Iconography

Symbols or images with a recognised meaning or which convey specific attributes. Also the study of the content of images and their meaning. Medieval religious iconographic representation employed a vocabulary…

Symbols or images with a recognised meaning or which convey specific attributes. Also the study of the content of images and their meaning. Medieval religiousReligious 1. Concerned with religion, showing belief in God or a deity. 2. In regards to an individual, refers to a member of an order of monks, nuns or friars who follow a Rule of life iconographic representation employed a vocabulary of standard visual symbols to convey meaning to viewers. These symbols allowed artists to use a sort of visual shorthand for representing the saints. For example, in a limited space, an artist might simply depict an attribute of a saintSaint In the New Testament applied to all Christians. Later used of those who were martyred or showed exceptional holiness and whose status was confirmed by the church. The practice of venerating the saints and their relics and asking for their intercessions (prayers) can be observed from the second and third centuries onward and played a central role in popular medieval religion. or saint’s emblem to call to mind a range of associations, including a saint’s name, miracles associated with him or her, and for some saints, the martyrdomMartyrdom (From Greek martus 'witness'). Death as direct result of allegiance to, or in defence of, a religious faith. See Martyr he or she suffered. In this way, the bull became synonymous with St LukeLuke, St Evangelist. Author of the Third Gospel and Acts. New Testament references suggest he was a Gentile physician, who accompanied St Paul for part of his missionary journeys. His symbol is an ox, the keys, with St Peter, the book with St Anne, the dragon, with St George, and so on.