Thomas Sully: Glossary

Aesthetic: A philosophy, study, or conception of what is artistically beautiful and as such enlivens the senses.

Allegory: A representation of ideas through objects or characters.

Composition: The structure or organization of a work, i.e., the arrangements of shapes, areas of light and dark, spacing of subjects, etc.

Oeuvre: A work of art or literature, or such works considered as a unit, especially the complete work of a single artist.

Point of View: The angle from which the viewer sees an object or a scene.

Portrait: A likeness of a person, especially one showing the face. Portraits, however, can be abstracted, showing the components of a person or his/her personality.

Sitter: The person who sat, or served as a model, for a portrait.          

Symbols: Words or objects used to represent an idea or convey deeper meaning.

Theatricality: Implies drama, performance, and a heightened sense of activity.