Nature and Its SymbolsJ.P. Getty Museum, 2004 - 382 pages Nature and Its Symbols is the fifth volume in the series A Guide to Imagery, reference guides whose goal is to explain the symbols used in art. This volume includes chapters on plants, flowers, fruits, and animals of the earth, air, and water, as well as fantastical creatures such as centaurs, griffons, and dragons. The vivid illustrations, which include paintings and tapestries from some of the world's premier museums, are accompanied by texts that offer a careful analysis of the artists' depictions of the natural world. fruit, or animal portrayed, its mythic or literary origins, and the episodes or individuals associated with it. These salient points are also called out in summary form within each entry, making the information easily accessible. The reader discovers, for example, that the iris can represent Jesus or the purity of the Virgin Mary as well as the kings of France or the city of Florence. The monkey, which can be symbolic of the devil, heresy, or bad temper, is also associated with the three wise men who travelled to Bethlehem to pay homage to the infant Jesus. |
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Page 369
... unicorn's muzzle is reflected , symbolizing the sense of sight . The lion is holding a banner with the heraldic ... unicorn horns " were actually narwhal tusks . According to medieval legend , the unicorn meekly lays its hooves on a ...
... unicorn's muzzle is reflected , symbolizing the sense of sight . The lion is holding a banner with the heraldic ... unicorn horns " were actually narwhal tusks . According to medieval legend , the unicorn meekly lays its hooves on a ...
Page 372
... Unicorn , illuminated page from a thirteenth - century bestiary , Oxford , Bodleian Library . The unicorn's capture has sometimes been read as an allegory of the capture and Passion of Christ . The unicorn in the arms of the young woman ,.
... Unicorn , illuminated page from a thirteenth - century bestiary , Oxford , Bodleian Library . The unicorn's capture has sometimes been read as an allegory of the capture and Passion of Christ . The unicorn in the arms of the young woman ,.
Page 373
Lucia Impelluso. The unicorn in the arms of the young woman , symboliz- ing virginity , suggests that this is a wedding portrait . △ Raphael , Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn , 1506 , Rome , Galleria Borghese . Forty years after its ...
Lucia Impelluso. The unicorn in the arms of the young woman , symboliz- ing virginity , suggests that this is a wedding portrait . △ Raphael , Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn , 1506 , Rome , Galleria Borghese . Forty years after its ...
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Common terms and phrases
According Adoration Albrecht Dürer allegory alludes allusion ancient angel animal Annunciation antiquity Apollo apple associated attribute of Saint Bacchus became a symbol bird butterfly Cesare Ripa Characters Attribute chariot chastity Christ child Christian considered a symbol death derives detail devil donkey Elder Naturalis Historia emblem Episodes and Characters Eucharist evil famous Florence flower fruit future Passion Garden Gemäldegalerie goddess Greek hand Hercules iconography Iconology interpreted Isaiah Jesus John the Baptist king Kunsthistorisches Museum Last Supper Latin legend lily Lorenzo Lotto lust Madonna and Child Madrid Meanings medieval bestiaries Musée Mythic Origins negative connotations Original Sin Ovid painting Passion of Christ Patrologia Latina Paul Getty Museum Pinacoteca plant Pliny the Elder Prado purity Renaissance representations represented resurrection Rome rose sacred Saint Anthony Saint John salvation satyr scenes snake Song of Solomon soul Sources Ovid Metamorphoses Sources Pliny stag thorns tradition tree Uffizi usually portrayed Virgin Mary wine young