Symbolical Representation Collection

Taoist alchemy, 17th century (ink and color on silk)
8601652 Taoist alchemy, 17th century (ink and color on silk) by Chinese School, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912); 24.5 x 22.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo © Christie's Images

Madonna enthroned with Child, surrounded by saints and figures, 1575 (painting)
7129047 Madonna enthroned with Child, surrounded by saints and figures, 1575 (painting) by Allori, Alessandro (1535-1607); Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, Tuscany

Statue of St Luke as a bull, La Sagrada Familia, begun 1882 (photo)
7268944 Statue of St Luke as a bull, La Sagrada Familia, begun 1882 (photo) by Gaudi, Antoni (1852-1926); Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Playing Card: Liberty, Three Tile
FGL5474107 Playing Card: Liberty, Three Tile. French Revolution Card Game, Colorful Engraving 1790 - 1792; Fototeca Gilardi

Vivien, 1863 (oil on canvas)
MAN62976 Vivien, 1863 (oil on canvas) by Sandys, Anthony Frederick Augustus (1829-1904); 64x52.5 cm; Manchester Art Gallery

Lysistrata and his allies defending the access of the acropolis to men by farts
AIS5356057 Lysistrata and his allies defending the access of the acropolis to men by farts, 1896 (litho) by Beardsley

Allegory of Music, 1649 (oil on canvas)
7259975 Allegory of Music, 1649 (oil on canvas) by La Hire or La Hyre, Laurent de (1606-56); 105.7 x 144.1 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Crowns of English Sovereigns from William the Conqueror to Charles I
5246104 The Crowns of English Sovereigns from William the Conqueror to Charles I; (add.info)

Plate depicting the Tree of Life with peacocks, 13th century (stone)
RTG8833982 Plate depicting the Tree of Life with peacocks, 13th century (stone) by Maestro Pellegrino (Pellegrino da Salerno o da Sessa) (13th century); Museo Diocesano & Museo della Cattedrale

Fragments of plaques with geometric decorations and a cross VIII-IX
RTG8833951 Fragments of plaques with geometric decorations and a cross VIII-IX, 8th-9th century (stone) by Italian School, (8th century); Museo Diocesano & Museo della Cattedrale, Bari

Death of Adam (detail), 1462-1466 (fresco)
GRL9019683 Death of Adam (detail), 1462-1466 (fresco) by Francesca, Piero della (c.1415-92); Basilica San Francesco, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy; (add.info.: "Death of Adam)

The Black Death (drawing)
OVR9041512 The Black Death (drawing) by Kittelsen, Theodor Severin (1857-1914); (add.info.: By Theodor Kittelsen); Photo © O. Vaering

Ignis: allegory of fire, 17th century (engraving)
PCT9023880 Ignis: allegory of fire, 17th century (engraving) by Daman, (active 1640-60); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ignis: allegory of fire)

Aqua: allegory of water, 17th century (engraving)
PCT9023877 Aqua: allegory of water, 17th century (engraving) by Daman, (active 1640-60); Private Collection; (add.info.: Aqua: allegory of water, one of the 4 elements, with sea monsters, tritons)

Russian civil war, c.1920 (poster)
CCI9032988 Russian civil war, c.1920 (poster); Private Collection; (add.info.: History. USSR (Russia). Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky against the white russian general Denikin

The Great Cabalistic Tree, 1653 (engraving)
PCT9023899 The Great Cabalistic Tree, 1653 (engraving) by Kircher

Etude de la Kabbale superieure et de l'alchimie, 1595 (engraving)
PCT9023898 Etude de la Kabbale superieure et de l'alchimie

An Italian soldier defends the Tricolor with drawn sword
FGL9033432 An Italian soldier defends the Tricolor with drawn sword

The statue of Christ (sculpture)
JPP9020855 The statue of Christ (sculpture); (add.info.: Tende-Viévola Notre-Dame de la Visitation de Viévola chapel, built in 1631 during a plague epidemic)

