Allegory

A Closer Look

by Erika Langmuir

When we say that love is blind or time flies - making disembodied ideas sound like living beings - we are using the language of allegory and incidentally bringing abstract notions within the scope of the visual arts. Painters in the past, and commercial artists today, have relied on allegory to create message pictures. Once thought to rival literary works or political oratory in influence and prestige, such paintings, with their references to ancient myth, the Bible or medieval astrology, can all too often puzzle some modern viewers.

Genres: Art, Reference, Nonfiction, Art History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Erika Langmuir, OBE, was educated in France and the United States. She has taught at the University of Sussex and held the Chair of Art History at the Open University. She was Head of Education at the National Gallery from 1988–1995.

Reviews

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book, this short introduction lacks coherence to be a great introduction to the subject. Neither is it the handy companion I thought it might be for visiting the National Gallery, where all the subjects are selected from. I'm going to try the Gombrich suggested in the bibliography. The dilemma of today's student of art history seems to be to have to chose between great writing (the older books) and great reproductions (the modern books).

[Choi Tang · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief guide to allegory, too short for the paintings they used, rather felt the descriptions jumped around a bit but still a good introduction.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little book to accompany the National Gallery's collection, made cogent by a sensible restriction in the time period addressed for the most part. The quality of the plates was especially good, as was the use of multiple plates for some individual paintings to give the overall sense and highlight particular detail.

The brevity is both its value and weakness--it's a book the pique the interest rather than satisfy it. With limited exceptions each theme is illustrated with a single work.