Brief vocabulary of Gothic Art

gargoyle (n)

• a decorative stone creature often found in gardens.

• a grotesque creature or face made of stone found on the roofs of buildings. It often acts as a spout for rainwater.

• a type of mythical dragon that breathes fire.

• a small statue used as a paperweight.

archivolt (n)

• an ornamental moulding that follows the curve on the underside of an arch.

• a type of ancient Roman architecture.

• a decorative element used in modern art.

• a structural support for a dome.

oil painting (n)

• pintura al óleo: a style of painting that used coloured pigments combined with oil.

• acuarela: a style of painting that uses water-based pigments.

• fresco: a technique of mural painting on wet plaster.

• óleo sobre lienzo: a method of painting using oil on canvas.

ashlars (n)

• blocks of stone of different sizes for building walls.

• large wooden beams used in construction.

• small decorative stones used in landscaping.

• metal rods used for reinforcement in concrete.

Gothic (adj)

• a style of European architecture that began in France in the 12th century.

• a type of medieval painting characterized by bright colors.

• a form of literature that focuses on horror and the supernatural.

• a musical genre that originated in the 18th century.

façade (n)

What does it mean?

• the back of a building.

• the side of a building.

• the front of a building.

• the roof of a building.

mason (n)

• a stonecutter

• a type of architect

• a builder of wooden structures

• a laborer in agriculture

buttress (n)

• contrafuerte: a stone structure built against the outside of a wall to support it.

• a type of decorative wall painting

• a support beam used in roofing

• a small garden structure for climbing plants

miniature (n)

• a small elaborate painting or highly decorated illustration.

• a large abstract sculpture.

• a type of digital art.

• a miniature model of a building.

Mudéjar Gothic (adj)

• A style of architecture that combined Gothic with Mudéjar characteristics from the influence of the Muslims who remained in the reconquered territories.

• A type of painting that features Islamic motifs and Gothic elements.

• A musical genre that blends traditional Spanish music with Gothic influences.

• A literary style that incorporates Mudéjar themes into Gothic novels.