Iconography

The study of the meaning of images, including their symbolic content.

In general terms, the subject of a picture is called its iconography. More specifically, iconography is the study of the meaning of images, including their symbolic content. The eagle, for example, may be interpreted as a symbol of Christ (from its interpretation in the bestiary and related texts) or of the evangelist Saint John (see Evangelist symbols) and is linked in exegesis with the Resurrection.

  • Arabic:
    ايقونوغرافية
  • Armenian:
    պատկերագրութիւն
  • French:
    Iconographie
  • German:
    Ikonographie
  • Italian:
    Iconografia
  • Portuguese:
    iconografia
  • Spanish:
    Iconografía

Michelle Brown, Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts (Malibu, CA: J. Paul Getty Museum in association with the British Library, c1994).