Romanesque Vocab

Question 1

Aquamanile

Answer 1

jug-type figure in the shape of one or more animals

Question 2

Archivolt

Answer 2

entrance with diminishing sized arches

Question 3

Bailey

Answer 3

a private fortress

Question 4

Baldachin

Answer 4

a canopy placed over a sacred space such as a throne or altar.

Question 5

Campanile

Answer 5

bell tower

Question 6

Chevron

Answer 6

a decorative heraldic motif of repeated V’s; zigzag pattern

Question 7

Cloth of honor

Answer 7

simpler cloth hanging vertically behind the throne, which may be combined with a canopy.

Question 8

Compound pier

Answer 8

clustered columns or piers

Question 9

Corbel tables

Answer 9

projecting moulded string course supported by a range of corbels

Question 10

Donjon (keep)

Answer 10

massive stone tower (Great Tower) that stood in a courtyard surrounded by additional walls

Question 11

Embroidery

Answer 11

consists of stitches applied to a woven ground

Question 12

Fresco

Answer 12

painting technique where waterbased pigments are applied to a surface of wet plaster

Question 13

Glazing

Answer 13

the building up of many thin coats of paint

Question 14

Groin vaults

Answer 14

a vault made from the intersection of two barrel vaults

Question 15

Jambs

Answer 15

vertical element found on both sides of an opening on a wall, and supporting an arch or lintel

Question 16

Lantern

Answer 16

turretlike structure on a roof, vault, or dome with windows that allow light into the space

Question 17

Lectionary

Answer 17

book or listing that contains collection of scripture readings

Question 18

Lunette

Answer 18

semi-circular wall area

Question 19

Moat

Answer 19

ditch dug out around a castle or fortress; when filled with water, protects building from direct attack

Question 20

Portal

Answer 20

grand entrance, door, or gate usually to an important public building and often decorated with sculpture

Question 21

Pseudo kufic

Answer 21

imitations of Kufic script

Question 22

Quadrant

Answer 22

curve in wall or vaulted ceiling

Question 23

Vaulting

Answer 23

the structure forming a vault

Question 24

Rosette

Answer 24

round or oval ornament resembling a rose

Question 25

Stringcourses

Answer 25

horizontal band or course projecting beyond or level with face of building

Question 26

Squinches

Answer 26

arch or lintel built across upper corners of a square space

Question 27

Tomb effigies

Answer 27

representation of person on tomb

Question 28

Trumeau

Answer 28

a column, pier, or post found at the center of a large portal or doorway, supporting the lintel

Question 29

Tympanum

Answer 29

semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over entrance, bounded by lintel and arch

Question 30

Undercutting

Answer 30

to cut away material so as to leave overhanging portion