renaissance in Florence.
Lorenzo “the Magnificent”
The grandson of Cosimo, Lorenzo was a major patron of Renaissance art and learning, supporting artists like Botticelli and Michelangelo.
Pope Leo X
A Medici pope who was a major patron of the arts but also played a significant role in the events leading to the Protestant Reformation.
Pope Julius II
Known as the “Warrior Pope,” Julius II was a key patron of Renaissance art, commissioning works from Michelangelo and Raphael.
Ghiberti
Lorenzo Ghiberti was an Italian artist, best known for designing the Gates of Paradise, the bronze doors of the Baptistery of Florence.
Brunelleschi
Filippo Brunelleschi was an Italian architect who designed the dome of Florence Cathedral, a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering.
Masaccio
An early Renaissance painter known for his use of perspective and human realism, especially in the fresco cycle in the Brancacci Chapel.
Donatello
An Italian sculptor, one of the most prominent figures of early Renaissance art, known for his sculptures like David and Mary Magdalene.
Verrocchio
Andrea del Verrocchio was an Italian sculptor, painter, and teacher of Leonardo da Vinci.
Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli was an Italian painter known for his works like The Birth of Venus and Primavera.
Leonardo da Vinci
An iconic Renaissance polymath, famous for works like Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, as well as his contributions to science, engineering, and anatomy.
Michelangelo
A Renaissance artist, sculptor, and architect, his masterpieces include the David sculpture and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Raphael
A Renaissance painter known for works such as The School of Athens and The Transfiguration.
Veronese
Paolo Veronese was an Italian Renaissance painter famous for his large-scale narrative paintings, such as The Wedding at Cana.
Sofonisba Anguissola
An Italian Renaissance painter, she was one of the few women to gain recognition as a professional artist, known for portraits.
Martin Luther
A German monk and theologian who sparked the Protestant Reformation by nailing his 95 Theses to the church door in 1517.