Sara Harrington Art Librarian saraharr@rci.rutgers.edu April 23, 2008

Research Resources: Subject Research Guides: Art History:
Iconographic Analysis

Unless otherwise noted, all resources are located in the Art Library. This subject is vast and diverse. These sources are meant to provide a beginning point for the study.

• Introduction to Iconography
• General Reference Sources
• Religious Texts
• Religious Themes in Art
• Saints in Art
• Myth, Legend, and Classical References
• Emblems
• Heraldry
• Periods, Styles, and Regions
• Images Cataloged with ICONCLASS
• Journals
• Other Sources

Introduction to Iconography

Bialostocki, Jan. "Iconography and Iconology," in Encyclopedia of World Art.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963. Vol. 7, 769-85.
ART REF N31.E553

Panofsky, Erwin. Studies in Iconology.
New York: Harper, 1967.
The introduction is important for an understanding of Panofsky's approach to iconology.
N6370.P195S

Straten, Roelof van. An Introduction to Iconography.
Trans. by Patricia de Man. Switzerland: Gordon & Breach, 1994.
A very good source for explanations, in brief, of iconography and terms associated with that study.
ART N7565.S7713 1994

General Reference Sources

Bernen, Satia, and Robert Bernen. Myth and Religion in European Painting 1270-1799: The Stories as the Artists Knew Them.
London: Constable, 1973.
ND1288.B47 1973B

Chevalier, Jean, and Alain Gheerbrant. Dictionnaire des symboles: mythes, reves, coutumes, gestes, formes, figures, couleurs, nombres.
Paris; Robert Laffont, 1982.
ART GR35.C47 1982

Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography.
Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998.
ART REF N7565.E539 1998

Hall, James. Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art.
New York: Harper & Row, 1974.
The single best source for quick information about subjects, symbols, and attributes. ART REF N7560.H34 1974a

Reallexikon zur byzantinischen Kunst.
Ed. by Klaus Wessel. Stuttgart: Anton Hiersemann, 1966 +.
Contains signed articles by scholarly authorities. Includes bibliography.
ART REF N6250.R43 1966

Reallexikon zur deutschen Kunstgeschichte. Ed. by Otto Schmitt and Karl-August Wirth.
Stuttgart: J.B. Metzlersche.
Contains signed, scholarly articles covering Middle Ages to mid-19th century.
ART REF N6861.S45

Religious Texts

Apocryphal New Testament.
ART REF BS2832.J3 1953

Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Ed. by F.L.Cross and E.A. Livingstone.
London: Oxford University Press, 1974.
ART REF BR95.O8 1974

Gaskell, G.A. Dictionary of All Scriptures and Myths.
New York: Julian, 1960.
ART REF BL603.G3 1960

The Holy Bible. Rockford, IL: Tan Books, n.d.
The Douay Rheims version, closest to the Latin Vulgate, known in medieval times. Also available online. ART REF BS180 1971

The Holy Bible. Philadelphia: National Bible Press, 1955.
King James version. Excludes apocryphal books. Also available online. ART REF BS185.P5

Religious Themes in Art

Apostolos-Cappadona, Diane. Encyclopedia of Women in Religious Art
New York: Continuum, 1996.
ART REF N7793.W65A66 1996

Bunce, Frederick W. An Encyclopaedia of Buddhist Dieties, Demigods, Godlings, Saints and Demons.
New Delhi: D.K.Printworld, 1994.
ART REF BQ130.B88 1994

Davidson, Gustav A Dictionary of Angels Including the Fallen Angels.
New York: Free Press, 1967
ART REF BL477.D3

Goodenough, E. R. Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period.
New York: Pantheon, 1953-1968
At ALEXANDER, DANA, and KILMER . DS111.G65

Graves, Robert, and Raphael Patai. Hebrew Myths: The Book of Genesis.
New York: Greenwich House, 1983.
ART BS1236.G7 1983

Hulme, F. Edward. The History, Principles and Practice of Symbolism in Christian Art.
Detroit: Gale, 1969.
ART N7830.H8 1969

