dipinto

Dipinto is an Italian term that denotes a painting, i.e., a visual work produced by applying pigments to a surface. It can also function as the past participle of the verb dipingere (to paint), used as an adjective to describe something that has been painted, for example una superficie dipinta.

Etymology and grammar: Dipinto derives from the verb dipingere; the form is the masculine singular past participle. As a noun, un dipinto means a painting. The feminine form dipinta is used when the adjective describes a feminine noun, such as superficie dipinta.

Usage and scope: In art contexts, dipinto refers to the finished artwork regardless of technique, including oil on canvas, tempera, fresco, panel paintings, and mixed media. Phrases like dipinto a olio su tela or dipinto su tavola are common in Italian descriptions of works.

Relation to other terms: Quadro is often used synonymously with dipinto, though quadro can also emphasize the framed object. Pittura denotes the broader field and practice of painting as an artistic discipline. The term dipinto is widely used in catalogs, gallery labels, and scholarly discourse to identify individual works.

Historical and cultural note: In Italian art history, dipinti span from medieval altarpieces to Renaissance, Baroque, and modern paintings. Notable dipinti include many Renaissance masterpieces such as La Gioconda (Mona Lisa) and the Birth of Venus, illustrating the enduring relevance of the dipinto in Western art.

See also: Quadro; Pittura; Affresco; Tecniche pittoriche.