Lost in the City of Flowers (The Histories of Idan Book 1) (29 page)

GLOSSARY

A
 

Aisl
e
:
a long pathway of an interior area, as in a church, separated from the main area by a structure like an arcade.

Allor
a
:
an Italian word that is used frequently as a filler or to express interest. It can mean "then," "really," "so," or to express surprise.

Arcad
e
:
a sequence of arches sustained by piers.

Arc
h
:
in its pure form a structure (usually curved) that spans a distance and maintains the weight above it.

B 

Baptister
y
:
a Christian structure within a church or a separate building where the sacrament of baptism is administered.

Barrel Vaul
t
:
also called tunnel vault; the extension of an arch's curve.

Basilic
a
:
this term was originally used to describe a public Roman building. It later became known as a large and important church that received special ceremonies from the Pope.

Bastar
d
:
the term bastard is often understood as an insult for children born to unmarried parents or children without legitimate fathers. During this period an illegitimate child, was relegated to second-class citizenry status and was unable to hold public office. Moreover, they were socially and professionally disadvantaged.

Botticelli, Sandro (b. 1445 – d. 1510
)
:
an early Renaissance painter whose major patron was Lorenzo de’ Medici. He was born in Florence and given the name Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi. It is noted that he was apprentice to Fra Filippo Lippi. He is well known for his beautiful allegorical paintings such as
The Birth of Venus
and
Primavera.
Some historians argue that he suffered from an unrequited love for Simonetta Vespucci. Prior to his death, Botticelli requested to be buried at her feet.

Brunelleschi, Filippio
(b. 1377 – d. 1446
)
:
was one of the most innovative architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. He is immortalized for engineering the dome of the Florence Cathedral or Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore as well as for rediscovering architectural feats that had been lost in the Middle Ages.

C

Ceninni, Cennino d’Andrea (approx. b. 1370 –d. 1440
)
:
a painter influenced by Giotto. He was the author of
Il Libro dell’Arte
(translated to
The Craftsman’s Handbook,)
which explains many of the complex   procedures carried out in artists’ workshops.

Charlemagne (approx. b.
747 –d. 814 A.D.
)
:
also known as Charles the Great, or Charles I, the founder of the Carolingian Empire, reigning from 768 A.D. until his death.

Cloiste
r
:
a rectangular building framed by open galleries with arcades running along its sidewalls. It is commonly attached to a cathedral or church to separate the life of the monks from that of the people.

Colonnade
s
:
a series of columns that can be open or joined by another form.

Creat
o
:
means little creature. It is what they often called young apprentices in workshops.

Credi, di Lorenzo
(b. 1459 – d. 1537
)
:
an artist and sculptor that began his apprenticeship in Andrea del Verrocchio’s workshop. After the Maestro’s death, he inherited the direction of the workshop.

Cryp
t
:
a stone chamber built beneath the ground that can contain tombs, coffins, bones, or relics.

D

Dominican Orde
r
:
a Roman Catholic religious order founded by Spanish priest Saint Domini de Guzman in the 13
th
century. This intellectual order preaches the gospel to fight heresy.

Dowr
y
:
the wealth given from the bride’s family to the groom’s family upon marriage.

Dru
m
:
the hollow space contained within the dome.

Duom
o
:
Italian for dome. The Cathedral of Florence, also called Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, is nicknamed the
Duomo.
Its construction began in 1296. The base structure was crowned by its dome at the beginning of the 15
th
century.

F

Façad
e
:
a term that commonly refers to the front exterior of a building.

Fleur-de-li
s
:
a heraldic device of three stylized petals or floral segments of an iris enclosed by a band.

Franciscan Orde
r
:
similar to the Dominican order, a Roman Catholic order but founded in 1209 by Saint Francis of Assisi. Followers of this order vow to live as Christ did. In that, they are to have no worldly possession and to preach to the common people.

Fresc
o
:
a technique of wall painting which involves applying lime plaster and then painting directly on the surface while it is still wet. This locks the pigment into place.

G

Gable
s
:
part of the front or side of a building enclosed by a pitched roof; often includes a window.

Ginerva and Antoni
o
:
characters based on real people named Ginevra degli Amieri and Antonio Rondinelli, as well as related events from early 15
th
century Florence.

Grass
o
:
upper or elite social class of Florence.

Guil
d
:
a group of merchants or artisans who strive to uphold standards and to defend the interests of its members.

H

Herculaneu
m
:
an ancient Roman port city that was destroyed along with Pompeii during the Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Now, it is a rich archaeological site with thousands of petrified objects.

I 

Incappucciat
i
:
a group of hooded men dedicated to the assistance of the sick and injured and the burial of abandoned corpses.

Inla
y
:
a technique that is most often used with stone where separate pieces of stone are carved in an exact manner and then fused together by the precision of all the separate pieces.