Kirschbaum, Englebert. Lexikon der christlichen Ikonographie.
Freiburg: Herder, 1976.
The best single source for Christian iconography. First four volumes contain general iconography, the last four are devoted to saints. Each entry includes a bibliography.
ART REF BV150.L4

Metford, J.C.J. Dictionary of Christian Lore and Legend.
London: Thames & Hudson, 1983.
ART BR95.M396 1983

Murray, Peter, and Linda Murray. The Oxford Companion to Christian Art and Architecture.
Oxford, Eng.: Oxford University Press, 1996.
ART REF N7830.M87 1996

Reau, Louis. Iconographie de l'art chretien.
Nedlen/Liechtenstein: Kraus-Thomson, 1974
Extensive work, includes theoretical introduction to Christian iconography, and treats biblical themes in art, texts referring to the themes, and saints.
ART N7830.N43

Schiller, Gertrud. Iconography of Christian Art.
Trans. by Janet Seligman. Greenwich, CT: New York Graphic Society, 1972.
Contains the life of Christ. Translation of the first two volumes of the set listed below.
ART REF N7830.S3513 1971a

Schiller, Gertrud. Ikonographie der christlichen Kunst.
Gutersloh, Germany: Verlagshaus Gerd Mohn, 1971-1980.
First two volumes deal with the life of Christ. Remaining volumes contain information on the Ascension and Resurrection, the Church, and Mary. The final part is an index for all volumes.
ART N7830.S35

Saints in Art

Butler, Alban. Butler's Lives of the Saints.
New York: P.J. Kenedy, 1963.
ART REF BX4654.B8 1965

The following 4 volumes, written by Kaftal, are very important for the study of the Italian Saints and their depiction in Italian art.

Myth, Legend, and Classical References

Bell, Robert E. Dictionary of Classical Mythology: Symbols, Attributes and Associations.
Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1982.
ART REF BL715.B44 1982

Frazer, James. The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion.
London: Macmillan, 1980.
A multivolume set that treats myth by calling upon the study of comparative religions.
ART REF BL310.F7 1980

Jobes, Gertrude. Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore and Symbols.
New York: Scarecrow, 1961.
ART REF GR35.J6 1962

Reid, Jane Davidson. Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts 1300-1900.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Cites myths, classical texts, and depictions of the myths in art, music, dance, and literature.
ART REF NX650.M9R45

Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae.
Zurich: Artemis, 1981 +.
A monumental work of classical iconography spanning the Mycenaean to Early Christian period, and citing texts and images.
ART REF N7760.L4 1981

Emblems

Diehl, Huston. An Index of Icons in English Emblem Books, 1500-1700.
Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1986.
ART Z1021.3.D53 1986

Henkel, Arthur, and Albrecht Schone. Emblemata: Handbuch zur Sinnbildkunst des XVI und XVII Jahrhunderts.
Stuttgart: Metzler, 1967, Supp. 1976.
ART Folio N7740.E45

Diehl, Huston. An Index of Icons in English Emblem Books 1500-1700.
Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1986.
ART Z1021.3.D53 1986

Praz, Mario. Studies in Seventeenth-Century Imagery.
Rome: Edizioni di storia e letterature, 1974.
ART N7740.P7214 1964

There are several facsimiles of early emblem books in the stacks. They may be found by searching IRIS for the subject term EMBLEMS.

The Art Library holds a microfiche collection of almost 800 emblem books. They may be accessed by title with the help of a librarian.

Heraldry

Neubecker, Ottfried. Heraldry: Sources, Symbols and Meaning.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 1976.
ART CR21.N48

Bascape, Giacomo, and Marcello del Piazzo. Insegne e simboli araldica pubblica e privata medievale e moderna.
Rome: Ministero per i beni culturali e ambientali, 1983.
ART CR151.B37 1983

Periods, Styles, and Regions

Counter-Reformation

Knipping, John B. Iconography of the Counter-Reformation in the Netherlands.
Nieuwkoop: B. deGraaf, 1974.
ART N6946.K513

Baroque

Earls, Irene. Baroque Art: A Topical Dictionary
Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1996.

