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Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography: Themes Depicted in Works of Art (2 Vol. Set) by Helene E. Roberts
English | 1998 | ISBN: 1579580092 | 1150 pages | PDF | 19 MB
Editor Roberts points out that "there is no other reference book that uses the comparative method to describe the use of iconography in art that is organized from the point of view of actions, situations, or concepts rather than by the personages in mythical, biblical, or literary narratives." There is no doubt that many users seek access to artwork by subject and that few tools exist to aid them in their quests. Most users seeking simple depictions of an object (a snake or a volcano) have found Marsha Appel's Illustration Index I-VIII (Scarecrow, 1980^-1998; see Reference Books in Brief on p.362) useful. Those pursuing Christian iconography have relied on Schiller's Iconography of Christian Art. This comprehensive, two-volume work still sets the standard for Christian iconography with, for example, more than 80 pages and numerous reproductions devoted to the Crucifixion, as opposed to seven pages and one reproduction in ECI. The broad thematic arrangement and comparative analysis of classical and contemporary, as well as Christian themes, make ECI a complementary resource to Schiller.
There is also no doubt that ECI is thorough, scholarly, and effectively arranged with its numerous access points. Its lists of selected works of art for each theme are especially valuable, as this feature is not offered in some sources, such as Ferguson and Hall. The extent of its usefulness will depend on whether the desired subject is among the 119 themes included. The encyclopedia will be less useful to those trying to find artwork depicting literal subjects such as snakes or teapots–and any art librarian can tell you that there are requests like this–than for those seeking conceptual discussions of broad themes. These users will find ECI a treasure (discussed under abundance and luxury). Highly recommended for art, academic, and large public libraries.
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