contrapposto

noun

con·​trap·​pos·​to

ˌkōntrəˈpä(ˌ)stō

plural -s

: a position of the depicted human body (as in late Renaissance painting and sculpture) in which twisting of the vertical axis results in hips, shoulders, and head turned in different directions

Word History

Etymology

Italian, contraposition, from contrapposto (past participle of contrappore to oppose), from Latin contrapositus, past participle of contraponere to place opposite

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