iconography

[ ahy-kuh-nog-ruh-fee ]
/ ˌaɪ kəˈnɒg rə fi /

noun, plural i·co·nog·ra·phies.

symbolic representation, especially the conventional meanings attached to an image or images.
subject matter in the visual arts, especially with reference to the conventions regarding the treatment of a subject in artistic representation.
the study or analysis of subject matter and its meaning in the visual arts; iconology.
a representation or a group of representations of a person, place, or thing, as a portrait or a collection of portraits.

Origin of iconography

1620–30; < Medieval Latin īconographia < Greek eikonographía. See icono-, -graphy

OTHER WORDS FROM iconography

i·con·o·graph [ahy-kon-uh-graf, -grahf] /aɪˈkɒn əˌgræf, -ˌgrɑf/, noun i·co·nog·ra·pher, noun

British Dictionary definitions for iconograph

iconography
/ (ˌaɪkɒˈnɒɡrəfɪ) /

noun plural -phies

  1. the symbols used in a work of art or art movement
  2. the conventional significance attached to such symbols
a collection of pictures of a particular subject, such as Christ
the representation of the subjects of icons or portraits, esp on coins

Derived forms of iconography

iconographer, noun iconographic (aɪˌkɒnəˈɡræfɪk) or iconographical, adjective