Animals With Human Faces: A Guide To Animal Symbolism
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Very good
Pages: Good
Long before the age of scientific taxonomy, medieval scholars and artists gazed upon the natural world and saw not mere creatures, but mirrors of the human soul — and Animals with Human Faces: A Guide to Animal Symbolism by Beryl Rowland is the definitive key to unlocking that rich, symbolic bestiary. Drawing on a vast compendium of medieval literature, art, and theology, Rowland chronicles the fascinating tradition in which animals — from the humble ant to the fearsome dragon — were imbued with profound moral and spiritual meaning, serving as allegories for vice, virtue, and the full complexity of human nature. Each entry presents the creature's symbolic identity as it was understood across centuries of Western thought, illuminating why the fox stood for cunning, the pelican for sacrifice, and the unicorn for purity. Rowland writes with the authority of a seasoned scholar and the clarity of an exceptional teacher, making this an indispensable reference for students of medieval literature, art history, and religious iconography alike. Her meticulous research uncovers the deep connections between classical antiquity, Christian theology, and the visual arts, revealing a symbolic language that once permeated every corner of medieval culture. Whether you are decoding the imagery of a Gothic cathedral or interpreting the allegories within Chaucer's verse, this guide will forever change the way you read both art and the animal kingdom.
Author: Beryl Rowland
Format: Hardback
Genre: Anthropology
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Very good
Pages: Good
Long before the age of scientific taxonomy, medieval scholars and artists gazed upon the natural world and saw not mere creatures, but mirrors of the human soul — and Animals with Human Faces: A Guide to Animal Symbolism by Beryl Rowland is the definitive key to unlocking that rich, symbolic bestiary. Drawing on a vast compendium of medieval literature, art, and theology, Rowland chronicles the fascinating tradition in which animals — from the humble ant to the fearsome dragon — were imbued with profound moral and spiritual meaning, serving as allegories for vice, virtue, and the full complexity of human nature. Each entry presents the creature's symbolic identity as it was understood across centuries of Western thought, illuminating why the fox stood for cunning, the pelican for sacrifice, and the unicorn for purity. Rowland writes with the authority of a seasoned scholar and the clarity of an exceptional teacher, making this an indispensable reference for students of medieval literature, art history, and religious iconography alike. Her meticulous research uncovers the deep connections between classical antiquity, Christian theology, and the visual arts, revealing a symbolic language that once permeated every corner of medieval culture. Whether you are decoding the imagery of a Gothic cathedral or interpreting the allegories within Chaucer's verse, this guide will forever change the way you read both art and the animal kingdom.