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

Fig. 467. Monile. Details of ornament.

Monile, Gr. and R. A necklace or collar. Fig. [468] represents a bronze necklace belonging to the Gaulish period, and Fig. [467] a part of the same necklace on a larger scale. By analogy the term was applied to the ornaments worn by horses about the neck. (See Necklaces.)

Monks, Chr. In the religious iconography of the Gothic period, especially the 14th and 15th centuries, there frequently occur grotesque representations of monks. (See Fig. [351].)

Monmouth Cap, O. E. A cap worn by soldiers and sailors.

Monochord. A one-stringed musical instrument, much used for measuring the proportions of length which yield the various sounds within an octave.

Monochrome Painting. (1) Painting in a single colour, as, for instance, red upon a black ground, or white upon a red ground. The most numerous class of specimens of this kind of painting are upon terra-cotta, as the Etruscan vases. (2) The term is applied to paintings in tints of one colour, in imitation of bas-reliefs.

Monogram. A combination of two or more letters into one design, illustrated especially in ecclesiastical decoration of the 14th and 15th centuries, &c. The abbreviation IHS is said to have been invented by St. Bernardino of Siena about 1437. For Artists’ monograms, see Stellway, Heller, Brulliot (Dictionaries of Monograms).

Monolith (μονό-λιθος). An object formed of a single block of stone.

Monolium, Monolinum, R. A necklace formed with a single string of pearls. (See Monile.)