Christian Iconography

Selected Dictionaries and Encyclopedias (Art Library Reference shelves)

La Bible et les Saints: Guide Iconographique.  [N7825.D857 1990]

  - Brief entries for figures and events from the Bible and later Christian history. Includes illustrations.

Butler's Lives of the Saints.  [BX4654.B8 1991]

  - This compact edition includes short biographies of 365 saints, arranged in order of their feast days. An index lists all saints alphabetically. Also includes 'patron' list of saints sorted alphabetically by subject. The 12 volume annotated edition should also be consulted [BX4654 .B8 1995 , Davis Reference]

The Catholic Encyclopedia. 15 vol. + index and 2 supplements. [BX841.C25]

  - Comprehensive encyclopedic treatment of Roman Catholic history and doctrine. See also online version and New Catholic Encyclopedia (Davis Reference BX 841.N45)

The Continuum Encyclopedia of Animal Symbolism in Art. [GR705.W47 2004]

The Dent Dictionary of Symbols in Christian Art.  [N7825.S68 1994]

  - Includes Christian terms, with illustrations, symbols, and bibliography.

Encyclopedia of Women in Religious Art. [N7793.W65 A66]

  - Includes more than 2,000 entries from Celestial Beings to Historical and Legendary Women.

Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine. [BX4654.J334]

  - Popular legends from the 13th century, useful for iconographic research as they were a source for artists.

Iconographie de l'Art Chrétien. Louis Reau. 3 vols. in 6. [N7830.R37]

  - Volume 2, Old and New Testaments. Volume 3, Iconography of the saints.

Ikonographie der Christlichen Kunst. Gertrud Schiller. [N7830.S35]  4 volumes in 5 + index. Volumes 1 and 2 are in English.

  - Arranged chronologically, treating scenes from the life of Christ, the Virgin, and the early Church.

Lexikon der Christlichen Ikonographie. 8 vols. [BV150.L4]

  - General iconography, and iconography of the saints. Abbreviations and Eng./Fr.equivalents.

Marienlexikon. 6 vol. [BT599.M37 1988]

 - Major German encyclopedia, including entries for Christian figures, events, and subjects, as well as artists who employed Christian subject matter. Bibliographies include works in other languages.

Medieval Art: a Topical Dictionary. [N7850.R67]

 A quick reference source for identifying and comprehending the subjects, stories, symbols and themes frequently represented in Christian, western Medieval, and Byzantine art.

Medieval Iconography: A Research Guide. [NX449.F75 1998]

  - A useful annotated guide for both sacred and secular iconography, arranged in four broad categories. Includes index and helpful list of journal abbreviations.

The Oxford Companion to Christian Art and Architecture. [N7830.M87]

  - Includes notes on religious concepts and themes, notable figures in the Bible and church history, art and architectural vocabulary, and prominent artists. Illustrated. Extensive bibliography.

The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. [BX4655.8]

Post-Biblical Saints Art Index. [N8079.5.R63 1994]

  - An illustrations index, by subject, which also serves as a locator of the art work itself. Indexes post-Biblical saints; specific artists, and attributes and events of the saints' lives.

Reverse Symbolism Dictionary: Symbols listed by Subject. [CB475.O37 1992]

  - A symbolism dictionary in reverse, listing alphabetically things symbolized, such as people, places, emotions, and abstract ideas. Includes Christian and other religious, mythological, and secular symbols.

Saints in Italian Art. 4 vols. George Kaftal. [ND1432.I8 K33 1952]

  - This comprehensive work focuses on Italian Renaissance art.

Selected Indexes and Abstracts on UNC Libraries E-Indexes and Databases Page (or on cd-rom, if noted)

Art Full Text. An index to periodical literature, a good 'first stop.' Covers art literature from 1984 to date; for earlier coverage use Art Index Retrospective.

ARTstor. Provides curated collections of art images and associated data for noncommercial and scholarly, non-profit educational use.

Bibliography of the History of Art. The most comprehensive index for the history of art; indexes and abstracts journal articles, books, exhibition catalogs and many other categories of publications. Essential for scholarly research.