Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Lüneburg

(Encyclopedia)Lüneburg lüˈnəbo͝orgər hīˈdə [key], a vast heath, SW of Lüneburg, lies between the Elbe and Aller rivers. It is a sandy region; sheep are raised and petroleum is produced. Parts of the heath...

lute

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Lute lute, musical instrument that has a half-pear-shaped body, a fretted neck, and a variable number of strings, which are plucked with the fingers. The long lute, with its neck much longer t...

Koetsu Hon'ami

(Encyclopedia)Koetsu Hon'ami kōˈĕtso͞oˌ hônäˈmē [key], 1558–1637, Japanese artist, poet, calligrapher, tea master, and landscape gardener. Considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of t...

Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da

(Encyclopedia)Palestrina, Giovanni Pierluigi da jōvänˈnē pyārlo͞oēˈjē päˌlāstrēˈnä [key], c.1525–1594, Italian composer whose family name was Pierluigi; b. Palestrina, from which he took his name. ...

Vasari, Giorgio

(Encyclopedia)Vasari, Giorgio jôrˈjō väzäˈrē [key], 1511–74, Italian architect, writer, and painter. He is best known for his entertaining biographies of artists, Vite de' più eccellenti architetti, pitto...

Sidney, Sir Philip

(Encyclopedia)Sidney or Sydney, Sir Philip, 1554–86, English author and courtier. He was one of the leading members of Queen Elizabeth's court and a model of Renaissance chivalry. He served in several diplomatic ...

baptistery

(Encyclopedia)baptistery băpˈtĭstrē [key], part of a church, or a separate building in connection with it, used for administering baptism. In the earliest examples it was merely a basin or pool set into the flo...

caryatid

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Caryatid caryatid kărˌēătˈĭd, kărˈēətĭdˌ [key], a sculptured female figure serving as an ornamental support in place of a column or pilaster. It was a frequently used motif in arch...

pulpit

(Encyclopedia)pulpit, in churches, elevated platform with low enclosing sides, used for preaching the sermon. In the earliest churches the episcopal throne served this purpose. The boxlike elevated ambo of early me...

Orozco, José Clemente

(Encyclopedia)Orozco, José Clemente hōsāˈ klāmānˈtā ōrōˈskō [key], 1883–1949, Mexican muralist, genre painter, and lithographer, grad. Mexican National Agricultural School. He became an architectural ...