incarnadine [in-kahr-nuh-dahyn, -din, -deen]

adjective:
1 blood-red; crimson
2 flesh-colored; pale pink
verb:
to make incarnadine, redden

Examples:

Inspired by the dreamlike, incarnadine color schemes of the series' covers, this piece exudes a fresh and fearsome attitude befitting an unapologetic battler of demons and fantastic beasts. ( ( Read more... )

Belvedere - noun.

Belvedere as a place name may initially come to mind, but it also describes an architectural feature. Belvederes may be attached to a building or a standalone structure. Derived from belvidere, Italian for "beautiful view", they are located in areas where one may gaze upon a scenic view.

volte-face [ivolt-fahs, vohlt-; French vawltuh-fas]

noun:
1 a reversal, as in opinion or policy
2 a change of position so as to look, lie, etc, in the opposite direction

Examples:

This eventually culminates in some of its absolute biggest emotional beats relying on a major plot hole, and a volte-face that’s clearly angling for a cheer but is ( Read more... )

Turrón - noun.

Turrón (Spanish) or torrone (Italian) is a popular confection and Christmas dessert made from nougat, honey, sugar, egg whites, and toasted almonds or other nuts. The Italian version uses fewer nuts than the Spanish version apparently.

You'll find turrón served up in Spain, Portugal, Italy plus other former Spanish and Portuguese ( Read more... )

Tondo - noun.

A tondo (plural: tondi or tondos), is a round work of art, be it a sculpture or painting. You might have guessed that the term originates from the Italian word for round, rotondo, and also that these works were popular in Renaissance times.


( Read more... )

Alla prima - noun.

If you want to sound sophisticated at an artsy gathering, you may want to brush up on (no pun intended) alla prima works such as Rembrandt's Portrait of Jan Six, which was painted with this technique. Italian for "first attempt", alla prima is a wet on wet painting technique where additional paint is applied over the previous ( Read more... )

scarper [skahr-per]

verb:
1 (British ) run away, flee
2 to flee or depart suddenly, especially without having paid one's bills

Examples:

Amongst the smaller and fluffier of the corvid family, Siberian jays are quite fascinating birds. They mate for life and tend to live in small flocks of fewer than 10 members, with one dominant breeding ( Read more... )

cantatrice [kan-tuh-tree-chey, -trees; Italian kahn-tah-tree-che; French kahn-ta-trees]

noun:
a woman who is a singer, especially a professional soloist

Examples:

From there, after a short period of recovery, the unstoppable cantatrice resumed her tour of Asia. (Mahima Macchione, Artist Profile: Anna Bishop, World Famous 19th-Century Soprano ( Read more... )

Sfumato - noun.

Sfumato is an art term that describes a painting technique where the edges are blurred and blended, leaving a super soft transition. Sfumato translates to gradient in Italian. This is why Renaissance paintings often look otherworldly and glowing. The most famous example, of course, is Da Vinci's Mona Lisa :-)

politesse [pol-i-tes; French paw-lee-tes]
noun:
1. Formal politeness or etiquette; decorousness

Examples:

There was much ceremony when they departed - much French politesse, and many charming little attentions were paid. (E Temple Thurston, Sally Bishop: A Romance)

They circle each other warily, and we wait for the moment when they will put aside ( Read more... )