Discover the making and meaning of symbolic art
In this comprehensive guide, explore how hieroglyphs, emblems, mottoes, cyphers, and rebuses were crafted to convey ideas and messages across cultures and eras. This edition unpacks the methods, rules, and debates that shaped the art of devises, offering practical insights into how symbols communicate with clarity and flair.
The text surveys where images or figures come from—nature, art, and history—and explains how authors and artists used comparisons, language, and visual cues to express complex ideas. It presents examples, discusses common pitfalls, and outlines how to distinguish a good emblem from a merely decorative design. The result is a practical overview of a quiet, influential tradition in visual rhetoric.
- How symbols, mottos, and figures work together to convey meaning
- Different sources for emblematic imagery: nature, art, and historical events
- Guidelines for creating clear, engaging devises that educate and delight
- Examples and rules that illuminate the craft for readers of design and literature
Ideal for readers of historical symbolism, emblematic art, and the history of communication.