Architectural and Sculptural Elements Glossary

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 in Technology

Architectural and Sculptural Elements

A

  • Apse: A semi-circular, domed chapel that stands at the head of a temple.
  • Arch: A curved structure that serves to bridge a gap between two walls or pillars.
  • Transverse Arch/Ribs: These serve to support a barrel vault, reinforcing it and dividing it into segments or sectors.
  • Wall Arch: Arches arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of a church’s nave, connecting it with the aisles.
  • Architrave: The bottom part of the entablature, resting on the supports and load-bearing columns or pillars of a building.
  • Archivolt: Each of the moldings concentrically arranged around an arch.
  • Ashlar: Each of the carved stones, commonly in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, that form part of a masonry construction.

B

  • Barrel Vault: Generated by the displacement of an arch along a longitudinal axis.
  • Base: The lower part of a column.
  • Buttress: A support that serves to counteract the thrust of a vault.

C

  • Caryatids: A female sculpture that serves as a support.
  • Cimborrio: A structure containing a vault, situated over the crossing of a temple.
  • Cloister: A reserved portion of a church building, formed around a covered patio or garden with galleries.
  • Column: A cylindrical, tall support that serves as a support or ornament, composed of a shaft, base, and capital.
  • Capital: The top part of a support.
  • Salomonic Column: A column with a spiral shaft, swaying with five, six, or more turns.
  • Engaged Column: A column that is adhered to a wall or pillar.
  • Crossing: The space where the nave of a church intersects with the transept.
  • Cupola: A hemisphere-shaped vault that covers a square or rectangular area.
  • Canon: A rule of proportion where all parts are in correct relation to each other.
  • Contrapposto: A method of harmonizing the parts of the human body in sculpture.

E

  • Effusion: A flaring, oblique section of a wall on the outskirts of an opening, increasing its capacity.
  • Entablature: A horizontal element located on the supports in an architraved system. It consists of the architrave, frieze, and cornice.
  • Equestrian: A representation of the human figure on horseback.

F

  • Frieze: The central part of a classical entablature.
  • Shaft: The middle part of a column.

G

  • Aisles: The nave that surrounds the chancel of a church.

J

  • Jambs: The sides of a door or another doorway; the pieces of brick, stone, or wood placed vertically on both sides of a door, holding up the lintel or arch.

M

  • Mullion: A vertical component that divides an opening in two.

N

  • Niche: An arch-shaped hole made in a wall to house a statue, image, or for decorative purposes.

P

  • Padding: Ashlar rig whose boards are carved with recessed bevels to give the feeling of greater width.
  • Pediment: A triangular crowning element or a front porch.
  • Pillar: A vertical element that does not need to be cylindrical or follow the proportions of an order.
  • Pilaster: A pillar attached to a wall or another pillar.
  • Plan: A longitudinal or central plane of a building.

R

  • Relief: A sculpture made on a surface from which the form protrudes without opening the background.
  • Round: A work that is visible from all angles and can be surrounded by the viewer.

T

  • Tympanum: The space between the two sloping cornices of a pediment and its horizontal base.
  • Transept: A church transept that intersects at right angles with the main hall of the building.
  • Torso: The upper part of a sculpted human body.

W

  • Clerestory: A narrow passage that crosses above the church aisle or stand and has windows overlooking the nave.