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Summary:

The understanding and enjoyment of a work of art depends as much on the story it depicts as on the artist's execution of it. But what were once biblical or classical commonplaces are not so readily recognizable today. This book relates in a succinct and readable way the themes, sacred and secular, on which the repertoire of Western art is based. Here in a single volume are combined religious, classical, and historical themes, the figures of moral allegory, and characters from romantic poetry that established themselves through paintings and sculpture in Western art before and after the Renaissance. More than just a dictionary, this text places these subjects in their narrative, historical, or mythological context and uses extensive cross-referencing to enhance and clarify the meanings of these themes for the reader. The definitive work by which others are compared, this volume has become an indispensable handbook for students and general art appreciators alike. This wholly redesigned second edition includes a new insert of images chosen by the author, as well as a new preface and index to highlight the ideas, beliefs, and social and religious customs that form the background of much of this subject matter. -- Publisher's description.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction / Kenneth Clark
• Preface to the Second Edition
• Preface to the First Edition
• Note to the Revised Edition
• Acknowledgements
• Notes
• Sources
• Bibliography
• The dictionary
• Supplementary index.

Author/Creator:

Hall, James, 1918-2007

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Main Work:

Dictionary of subjects and symbols in art [by Hall, J.]

Subjects:

Art — Themes, motives — Dictionaries

Symbolism in art — Dictionaries

Art — Themes, motives

Art

Symbolism in art

Genres:

Dictionaries

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. xxxi-xxxv) and index.

Physical Description:

xxxv, 364 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 23 cm

Call Numbers:

N7560 .H34 2008

ISBNs:

9780813343938 (pbk.)
0813343933 (pbk.)

Library of Congress Control Numbers:

2007031010

OCLC Numbers:

156811913