ARABESQUE, or Arabesco, something done after the manner of the Arabians. Arabesque, Grotesque, and Moresque, are Terms applied to such Painting, Ornaments of Friezes, etc. wherein there are no human, or animal Figures, but which consist wholly of imaginary Foliages, Plants, Stalks, etc. See GROTESQUE and MORESQUE. The Words take their Rise from hence, that the Jews, Arabs, and other Mahometans, use these kinds of Ornaments; their Religion forbidding them to make any Images or Figures of Men, or other Animals. See IMAGE.
ARABESQUE
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- Written by: Ephraïm Chambers
- Category: Unclassified