Dominance of Tuscany over the sea, 1636-47 (fresco)
GRL9036360 Dominance of Tuscany over the sea, 1636-47 (fresco) by Franceschini, Baldassare (Il Volterrano) (1611-89); Villa Medicea della Petraia, Florence, Tuscany

Decorative tile, second half of 13th century (marble)
GRL9019628 Decorative tile, second half of 13th century (marble) by Italian School, (13th century); Museo e Galleria Mozzi Bardini, Florence, Tuscany, Italy; (add.info.: Museum Stefano Bardini)

The triple alliance, 1895 (print)
CCI9032998 The triple alliance, 1895 (print) by Italian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: History. Austria. The Triple Alliance between Austria Hungary, Germany and Italy)

World War I (1914-18): Poilu! Don't worry! What do you want? (postcard)
PCT9023867 World War I (1914-18): Poilu! Don't worry! What do you want

D'Artagnan discovers the infamous fleur-de-lys mark on Milady's shoulder
PCT9033161 D'Artagnan discovers the infamous fleur-de-lys mark on Milady's shoulder, 1853 (illustration) by Beauce

Ducal Palace: vault of the Bridal Chamber or Camera Picta
GRL9036429 Ducal Palace: vault of the Bridal Chamber or Camera Picta, which is a room located in the north-east tower of the Castle of San Giorgio in Mantua

The independence of France (drawing)
PCT8970618 The independence of France (drawing) by Robida, Albert (1848-1926); (add.info.: Depicted as a floating island towing a small skiff called Monaco)

Visconti family coat of arms, 15th century (marble)
GRL9019633 Visconti family coat of arms, 15th century (marble) by Italian School, (15th century); Museo e Galleria Mozzi Bardini, Florence, Tuscany, Italy; (add.info.: Lombardy artisans)

The New Walpurgis Night: Germanic Sabbat on the Brocken, 1915 (print)
PCT9036801 The New Walpurgis Night: Germanic Sabbat on the Brocken, 1915 (print) by Robida, Albert (1848-1926); (add.info.: Caricature by Albert Robida in Fantasio magazine no 209 1 october 1915)

Aer: allegory of the air, 17th century (engraving)
PCT9023878 Aer: allegory of the air, 17th century (engraving) by Daman, (active 1640-60); Private Collection; (add.info.: Aer: allegory of air)

Panels from the High Altar of the Charterhouse of Saint-Honoré
XCC5859624 Panels from the High Altar of the Charterhouse of Saint-Honoré, Thuison-les-Abbeville: Saint John the Baptist, 1490-1500 (oil on panel) by French School

Banner with the image of Germania, symbol of a united Germany, c.1918 (print)
UIG527402 Banner with the image of Germania, symbol of a united Germany, c.1918 (print) by German School

Christ, Chapel of Our Lady of the Visitation in Viévola, 1631(photo)
JPP9020954 Christ, Chapel of Our Lady of the Visitation in Viévola, 1631(photo); (add.info.: Tende-Viévola Notre-Dame de la Visitation de Viévola chapel, built in 1631 during a plague epidemic)

Italian allegorical illustration on the National Loan, c.1918 (poster)
FGL9033433 Italian allegorical illustration on the National Loan, c.1918 (poster) by Borgoni, Mario (1869-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: By Mario Borgoni); Fototeca Gilardi

Finalmente! (finally) illustration about the National Loan, 1915 (poster)
FGL9033434 Finalmente! (finally) illustration about the National Loan, 1915 (poster) by Borgoni, Mario (1869-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: By Mario Borgoni); Fototeca Gilardi

10th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Czechoslovakia, 1928 (lithograph)
FIA8977181 10th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Czechoslovakia, 1928 (lithograph) by Mucha, Alphonse Marie (1860-1939); 121 x 83.5 cm; Alfons Mucha Museum, Prague

