word painting

an effective verbal description.

tone painting.

Origin of word painting

First recorded in 1865–70

word painter, noun

There is not one of those descriptions so dear to the heart of those who are considered masters in the art of word-painting.

George Sand, Some Aspects of Her Life and Writings |Rene Doumic
It should be clearly understood that word-painting is not descriptive music.

Old Scores and New Readings |John F. Runciman
Women generally have, I believe; they are said to excel our sex in word-painting.

Ruth Hall |Fanny Fern
Perhaps Ruskin, the great artist-master of word-painting, might have produced as perfect a gem of English description as this.

Eugene Field, A Study In Heredity And Contradictions |Slason Thompson

Her beauty is not presented to us by means of word-painting, but rather by its effect on all who behold her.

Studies in the Poetry of Italy |Oscar Kuhns