The Renaissance was Italy’s golden age of art. If you love Botticelli, Michelangelo, or da Vinci, here’s the Italian vocabulary you need to sound like a true connoisseur.
Essential Art Terms
Affresco
/afˈfre.sko/“Fresco”
A mural painting technique where pigments are applied to wet plaster. Think of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Chiaroscuro
/ˌkja.roˈsku.ro/The dramatic use of light and shadow, mastered by Caravaggio.
Sfumato
/sfuˈma.re/A smoky, blurred effect - see Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile.
Famous Works & Their Names
La Gioconda
/la dʒoˈkonda/“Mona Lisa”
Da Vinci’s iconic portrait. Italians rarely call it 'Mona Lisa'.
La Nascita di Venere
/la ˈnaʃʃita di ˈvɛnere/“The Birth of Venus”
Botticelli’s goddess on a seashell. A Renaissance masterpiece.
Materials & Techniques
Tempera
/ˈtem.pe.ra/Egg-based paint used before oils became popular.
Pietra serena
/ˈpjɛ.tra seˈre.na/“Grey sandstone”
The stone Brunelleschi used for Florence’s architectural details.
Pro tip: Use these words in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, and you’ll impress even the guards.
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Check out our guide to Latin words that shaped English or Ancient Greek roots in modern vocabulary.
