The Emblem and Architecture: Studies in Applied Emblematics from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Centuries

This publication is a collection of essays on the function and significance of emblematic decoration of buildings in Europe from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century, dealing with general issues involved in architectural emblematics, while a number of the essays are case studies of specific types of building.

The emblematic decoration of buildings, both secular and ecclesiastical, was widespread in Europe from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. The function and significance of such decoration is, however, frequently overlooked. The two introductory essays seek to come to grips with the general issues involved in architectural emblematics. The remaining essays are case studies of specific types of building while the final two consider the relation of architecture to the book. The essays are revised versions of selected papers presented at an international conference on the subject held at the Canadian centre for Architecture in November 1994.

Issues and Problems Wolfgang Harms, ‘The Investigation of Emblem Programmes in Buildings: Assumptions and Tasks’; Egon Verheyen, ‘On Emblems, Devices, and Architecture. With Some Observations on the Design of the United States Capitol.’

Urban Buildings Judy Loach, ‘The Seventeenth-Century Restoration of the Temple De Lyon’; Charles Burroughs, ‘Hieroglyphs in the Street: Architectural Emblematics and the Idea of the Facade in Early Sixteenth-Century Palace Design.’

Library Architecture Lóránt Bencze, 'The Iconography of the Frescoes in the Baroque Refectory (1737) and the Classical Library (1832) of the Benedictine Archabbey of Pannonhalma (Hungary)'; Eric Gaberson, 'The Relation between Decoration and Books in Early Modern Libraries: Three Examples from Germany and Austria'

Princely Residences

Sabine Mödersheim, 'Duke Ferdinand Albrecht's Self-Portrayal in the Emblematic Programme of Castle Bevern'; Marc van Vaeck, 'The Stuccoes of H.C. Hansche at Horst and Modave: Applied Emblematics and Reception of De Passe's and Rollenhagen's Nucleus Emblematum Selectissimorum in the Low Countries'

Ecclesiastical Buildings

Annemarie Sawkins, 'A Political Agenda Propagated through Applied Emblematics in Late Gothic Architecture (Notre-Dame at Senlis)'; Lubomír Konecný, 'The Emblematics of J.B. Santini's Church Our Lady of the Visitation at Obyctov'

The Book and Architecture

Dietmar Peil, 'Architectural Motifs as Significant or Decorative Elements in Emblems and Frontispieces'; Hans J. Böker, 'Respiciendo et Prospiciendo: Political Allegories of Architecture and Sculpture on the Frontispieces of Leoni's Editions of Palladio and Alberti

Peter M. Daly and Andrea MacElewee, 'A Selective Bibliography'