The Secret Language of the Renaissance: Decoding the Hidden Symbolism of Italian Art [Hardcover]

An utterly fascinating study --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Renaissance artists had a habit of encoding meanings into symbols - everything from bee-hives to centaurs. Sometimes these meanings in paintings, sculptures, buildings and literature drew upon a traditional symbolic repertoire, but often a more esoteric meaning was encoded - perhaps a hidden political message or an expression of heretical faith. Richard Stemp leads us through a wealth of examples - more than 100 works of art - each shown in all its glory and then deconstructed, or decoded, to interpret the symbols it contains. For all those who relish secret symbolism and conspiracies as well as lovers of the art of Renaissance Italy, this book will instruct and delight in equal measure. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Richard Stemp lectures at the National Gallery, Tate Modern and
Tate Britain. He wrote and presented the TV series Art in the National
Gallery for Channel 4. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.