grotesque

adjectivecommon noun

from the Italian grottesca ("very rich and fanciful wall decoration") which appeared in the mid-15th century, meaning properly "grotto fresco", derived from grotta ("grotto") because it was inspired by the decorations of Nero's Domus Aurea which were discovered by archaeological excavations in the Italian Renaissance period.

Definitions

arts

Plural

grotesques

Translations

  • englishenglish:grotesque
  • polishpolish:groteskowy
  • swedishswedish:grotesk

See also

grotesquerie (cn.)