<p>You could consider this an example of <strong>emphasis</strong> which generally means, in art terms, an element of the composition that draws the viewer's eye to a desired focal point in the work. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-08T17:41:53.493Z
2019-12-10T16:27:47.040Z
2019-12-10T16:27:47.040Z
rebusB
<p>In painting, this figure is called a <em><strong>festaiuolo</strong></em>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[Artists of late medieval and Renaissance Europe] relied on <em>festiauolo</em> - <strong>figures who attract our attention by glance or gesture, point us in the appropriate direction, and indicate how we should respond or behave</strong>. The concept of the <em>festaiuolo</em> was taken by artists from the Italian theatrical and celebratory conventions. On stage, he or she was usually a secondary character who served as an intermediary between the audience and the main action, explaining, commenting, and modeling the appropriate response. The meaning of the word itself, literally &quot;feast-maker&quot;, suggests the role of master or mistress of ceremonies, who would perform introductions and direct guests, and so the <em>festaiuolo</em> functioned in a work of art.</p>
<p><sup>Scholarship and Christian faith: Enlarging the Conversation; Douglas Jacobsen, Rhonda Hustedt Jacobsen; 2004. p. 144</sup></p>
</blockquote>
<p>This pointing can be to something or someone inside the painting, as well as outside of it, in which case it usually is a concept, like God or Fate (<a href="https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/37481/why-do-some-painted-portraits-show-the-subject-pointing">here</a> is a related thread on History.SE).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-08T19:32:21.990Z
2019-12-08T20:20:03.680Z
2020-06-18T08:35:49.040Z
Joachim
<p>In paintings, you often see people pointing at things. This is sometimes the painter's way of attracting the audience's attention to whatever is being pointed at. Is there a name for this way of guiding attention to objects in a painting? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-04T19:30:53.540Z
Hi Mohamed, I think this doesn't really fit the scope of A&C, because there is no practical (creative) side to it.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-04T19:34:22.493Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it does not have a practical aspect.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-06T22:22:00.037Z
The question should be allowed.  As another current asker states when criticized for requesting terminology help, knowing technical terminology helps with research and understanding. Moving from novice to expert in any area requires a grasp of the discipline’s particular terminology.  https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/7647/what-are-the-technical-terms-techniques-involved-in-sewing-paper-bag-like-bags
Laurent R.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-08T12:11:53.573Z
@LaurentR. While that may be true, there is no reason to assume the OP is planning on incorporating it in personal creative work. I know it's kind of a silly prerequisite, but it does differentiate between art (historical) terminology and practical reference.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-08T12:19:17.157Z
What would be a suitable platform for this then? In other SE forums these questions are pretty common. How can you read and learn about a new topic you're interested in if you don't know what keywords to search for?
Mohamed Khamis
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-08T17:25:39.993Z
There is a real push, though arbitrarily enforced, to make this site _only_ about practical technique and _not_ about the history or theory of art, even though the topic "Arts & Crafts..." definitely suggests that should be included. Maybe it should just be called "Crafting Techniques" (but that's a case for the Meta...)
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-08T19:04:21.303Z
@rebusB, I suspect that stems from the specific exclusion in the help section for "Art history and art appreciation related questions".  This is probably considered art appreciation.  I think you nailed it with your observation that the intended site scope was more the "crafting" aspect.  Interesting gray area, though re: Laurent R.'s comment.
fixer1234
<terminology>
The term for someone pointing at an object to attract attention to the object
Mohamed Khamis
# The term for someone pointing at an object to attract attention to the object

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-04)

In paintings, you often see people pointing at things. This is sometimes the painter's way of attracting the audience's attention to whatever is being pointed at. Is there a name for this way of guiding attention to objects in a painting?

**Tags:** terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi username_0, I think this doesn't really fit the scope of A&C, because there is no practical (creative) side to it.  
> **username_1**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it does not have a practical aspect.  
> **username_2**: The question should be allowed.  As another current asker states when criticized for requesting terminology help, knowing technical terminology helps with research and understanding. Moving from novice to expert in any area requires a grasp of the discipline’s particular terminology.  https://crafts.stackexchange.com/questions/7647/what-are-the-technical-terms-techniques-involved-in-sewing-paper-bag-like-bags  
> **username_1**: @LaurentR. While that may be true, there is no reason to assume the OP is planning on incorporating it in personal creative work. I know it's kind of a silly prerequisite, but it does differentiate between art (historical) terminology and practical reference.  
> **username_0**: What would be a suitable platform for this then? In other SE forums these questions are pretty common. How can you read and learn about a new topic you're interested in if you don't know what keywords to search for?  
> **username_3**: There is a real push, though arbitrarily enforced, to make this site _only_ about practical technique and _not_ about the history or theory of art, even though the topic "Arts & Crafts..." definitely suggests that should be included. Maybe it should just be called "Crafting Techniques" (but that's a case for the Meta...)  
> **username_4**: @username_3, I suspect that stems from the specific exclusion in the help section for "Art history and art appreciation related questions".  This is probably considered art appreciation.  I think you nailed it with your observation that the intended site scope was more the "crafting" aspect.  Interesting gray area, though re: username_2.'s comment.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-08. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

In painting, this figure is called a ***festaiuolo***:

> [Artists of late medieval and Renaissance Europe] relied on *festiauolo* - **figures who attract our attention by glance or gesture, point us in the appropriate direction, and indicate how we should respond or behave**. The concept of the *festaiuolo* was taken by artists from the Italian theatrical and celebratory conventions. On stage, he or she was usually a secondary character who served as an intermediary between the audience and the main action, explaining, commenting, and modeling the appropriate response. The meaning of the word itself, literally "feast-maker", suggests the role of master or mistress of ceremonies, who would perform introductions and direct guests, and so the *festaiuolo* functioned in a work of art.
>
> Scholarship and Christian faith: Enlarging the Conversation; Douglas Jacobsen, Rhonda Hustedt Jacobsen; 2004. p. 144

This pointing can be to something or someone inside the painting, as well as outside of it, in which case it usually is a concept, like God or Fate ([here](https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/37481/why-do-some-painted-portraits-show-the-subject-pointing) is a related thread on History.SE).


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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-11-08. Score: 0

You could consider this an example of **emphasis** which generally means, in art terms, an element of the composition that draws the viewer's eye to a desired focal point in the work.


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