The Slavic Unity, 1910-11 (oil on canvas)
FIA8977180 The Slavic Unity, 1910-11 (oil on canvas) by Mucha, Alphonse Marie (1860-1939); Prague City Gallery, Prague

WWI postcard, French soldier (poilu)
PCT4256807 WWI postcard, French soldier (poilu) photographed in studio in front of painted canvas with combat aircraft and allegory of La Marseillaise (photo) by Unknown photographer

Coin with Fleur de Lys (verso) (gold)
FTB62360 Coin with Fleur de Lys (verso) (gold) by French School, (16th century); Museo Correr, Venice, Italy; © Francesco Turio Bohm

Fighting between the Spanish and Aztecs at the battle of Xallipatlavaya
CHT195206 Fighting between the Spanish and Aztecs at the battle of Xallipatlavaya, illustration from a facsimile of a Mexican Indian picture history Lienzo de Tlaxcala of c.1550

Mary Magdalene (stone)
PWI110605 Mary Magdalene (stone) by Unknown Artist; Notre-Dame de Montlucon, France; © Peter Willi

The Nations of Europe marching towards the Cross
PC1279142 The Nations of Europe marching towards the Cross, Saint Pierre Le Jeune, Strasbourg (fresco) by French School; Saint Pierre Le Jeune, Strasbourg, France; (add.info.: France, Strasbourg)

Exodus from the Cities during the Plague, 1630 (print)
XLA3773313 Exodus from the Cities during the Plague, 1630 (print) by Unknown Artist; (add.info.: Flight of townspeople into the country to escape the plague, 1630. People travelling by horse cart)

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, Liebig Card, 1896 (print)
XLF3788658 Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, Liebig Card, 1896 (print) by German School, (19th century); (add.info.: Cleopatra. Caption reads: Queen of Egypt, 68-31 BC)

Virgins; Angels; Archangels; Virtues; Powers; Dominations (engraving)
7182256 Virgins; Angels; Archangels; Virtues; Powers; Dominations (engraving) by English School

Principalities; Thrones; Seraphs; Cherubs; Seraph; Cherub (engraving)
7182254 Principalities; Thrones; Seraphs; Cherubs; Seraph; Cherub (engraving) by English School

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Symbolical representation is a powerful tool that transcends time and medium, allowing artists to convey profound messages through their work. In the 17th century painting of Saint Luke healing the hydropic child, we witness the symbolic portrayal of faith's ability to overcome physical ailments. Similarly, in the Allegory of Music painted in 1649, oil on canvas becomes a vessel for expressing the intangible beauty and emotional depth found within music. The artist skillfully captures its essence through visual symbolism. Moving beyond paintings, even statues can serve as symbolical representations. The Statue of St Luke as a bull at La Sagrada Familia embodies strength and resilience while paying homage to this revered saint. In an engraving from circa 1509-1512 titled The Emperor Maximilian, we see how symbols are used to depict power and authority. Through intricate details and carefully chosen motifs, the artist conveys the emperor's grandeur. However, not all symbolical representations have positive intentions. An antisemitic cartoon from 1909 titled "At thirty deniers, a cosmopolitan bazaar: Everything must pay off" uses derogatory imagery to perpetuate harmful stereotypes. On a more uplifting note, engravings like The Adoration of the Lamb (1498) or Frontispiece Apocalupsis cum figuris (1511) invite us into mystical worlds filled with religious symbolism. These works allow viewers to explore deeper spiritual meanings hidden within their intricate designs. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1511), another engraving rich in symbolism, serves as a reminder of humanity's mortality and our collective journey towards salvation or damnation. Death itself has been personified throughout history; one example being Death portrayed as "the poor man's friend" in an artwork from 1850. This representation challenges societal perceptions by suggesting that death can bring relief from suffering for those less fortunate. Religious narratives also frequently employ symbolical representation.