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adorante

English translation: orant figure


14:52 Nov 3, 2009Login or register (free) for more options.
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
French term or phrase: adorante
Hi

This is the name given to a type of figure depicting a woman in a position of worship, perhaps kneeling or with arms raised.

I don't know if there is an equivalent and accepted term in English other than a generic "worshipping figure."

Many thanks for your help.
Sandra Petch
France
Local time: 04:29
English translation:orant figure
Explanation:
a term used in medieval art - not sure it applies here.
For a definition and an image, see http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary/orant.htm:
"orant (orans) figure : a standing figure with both arms raised. This was a gesture of prayer in the Early Christian period. "

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Note added at 19 hrs (2009-11-04 10:22:16 GMT)
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I see from your second question that you are dealing with an exhibition. In that case, it is much more likely that "orant figure" is the correct term.see http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary/orant.htm:
Selected response from:

Victoria Barkoff
Canada
Local time: 22:29
Grading comment
Thank you so much. I'd never encountered this term before.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2adoration figure
kashew
4 +2worshippermargaret caulfield
4 +1figure in an attitude of worship/adoration
Helen Shiner
4worshippingphilgoddard
3orant figure
Victoria Barkoff


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
worshipper


Explanation:
.

margaret caulfield
Spain
Local time: 04:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lianne Wilson
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Lianne!

agree  Verginia Ophof
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Verginia!
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31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
adoration figure


Explanation:
* simultaneously with Helen S.

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Note added at 32 mins (2009-11-03 15:25:05 GMT)
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Or, Female adoration figure.

kashew
France
Local time: 04:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stephanie Ezrol
37 mins
  -> Thanks

agree  emiledgar
57 mins
  -> Thanks
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40 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
figure in an attitude of worship/adoration


Explanation:
I did wonder whether you could use 'acolyte', but that has too specific a meaning.

This seal, which is impressed on B 5:, gives on the left hand
(bottom) of the inscription the representation of a seated figure, and
on the right hand (top) a standing figure in an attitude of adoration.
http://www.archive.org/stream/proceedings08soci/proceedings0...

http://dsr.nii.ac.jp/toyobunko/VIII-5-B2-7/V-1/images/PDF/02...

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 140

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Christopher Crockett: Your guess that we could be talking about a "Donor" portrait seems like a good one --though who can tell, without any context whatever? If that's the case, then adding "a donor" to your "figure in..." would be appropriate.
52 mins
  -> Thanks, Christopher - may or may not be a donor, but as you know it is one of the standard figural types of art iconography.
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
worshipping


Explanation:
I think your suggestion is correct. It's spelt worshiping in US English.

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Note added at 48 mins (2009-11-03 15:41:49 GMT)
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ie worshipping woman.

philgoddard
United States
Local time: 21:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Travelin Ann: I think we need the noun form to fit the original.
15 mins
  -> Thanks.
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
orant figure


Explanation:
a term used in medieval art - not sure it applies here.
For a definition and an image, see http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary/orant.htm:
"orant (orans) figure : a standing figure with both arms raised. This was a gesture of prayer in the Early Christian period. "

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2009-11-04 10:22:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I see from your second question that you are dealing with an exhibition. In that case, it is much more likely that "orant figure" is the correct term.see http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary/orant.htm:

Victoria Barkoff
Canada
Local time: 22:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you so much. I'd never encountered this term before.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: I've translated hundreds of thousands of words of art history, and I've never heard of this word before. I'd go for something that visitors to an exhibition would understand.
1 day21 hrs
  -> I've translated numerous museum exhibitions and companion books, and studied Medieval Art. If you google the term, you may be surprised to find that it is more common than you thought.
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