Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art (Icon Editions) [Paperback]

James A. Hall (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0064301001 | ISBN-13: 978-0064301008 | Publication Date: August 1979 | Edition: Revised

The understanding and enjoyment of a work of art depends as much on the story it depicts as on the artist’s execution of it. But what were once biblical or classical commonplaces are not so readily recognizable today. This book relates in a succinct and readable way the themes, sacred and secular, on which the repertoire of Western art is based.Here in a single volume are combined religious, classical, and historical themes, the figures of moral allegory, and characters from romantic poetry that established themselves through paintings and sculpture in Western art before and after the Renaissance. More than just a dictionary, this text places these subjects in their narrative, historical, or mythological context and uses extensive cross-referencing to enhance and clarify the meanings of these themes for the reader. The definitive work by which others are compared, this volume has become an indispensable handbook for students and general art appreciators alike. This wholly redesigned second edition includes a new insert of images chosen by the author, as well as a new preface and index to highlight the ideas, beliefs, and social and religious customs that form the background of much of this subject matter.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James A. Hall is a noted scholar and historian of art. Living in England, he is the author of several works, including The Illustrated Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Eastern and Western Art (Westview Press, 1996).

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 349 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers; Revised edition (August 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064301001
• ISBN-13: 978-0064301008
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

158 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent. Must buy!, October 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art (Icon Editions) (Paperback)

Author: Lee Sandstead

Most great works of art are narratives or allegories that relate a story, myth, legend or particular concept, but in our era of pathetic education, most people are not familiar with the stories from Antiquity or the Judeo-Christian heritage that are necessary to decipher those narratives or allegories. The "Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art," by James Hall, is a dictionary that defines the major subjects and symbols of western art. It contains numerous explanations of legends, myths, symbols, heroes, heroines and citations that show, if applicable, their original source in historical texts or literature.

In Jacques-Louis David's "The Oath of the Horatii," we see three men reaching their arms out to an older man raising three swords. To the right of them are women and children on the floor in anguish. If you are not familiar with Livy, Plutarch or Pierre Corneille's play "Horace," then the story will probably escape you, and you will be at the mercy of the title for any information regarding the painting's subject. But by having the "Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art," you can read about the Horatii as a subject. For instance, you will learn that the legend is recounted in Livy and Plutarch; that the three men with raised arms are brothers; that the elderly man with the three swords is their father; that the action being preformed is an oath taken by the brothers to defend Rome by killing three of their cousins; and that one of the women on the ground is married to one of the fated cousins. By knowing this factual information, you can discern the theme of the painting-one should sacrifice all for the State-and be able to judge the painting not only for its style, but also its explicit message.

I believe that everyone should have a copy of this book in their home. Personally, it has enabled me to garner more meaning, more value and more passion out of my favorite works of art.

Best,

Lee Sandstead

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dated, but still a fine resource, July 14, 2006

By 

Michael G. Smith "Book Snob" (Georgetown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art (Icon Editions) (Paperback)

If you are an Art History major (or even taking such a class) it is an good resource. The style is dated, and it is limited in its definitions, but is good for earlier art periods.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lifelong Companion for Art Lovers and Cruciverbalists, December 6, 2009

By 

Lorelei Lee (A Rock on the Rhine) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dictionary of Subject and Symbols in Art (Paperback)

Love art but don't always remember the cast of characters of your Lives of the Saints or Greek Mythology?? Then this is for you. Neatly presented in alphabetical order is an abstract describing the events in all the scenes you are likely to see depicted as you walk through the galleries of the Louvre or the Metropolitan Museum. In cross-word puzzles (the difficult kind, not the general knowledge ones), can't remember the attribute of the saint referred to in the clue?? A quick glance at the relevant paragraph will allow you to feel as smart as a PhD in Theology. Easy to carry about your person, quick and convenient to use, that invaluable gem of a reference book should be given to each new-born baby whose parents care about cultural inheritance.