Practice of representing things by symbols

concept

Four female torsos joined at the waist with garden features as heads; symbolising the four seasons in a garden. Etching by T. B., c. 1797.

A crowned woman in red holding a rose-topped caduceus; she is suspended in a circle of water; a cherub blows wind from above; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

World War One: a German soldier crouches in fear between two saintly mediaeval sculptures; behind Notre Dame is burning. Halftone after a pen drawing by L. Raemaekers.

A prince, clad in gold, succeeds the King; representing a stage in the alchemical process. Watercolour painting by E.A. Ibbs.

Demonology and devil-lore / Moncure D. Conway.

A queen in red is presented with dishes of blood on a hill; below, a man in a white robe gesticulates to the heavens; while another man stands next to alchemical apparatus, facing a man who is lying sick in bed; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

Two peasants hold a red robe; cherubs blow wind and Mercury rests on water below; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

A human body is consumed by a furnace; a woman holds a small red limbless effigy bearing a crown; a man holds a sheaf, and another a stick; below, by another furnace, a green and red dragon face each other, poised for combat; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

A red-faced king stands in a red robe, flanked by a queen and the deity Mercury in green clothes; representing a stage in the process of alchemy. Coloured etching, ca. 18th century.

Three doves with a dovecote and church in the distance, all surrounded by bay tree branches entwined in an ornate border. Engraving by H. Terasson after F. Barlow.

Miti, emblemi, spie : morfologia e storia / Carlo Ginzburg.

Die heilige Urschrift der menschheit : symbolgeschichtliche unter suchungen diesseits und jenseits des Nordatlantik / [Herman Wirth Roeper Bosch].

Hair : its power and meaning in Asian cultures / edited by Alf Hiltebeitel and Barbara D. Miller ; foreword by Gananath Obeyesekere.

Antropología del cerebro : la conciencia y los sistemas simbólicos / Roger Bartra.

Mystical transformations : the imagery of liquids in the work of Mechthild von Magdeburg / James C. Franklin.

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Shop

Café

We're experiencing some technical problems in the library today. 

If you’re visiting us, you won’t be able to print or use our PCs or laptops. If you want to sign-up for a free library membership, we’ll give you a temporary card for today and complete your membership next time you visit.

You can access items from the collection as usual and our team is on hand to help. Thank you for your patience while we resolve these issues. 

We're running paid user research studies to improve Wellcome Collection online

Take part in research

Symbolism

Images from the collections

Images about Symbolism

Works from the collections

Miti, emblemi, spie : morfologia e storia / Carlo Ginzburg.

Die heilige Urschrift der menschheit : symbolgeschichtliche unter suchungen diesseits und jenseits des Nordatlantik / [Herman Wirth Roeper Bosch].

Hair : its power and meaning in Asian cultures / edited by Alf Hiltebeitel and Barbara D. Miller ; foreword by Gananath Obeyesekere.

Antropología del cerebro : la conciencia y los sistemas simbólicos / Roger Bartra.

Mystical transformations : the imagery of liquids in the work of Mechthild von Magdeburg / James C. Franklin.

Symbolism

Images from the collections

Images about Symbolism

Works from the collections

Miti, emblemi, spie : morfologia e storia / Carlo Ginzburg.

Die heilige Urschrift der menschheit : symbolgeschichtliche unter suchungen diesseits und jenseits des Nordatlantik / [Herman Wirth Roeper Bosch].

Hair : its power and meaning in Asian cultures / edited by Alf Hiltebeitel and Barbara D. Miller ; foreword by Gananath Obeyesekere.

Antropología del cerebro : la conciencia y los sistemas simbólicos / Roger Bartra.

Mystical transformations : the imagery of liquids in the work of Mechthild von Magdeburg / James C. Franklin.

Related topics