Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

18 results found

Tennant, Smithson

(Encyclopedia)Tennant, Smithson, 1761–1815, English chemist. In 1796 he proved, by burning a diamond, that the diamond consists solely of carbon. In 1804 he announced his discovery of osmium and iridium. ...

Smithson, Robert

(Encyclopedia)Smithson, Robert, 1938–73, American sculptor, b. Passaic, N.J. After first making modular, serial sculpture, Smithson began to design large-scale earthworks (see land art) in the 1960s. Smithson res...

osmium

(Encyclopedia)osmium ŏzˈmēəm [key], metallic chemical element; symbol Os; at. no. 76; at. wt. 190.23; m.p. 3,045±30℃; b.p. 5,027±100℃; sp. gr. 22.57 at 20℃; valence usually +0 to +8. Osmium is a very ha...

iridium

(Encyclopedia)iridium ĭrĭdˈēəm [key], metallic chemical element; symbol Ir; at. no. 77; at. wt. 192.217; m.p. about 2,410℃; b.p. about 4,130℃; sp. gr. 22.55 at 20℃; valence +3 or +4. Iridium is a very ha...

primitivism

(Encyclopedia)primitivism, in art, the style of works of self-trained artists who develop their talents in a fanciful and fresh manner, as in the paintings of Henri Rousseau and Grandma Moses. The term primitive ha...

land art

(Encyclopedia)land art or earthworks, art form developed in the late 1960s and early 70s by Robert Smithson, Robert Morris, Michael Heizer, and others, in which the artist employs the elements of nature in situ or ...

bleaching powder

(Encyclopedia)bleaching powder, white or nearly white powder that is usually a mixture of calcium chloride hypochlorite, CaCl(OCl); calcium hypochlorite, Ca(OCl)2; and calcium chloride, CaCl2. Sometimes called chlo...

Evatt, Herbert Vere

(Encyclopedia)Evatt, Herbert Vere vĭr ĕvˈət [key], 1894–1965, Australian statesman. He became (1940) a Labor member of the House of Representatives, before being appointed (1941) attorney general and then min...

Thierry, Augustin

(Encyclopedia)Thierry, Augustin ōgüstăNˈ tyĕrēˈ [key], 1795–1856, French historian. His vivid literary style, romantic treatment of events, and use of contemporary documents helped to create interest in hi...

Dia Art Foundation

(Encyclopedia)Dia Art Foundation, American foundation that supports contemporary art and artists, est. 1974 by art dealer Heiner Friedrich and his wife, art patron Philippa de Menil. The foundation, which commissio...

Browse by Subject