What is a lunette?

• A. A semicircular shape used to describe panel paintings or the arched aperture of a window or domed ceiling.
• B. A type of brush used in oil painting.
• C. A decorative border around a frame.
• D. A large curved stretcher for canvases.

Answer: (C)

A lunette is a half-moon, semicircular or crescent-shaped space used in architecture and decorative art. This curved field often sits above doors or windows or forms part of a domed or vaulted ceiling, and it can hold a painting or relief within that curved area. That description—a semicircular shape used in panel paintings or in an arched opening—fits the term best because it captures the defining form and typical use of a lunette. The other options describe a tool, a border, or a stretcher, none of which align with the concept of a lunette.