Signs and Symbols in Christian Art:
With Illustrations from Paintings from
the Renaissance (Galaxy Books) by
George Ferguson
Beginning Reference For Lives Of Saints And Iconography
First published in 1954 and having gone through several editions, this
comprehensive book remains the authoritative source in the field. This
paperback edition includes all of the three hundred fifty illustrations from
the original edition, as well as the complete and unabridged text. Its text
and illustrations reveal the symbolism inherent in representations of
religious personages, the Earth and Sky, animals, birds, insects, and
flowers. In addition to a discussion of objects treated symbolically in
Christian art, George Ferguson explores Old Testament characters and
events and their symbolic representation in art.

Personal Review: Signs and Symbols in Christian Art: With
Illustrations from Paintings from the Renaissance (Galaxy
Books) by George Ferguson
When I bought this book, I needed a quick and dirty reference to religious
symbolism in western art--I was pleased and surprised to find out that it's
small, lightweight, and therefore portable when I visit museums. (Why
don't more publishers consider weight and size when they print books for
travelers? Lonely Planet and DK, I'm looking at you.)
Its easy size belies the incredible amount of useful information it contains;
there are fourteen sections covering everything from the significance of
certain animals to religious garments to a brief hagiography for commonly
portrayed saints. About one-third of the book is a set of reproductions
(sadly b&w in this edition) of famous renaissance religious paintings.
There's no discussion or explanation accompanying the paintings--which is
the only thing I don't like about the book.
And if you read one of the earlier reviews and are wondering about the
chocolate mouse in Rosemary's Baby, it's a reference to mice as a symbol
of evil because of their destructiveness.
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