First published in 1998. The Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography compares the uses of iconographic themes from mythology, the Bible and other sacred texts, literature, and popular culture in works of art through various periods, cultures, and genres. Art historians now tend to study narrative themes depicted in works of art in relation to such subjects as gender and sexuality, politics and power, ownership and possession, ceremony and ritual, legitimacy and authority. The Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography reflects these new approaches by ordering the themes of various iconographic sources in particular biblical, mythological, and literary texts according to these new emphases.Each handsomely illustrated entry discusses the major relevant iconographic narratives and the historical background of each theme. A list of selected works of art that accompanies each essay guides the reader to examples in art that depict the theme under discussion. Each essay includes a list of suggested reading that provides further sources of information about the themes. A general bibliography of reference books is listed separately and can be used in association with all the essays. With 119 entries written by 42 experts, the Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography is an important reference work for art historians, students of art history, artists, and the general reader.

"The 500 plates presented here were first published in 1844 by Brockhaus in Leipzig. Robert Garrigue of New York published the first English edition in 1851 entitled Iconographic Encyclopedia of Science, Literature and Art. Since that time this unique compendium has become a standard of illustration worldwide. The book has been published in numerous editions and has been sold millions of copies around the world. The present issue is the first in hardcover in many years, with all plates carefully restored. Never before have the plates about sciences, arts, daily life, culture and war, nature and history, costumes and behavior have been printed so precisely and legibly."

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.