LIBRARY
Art Words
An art glossary built around terms that appear in artwork descriptions on this site, growing little by little.
Gouache
Watercolour rendered opaque by the addition of white; characterised by a matte finish and flat colour fields.
Reverse Glass Painting
Painted in reverse order on the back of glass; widely used for religious imagery in 19th-century Philippines.
Gallery
A commercial space that exhibits and brokers works, or a generic name for public display spaces.
Gilding
Decorating with gold or silver leaf; used in the backgrounds of medieval altarpieces and icons.
Glaze
A classical painting technique of layering transparent passages to produce deep colour; the under-layers shine through.
Gothic
A late-medieval style of verticality and pointed arches that lent religious painting a solemn spatial feel.