The Four Evangelists; Peter Paul Rubens, 1614
Michele and I have decided that it would be helpful to add a section to our blog in which we gather glossaries of various terms and items which relate to Art History. In this section – which we have called "How to Read Art: A Glossary" and which can be found in the navigation bar at the top of the page – we will provide you with lists and definitions of terms relating painting, architecture, and sculpture. We will also provide for you a list of items which hold a consistent symbolism in art – such as the dog, the lily, the skull – and explain their meanings.
Hopefully, this will aid you in your studies of art and will enable you to discern more of the meaning of a painting or sculpture simply by looking at it with your own eyes.