quattrocento
UK[ˌkwɒtrəʊˈtʃɛntəʊ]US[ˌkwɑːtroʊˈtʃɛntoʊ]
n
the 15th century as a period of italian art and literature, characterized by the development of renaissance culture.
Morpheme Breakdown
quattro
cento
quattro
four
cento
hundred
Etymology
the term "quattrocento" is a direct loanword from italian, where it literally means "four hundred". it follows the italian convention of using the hundreds to denote centuries, referring to the 1400s (the 15th century). this period marks the early and high renaissance in italy, a time of extraordinary artistic and intellectual flourishing. the word itself encapsulates the era, moving from a purely numerical label to a rich cultural and artistic descriptor synonymous with the works of masters like donatello, masaccio, and botticelli.
Analysis
Structure: quattro (four) + cento (hundred)
"quattro" is an italian word meaning "four", derived from latin "quattuor". "cento" is an italian word meaning "hundred", derived from latin "centum".
Examples
the frescoes are superb examples of quattrocento painting.
art historians often contrast the styles of the quattrocento and the cinquecento.
his collection specializes in italian sculpture from the quattrocento.