An Illustrated Dictionary of Words used in Art and Archaeology / Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c., with their derivations.

by John W. Mollett

Altar cloth, Chr. The linen coverings, and embroidered hangings of an altar.

Altare, R. (alta ara, high altar). A raised altar as contradistinguished from the ara which was of no great height. (Fig. [17].)

Fig. 17. Circular Roman altar.

Altar front, Chr. An antependium (q.v.).

Altar screen, Chr. The partition behind the high altar, separating it from the Lady Chapel.

Alto-rilievo (Ital.) High Relief. See Rilievo.

Alum is used in many processes—in the preparation of paper for water-colour painting, and of lakes, and carmine, from cochineal. Roche alum, or roach alum, Roman alum, and Turkey alum, are varieties of the common alum, described by mediæval writers as alumens.

Alumen (Lat.), Greek, (stypteria). Mediæval writers confused this word with the alums. The name was applied by the classics to several salts of the nature of vitriols, and among them to the natural sulphate of iron (copperas or green vitriol of commerce).

Alur, Aloring, or Alurde, &c., O.E. Parapet wall.