Archeology
scientific study of ancient cultures revealed through excavation
Biomorphic
forms or images that while abstract refer to, or evoke, living forms such as plants and the human body
canon of proportions
rule for size relationship, often for the human figure and architecture
circa
approximate date
composition
the arrangement of elements in a work of art
context
historical and cultural environment of a work of art
content
subject matter, meaning, ideas, and emotions within a work of art
contour
the outline of a object or figure
convention
style or method that is traditional and widely recognized to a culture or period
ephermeral
lasting a short time
form
component materials and how they are employed to create physical and visual elements that coalesce into a work of art
formal
purely visual aspects of art
function
includes the artist's intended use and the actual use of work, which may change according to the context of audience, time, location, and culture
Iconographical Program
the meaning and symbols used in a work of art
idealistic
portrayal that is completely free from faults or defects
in situ
work of art located in its original place
lintel
a horizontal beam over an opening
megalith
a stone of great size used in the construction of a prehistoric structure
menhir
tall upright stone erected as a Neolithic monument either alone or as part of a row or circle
modeling
creating the illusion of volume on a two dimensional surface by shading
mortise and tenon
joint made by inserting one piece into holes in the other
naturalism
true-to-life depiction
necropolis
city of the dead
negative space
area around the subject in a work of art
period style
shared visual characteristics of a particular time and place used to categorize works of art
Polytheism
belief in more than one god
post and lintel
method of construction in which two vertical supports hold up a horizontal beam
realism
true to life depiction
regional style
variations in style tied to geographical area
register
a horizontal band used to organize compositional elements
relief sculpture
shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the background
representational
art that references objects, or events in the real world
Shamanism
religion in which good and evil are brought about by spirits which can be influenced by specialist with access to them
space
area around, between, or within parts of work, it can be positive or negative, open or closed, shallow or deep
stele
upright stone slab used to mark a grave or a site
styled
nonrealistic manner of representing the visible world, abstracted from the way that they appear in nature
technique
skills, methods, tools, and technologies used in the art-making processes
unity
principle of art that occurs when all of the elements of piece combine to create a harmonious, complete whole
Hierchary of scale
artistic convention in which greater size indicates greater importance
Henge
Neolithic monument, characterized by a circular ground plan; used for rituals and marking astronomical events