quattrocento

American  

[kwah-troh-chen-toh, kwaht-traw-chen-taw] / ˌkwɑ troʊˈtʃɛn toʊ, ˌkwɑt trɔˈtʃɛn tɔ /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

1. the 15th century, used in reference to the Italian art and literature of that time.

---

quattrocento British  

/ ˌkwætrəʊˈtʃɛntəʊ, kwattroˈtʃɛnto /

noun

1. the 15th century, esp in reference to Renaissance Italian art and literature

---

Other Word Forms

• quattrocentist noun

Etymology

Origin of quattrocento

1870–75; < Italian, short for mil quattro cento 1400, occurring in the names of all the years from 1400 to 1499

Example Sentences

Like many old masters of the quattrocento, he painted religious works, portraits and mythological scenes.

From Washington Times • Feb. 1, 2015

As in many quattrocento paintings, the peripheral activity has a detached, dreamlike quality.

From The Guardian • Apr. 20, 2013

She spent summers visiting museums in Europe, pursuing an  interest in quattrocento and old master painting.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2011

On the back side the painting’s cracked, ancient-seeming plaster was mounted not on quattrocento brick but on Alucore, the kind of aluminum sheeting used for floors in jetliners.

From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2010

He falls into the same class as Francia and Perugino, who adhered to quattrocento modes of thought and sentiment, while attaining at isolated points to the freedom of the Renaissance.

From Renaissance in Italy Volume 3 The Fine Arts by Symonds, John Addington