Architecture

A Dictionary of Architecture... The Oxford Dictionary of... The Oxford Dictionary of Art Further reading

vesica piscis

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture | 2000 | | Copyright

vesica piscis.
1. Glory, mandala, or mandorla of the upright almond-shaped type produced by the geometrical process of placing two equilateral triangles above and below a baseline as mirror-images and striking arcs from each end of the base-line passing through the other points of the triangle. This creates two pointed arches base-to-base, commonly found as a vertical aureole enclosing of figure of e.g. Christ in Majesty. Its resemblance to a fish, or to a fish's bladder, relates it to the Chrismon. The shape is also found in windows, e.g. the rose-window in the south transept of Lincoln Cathedral.

2. Light in Second Pointed Curvilinear or Flowing tracery resembling a tadpole or the air-bladder of a fish.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JAMES STEVENS CURL. "vesica piscis." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JAMES STEVENS CURL. "vesica piscis." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-vesicapiscis.html

JAMES STEVENS CURL. "vesica piscis." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-vesicapiscis.html

Learn more about citation styles

vesica piscis

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

vesica piscis a pointed oval figure (also called mandorla) used as an architectural feature and as an aureole enclosing figures such as Christ or the Virgin Mary in medieval art. The term is Latin, and means literally ‘fish's bladder’; the reason for the name is not clear, although it may refer to the shape.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "vesica piscis." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "vesica piscis." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-vesicapiscis.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "vesica piscis." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-vesicapiscis.html

Learn more about citation styles

vesica piscis

The Oxford Dictionary of Art | 2004 | | Copyright

vesica piscis. See mandorla.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

IAN CHILVERS. "vesica piscis." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

IAN CHILVERS. "vesica piscis." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-vesicapiscis.html

IAN CHILVERS. "vesica piscis." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-vesicapiscis.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Will the Magdalene go mainstream? Controversial as scholarship, author... Magazine article from: National Catholic Reporter; 10/31/2003
	Censoring the female body: why the pornographic imagination would do it. Magazine article from: Arena Magazine; 6/1/1998
	TOMORROW.(Features) Newspaper article from: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales); 6/15/2007