figurato

Figurato is an Italian term that functions as an adjective and past participle of fig- from figura, meaning figured, represented, or figurative. In general use it describes something that is adorned with figures, contains imagery, or conveys figurative meaning.

In language and literature, figurato denotes figurative language or style, where meaning is conveyed through imagery, metaphor, or other figures of speech rather than literally. The expression poesia figurata (figurative poetry) is used to describe literary works that emphasize imagery, composition, or visual-like effects as part of their meaning.

In music, the term appears in phrases such as basso figurato, often translated as figured bass. This refers to a bass line that is supplied with numerical figures to indicate chords and harmony, guiding performers in realization and ornamentation of the bass part. The concept highlights a close interaction between notation and improvisation in earlier musical practice.

In visual arts and decorative arts, figurato can describe works or motifs that depict identifiable figures or represent recognizable scenes. It is sometimes used in criticism to distinguish from abstract or non-representational forms, as in pittura figurata (figurative painting) or motifs figurati (figural motifs).

Overall, figurato is a flexible Italian term with specialized meanings across rhetoric, literature, music, and visual arts, all centered on the idea of figures, imagery, or representation rather than literal plainness.