Signs and Symbols in Christian Art

I used this for an Art history class back in the 1980's and it has been a valuable resource when visiting museums, Spain and Italy ever since. It is also a wonderful book to bring along when you want to introduce kids to art- They can play detective and try to decipher all of the meanings. Im buying it again to give to a friend.

Although not encyclopaedic, this book, first published in 1954, is indispensable to the art history, religious art, iconographic, and religious lives student. The essays are of significant depth without excessive volume, and the illustrations, although of a limited period (Medieval through Renaissance), are pungent enough from which to learn. Two limitation I will remark:There are no representations from Eastern- or Byzantine- iconography.The illustrations are all black and white.

I engage in deep studies of the symbolic content of Renaissance paintings. When I seek to understand a painting, I often find myself opening this book. I have found helpful information many times. The fact that it is a fairly short and small book is not altogether a bad thing. It won't take me two hours to find out whether or not the book has the info I need. I know of no "bigger and better" version of this book. If you're interested in Christian art symbolism, this book is a must have.

This is a wonderful guide to Christian iconography and saints' stories. Good item to take into the European museums laden withChristian art. It has an old and new testament section as well as the main stories of the life of Mary mother and of Christ. Thereis also a section devoted to the meanings of symbols and plants and animals.

This book does a good job of listing and describing the various signs and symbols, but the drawings of them are very simple and not always the best examples of the type. As a basic source it does the job, but if you want to see how they are actually used, you will need something else.

This isn't a big book but it is packed full of helpful hints that will let you know what those art critics are talking about.

Arrived two days AHEAD of schedule, was packaged neatly and securly.Although it was used, it had very little wear and tear on it. I got this for a art history report on the Byzantine mosaics (Christian) and a lot of the symbols in the art work have been defined in this book. Overall well worth the price and just plain interesting.

This is my "go to" book to recommend to anyone studying renaissance paintings. I sold a number of them when I worked in a museum store. I have an adult friend who has become a Catholic and this was my confirmation gift to her. It is excellent. Too bad the pictures or a few of them could not be in color.

The most concise and sophisticated exploration of Christian symbolism in art, literature and symbolism. The absolute must-have for every art history student. Every piece is followed by a sublime illustration beside it.

I continue to pick up this book, read a few pages, think about what I've read, put it down, pick it up a few days later...a fascinating book to read if you're interested in an introduction to some "behind the scenes" information about Christian art.

This book is excellent to carry round renaissance art galleries and early churches where the majority of the population could not read but were able to read the symbolism of the paintings and windows. This tells you what the artist intended to say

Very useful insights and general descriptions suitable for an audience that does not necessarily have art history background. No doubt, useful for art historians too.

Good level and volume of information and great for a reference book.