Art Encyclopedia - Monumental

Art information > Art Encyclopedia > M > Monumental

Monumental
Monumental refers to something that is massive, permanent or vast. It can also be something that is historically prominent or liken to a monument.

In art the term monumental is used to describe a large size although small dimensions can have monumental qualities associated with large size, for example, compactness, solidness, stability. Monumentality is also used to describe a quality of a painting, which though itself small conveys grandeur and a sense of transcending the painting's physical smallness.