Pigler, Anton. Barockthemen.
Budapest: Akademiae Kiado, 1974.
Earlier edition shelved at: N7831.P5. Differences in the two indexes are not substantial. Cites images and themes covered in art between the 14th and 18th centuries, making the title somewhat misleading.
ART N6415.B3P5 1974

Asian Art

Auboyer, Jeannine, et al. Oriental Art: A Handbook of Styles and Forms.
New York: Rizzoli, 1980.
ART REF N7260.G6713 1980

Egyptian Art

Clark, R.T.Rundle. Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt.
London: Thames & Hudson, 1978.
ART BL2441.2.C55 1959

Secular Themes

Marle, Raimond van. Iconographie de l'art profane au moyen-age et a la Renaissance et la decoration des demeures.
New York: Hacker, 1971.
ART Folio N5970.M35 1971

Preston, Percy. A Dictionary of Pictorial Subjects from Classical Literature: A Guide to Their Identification in Art.
New York: Charles Scribner, 1983.
ART REF N7760.P68 1983

Tervarent, Guy de. Attributs et symbolees dans l'art profane 1450-1600.
Geneva: Librairie E. Droz, 1958.
ART N7740.T4

Medieval Art

Camille, Michael. The Gothic Idol: Ideology and Image-Making in Medieval Art.
Cambridge, Eng.: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
ART BV153.E85C35 1989

Male, Emile. The Gothic Image.
Trans. by Dora Nussey. New York: Harper, 1958.
General discussion of Gothic iconography. Other work by the author deals with specific time periods in a more detailed way.
ART N7949.M313 1958

Katzenellenbogen, Adolf. Allegories of the Virtues and Vices in Mediaeval Art From Early Christian Times to the Thirteenth Century.
New York: W.W. Norton, 1964.
ART N7740.K313

Ladner, Gerhart B. Images and Ideas in the Middle Ages.
Rome: Edizioni di storia e letteratura, 1983.
ART N7850.L16 1983

Images Cataloged with ICONCLASS

ICONCLASS is a unique, numerical system for grouping images by theme. Several image collections use this method, and in order to locate images the manuals must be used. (REF Z697.A8W3).

It is most helpful to ask a librarian for assistance the first time this is used.

Decimal Index to Art of the Low Countries (DIAL).
The Hague: Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, 1950.
A collection of photographic images arranged iconographically.
Index to DIAL: ART REF N6925.D5

Straten, Roelof van. Iconclass Indexes: Italian Prints.
Doornspijk: Davaco, 1987.
ART REF NE659.I26

Also
Iconclass Indexes: Dutch Prints, at the same call number.
All volumes except the first Italian index refer to work that is pictured in
Illustrated Bartsch
Folio NE90.B213 1978

Marburger Index on microfiche.
A monumental photographic archive of art and architecture in German collections. Iconographic indexes, on microfiche, are used to find representations of the objects--also on microfiche. A CD-ROM index is now available for searching the contents of the full Marburger Collection.

Roberts, Helene E. Iconographic Index to Old Testament Subjects Represented in Photographs and Slides of Paintings in the Visual Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University.
New York: Garland, 1987.
ART ND1430.R63 1987

Roberts, Helene E.
Iconographic Index to New Testament Subjects Represented in Photographs and Slides of Paintings in the Visual Collections, Fine Arts Library, Harvard University.
New York: Garland, 1992.
Alexander Library ND1430.R6 1992

Journals

Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institute
contains many iconographic studies. It is indexed by RAA (Repertoire d'art et d'archeologie) until 1990, by BHA (Bibliography of the History of Art) after 1990, and is included in Art Index.

Studies in Iconography

Other Sources

See holdings at Alexander Library for resources in literature, history, and social and cultural iconography.

See holdings at the Library of Science and Medicine for psychological and medical information.

See holdings at the Blanche and Irving Laurie Music Library, in Douglass Library, for musical symbolism and musical instruments.