1. Plural of ecphrasis; vivid, detailed literary or rhetorical descriptions of visual artworks, scenes, or objects.
Usage: literary; formal; often used in academic and artistic contexts

Examples

• The poet's ecphrases of classical sculptures brought the marble figures to life on the page.
• Medieval manuscripts often contained elaborate ecphrases of illuminated borders and religious imagery.
• Her collection of ecphrases explored how writers transform paintings into words.
• The novel includes several ecphrases that describe the protagonist's encounters with famous artworks.
• Literary critics analyzed the ecphrases in Homer's works, particularly his descriptions of Achilles' shield.
• Renaissance writers developed sophisticated ecphrases to celebrate the visual arts of their time.