L

Linear Perspectiv
e
:
a mathematical technique for illustrating three-dimensional objects and area on a two-dimensional surface by   transecting lines vertically and horizontally that radiate from one point (one-point perspective), two points (two-point perspective), or several points on a horizon line.

Lost Wax Metho
d
:
a method that involved carving a full-scale wax model and then covering it with a fire resistant material like clay. The wax and clay were then heated until the wax melted out, leaving a hollow mold.

Lapis lazul
i
:
a blue stone known to be found only in Afghanistan, hence its expensive price tag.

M

Malachit
e
:
a green mineral or basic copper carbonate. In history, it was often used to paint vivid green and blue hues.

Masaccio (b. 1401 –d. 1428
)
:
one of the great painters from the early Italian renaissance. His given name was Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone. He inspired many artists in the Renaissance and is considered a painting pioneer in using linear perspective.

Medici, Giuliano (b. 1453 – d. 1478
)
:
the younger brother of Lorenzo de’ Medici and the second son of Piero the Gouty. It is said he was well loved and handsome. He fathered one illegitimate son who would later become Pope Clement VII. Giuliano was assassinated at the Duomo during the Pazzi conspiracy.

Medici, Lorenzo (b. 1449 – d. 1492
)
:
also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, was the eldest son and heir of the Medici fortune. He ruled the Florentine Republic for many years. He is noted for his academic and political prowess. In addition, his patronage of the arts and the humanist pursuits led Florence into its Golden Age.

Memento Mor
i
:
a Latin saying that means “remember that you will die.” It is a symbolic reminder of the inevitability of death.

Mercato Vecchi
o
:
the old market built on the site of the ancient Roman Forum. It was in an area of Florence that was demolished, along with the old Ghetto, at the turn of the 20
th
century and led the way for the creation of the Piazza della Repubblica.

Minut
o
:
lower class or "the people."

Monochromati
c
:
a term to describe an object or painting made up of one color or shades of one color.

Mori
a
:
also called the Black Death, was an epidemic that peaked in Europe from 1350 to 1400. During this period over a third of Europe’s population was killed by the disease. The disease also known as the bubonic plague.

N 

Nav
e
:
the main passageway of a church. It ranges from the main entrance or narthex to the altar. Aisles commonly flank its sides.

Nich
e
:
a decorative recess in a barrier. It is often used to hold statues or other ornamental objects.

Nonn
a
:
Italian for "grandmother."

Nonn
o
:
Italian for "grandfather."

O
 

Oche
r
:
organic pigment obtained from the earth that ranges from yellow to orange in color.

Oculu
s
:
the circle at a dome’s center.

Ospedale degli Innocent
i
:
is also called Hospital of the Innocents, was an orphanage designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, who received the commission in 1419.

P

Palazz
o
:
Italian for palace.

Pedimen
t
:
a low triangular gable and commonly forms a major division of a façade.

Perugino, Pietro (approx. b. 1450 – d. 1523
)
:
a painter who was trained in Andrea de Verrocchio’s workshop.

Piazz
a
:
a large open square. It is usually surrounded by buildings and has at its center a statue, monument, or fountain.

Pilaster
:
a rectangular structure jutting from a wall with a base and capital that mimics the form of a column.

Pilla
r
:
a shaft of masonry usually used as a building support but can also stand alone.

Popol
o
:
an Italian word that refers to “the people.”

Putt
i
:
cherub angels.

R

Relie
f
:
an artistic method used when carving with stone. Scenes are etched in high or low relief into the stone. Low means a shallow carving and high refers to more modeling.

Rose Windo
w
:
often refers to a principal circular window, but is often used to describe those found in church facades.

Renaissanc
e
:
a time period of the renewal of art, literature, and humanism in Europe beginning in the 14th century and lasting into the 17th century.

Renaissance Ma
n
:
a term used to describe a person who shows talent or has an expertise over a wide variety of subjects.

S

Salai (b. 1480– d. 1520
)
:
the only real person and artist whose character I transplanted into an earlier time. His given name was Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno. He became an apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci in Milan and stayed under his workshop for many years. The nickname "Salai" means "little devil" and it was given to him by Leonardo for his mischievous nature.

Santa Croc
e
:
a Franciscan basilica in Florence consecrated in 1443. Its format is meant to imitate the Franciscan austere principles. It has long since been a popular center of patronage and contains the tombs of many famous individuals including Michelangelo and Galileo.

San Lorenz
o
:
another basilica in Florence. Brunelleschi was commissioned to design the building, which was finished after his death in 1470. Its principle patrons were the Medici family. It is also where several prominent members of the family are buried, including Lorenzo il Magnifico and Giuliano.

Santa Maria Novell
a
:
a Dominican basilica consecrated in the year 1420. It was named
novella
(new) because it was built on the site of a 9th century Dominican oratory. Several powerful Florentine families such as the Strozzi or Gondi commissioned many of its pivotal frescoes.

Sarcophagu
s
:
a stone coffin that can bear inscriptions or sculpture.