Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

grisaille

(Encyclopedia)grisaille grĭzīˈ, –zālˈ, Fr. grēzäˈyə [key], a monochrome painting and drawing technique executed in tones of gray. Such works were often produced in the Renaissance to simulate sculpture, ...

Whitney Museum of American Art

(Encyclopedia)Whitney Museum of American Art, in New York City, founded in 1930 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney with a core group of 700 artworks, many from her own collection. The museum was an outgrowth of the Whi...

Kinross, town, Scotland

(Encyclopedia)Kinross kĭnrôsˈ [key], town (1991 pop. 3,459), Perth and Kinross, E Scotland, on Loch Leven. Kinross is an agricultural hub, with some woolen and linen manufacturing. Mary Queen of Scots was impris...

Fugger

(Encyclopedia)Fugger fo͝ogˈər [key], German family of merchant princes. The foundation of their wealth was laid by Hans Fugger, allegedly a weaver, who moved to Augsburg in 1367. His descendants built up the fam...

Bramante, Donato

(Encyclopedia)Bramante, Donato dōnäˈtō brämänˈtā [key], 1444–1514, Italian Renaissance architect and painter, b. near Urbino. His buildings in Rome are considered the most characteristic examples of High ...

Saumur

(Encyclopedia)Saumur sōmürˈ [key], town (1990 pop. 30,150), Maine-et-Loire dept., W France, on the Loire River. Saumur is noted for its religious-medal industry (dating from the 17th cent.) and for its sparkling...

Taylor, Sir Robert

(Encyclopedia)Taylor, Sir Robert, 1714–88, English architect. The son of a stonemason, he began his career as a sculptor's apprentice and was later employed to carve the pediment of Mansion House in London. He th...

Bard College

(Encyclopedia)Bard College, at Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.; founded 1860 as St. Stephen's College for men; rechartered 1935 as Bard College; became coeducational in 1944; affiliated with Columbia Univ. 1928–44. A s...

Halifax, urban area, England

(Encyclopedia)Halifax, urban area, Calderdale metropolitan district, central England, on the Hebble, a small tributary of the Calder River. Halifax is an industrial t...

Charles III, emperor of the West, king of the East Franks, and king of the West Franks

(Encyclopedia)Charles III or Charles the Fat, 839–88, emperor of the West (881–87), king of the East Franks (882–87), and king of the West Franks (884–87); son of Louis the German, at whose death he inherit...