Subject Guides: Iconography: Religious Themes

Christian Iconography

The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Art and Architecture. HumRef N 7825 .M87x 2013
2nd ed.
The Oxford Companion to Christian Art and Architecture. HumRef N 7830 .M87 1996
E-book and print.
New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2003. 15 vols.
Religion/Family HistoryReference BX 841 .N44 2003. 15 vols. 2nd ed. + E-book
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Don't miss the additional Supplements
A Guide to Christian Art. HumRef N 7830 .A66x 2020
Schiller. Iconography of Christian Art. 1971. 2 vols.
HumRef N 7830 .S3513
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Volume I covers the life of Christ (from the Incarnation through the miracles) and vol. II covers the Passion of Christ. Profusely illustrated with black-and-white reproductions. Each book contains a selected bibliography; second volume has a general index for both works. These are two of the volumes of Ikonographie der christlichen Kunst. Five vols. have been issued in German, covering the Resurrection, Ascension, and The Church.
Sill. A Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art.
HumRef N 8010 .S54 1975b
Réau. Iconographie de l'art chrétien. 3 vols. in 6 books.
HumRef N 7830 .R37
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Vol. I is a general introduction and bibliography, with articles on the sources and evolution of Christian iconography; Vol. II contains the iconography of the Bible. Vol. III (3 books) contains the iconography of the saints. The last book has several indices: to the names of the saints in various languages including Russian, Swedish, Hungarian, and Dutch; to the patronage of the various saints; and to the attributes of the saints.
Jameson. The History of Our Lord as Exemplified in Works of Art. 2 vols.
N 7830 .J3 1872 + Digitized version

Non-Western Themes

Leick. A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology. HumRef BL 1060 .L44 1991 and E-BOOK
The Origin of the Buddha Image and Elements of Buddah Iconography. N 8193 .A4 C66x 2006
Baird. Symbols of Japan: Thematic Motifs in Art and Design. 2001.
HumRef N 7350 .B233 2001
Bunce. A Dictionary of Buddhist and Hindu iconography, illustrated: objects, devices, concepts, rites and related terms.
HumRef N 8193 .A4 B86 2001
Oort. The Iconography of Chinese Buddhism in Traditional China. 1986. 2 vols.
N 8193 .C6059x 1986
Benson and Griffin. Maya Iconography. 1988.
Quarto F 1435.3 .A7 M27 1988

Saints in Art

Butler's Lives of the Saints. 4 vols. HumRef BX 4654.B8 1965
Considered one of the standard authoritative references, includes bibliographical info, saints are listed under their feast day, includes index. Concise ed.: BX 4654 .B8 1985
Medieval Art and the Cult of Saints, 2020.
Oxford Bibliographies Online. E-book.
Waters. A Handbook of Christian Symbols and Stories of the Saints as Illustrated in Art, 1886.
HumRef N 8010 .W38 1886 + digitized version
The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary. 2002.
HumRef BX 4655.3 .B66 2002
Post-Biblical Saints Art Index.
HumRef N 8079.5 .R63 1994
A locator of paintings, sculptures, mosaics, icons, frescoes, manuscript illuminations, sketches, woodcuts, and engravings, created from the 4th century to 1950, with a directory of the institutions holding them.
Farmer. Oxford Dictionary of Saints. 2011.
HumRef BR 1710 .F34 2011 + E-book
Bles. How to Distinguish the Saints in Art by Their Costumes, Symbols and Attributes. 1925. N 8080 .B5
Covers saints and how they are depicted in art. Includes a chronological list of the Bishops of Rome and the Popes up to the end of the sixteenth century, an alphabetized list of emblems and corresponding saints who used them, and an alphabetical list of the means by which the saints were martyred, naming the ones who died.
Bibliotheca Sanctorum.1961-70.12 vols. BX 4655.8 .B5
Dictionaries of Saints.