The Emblem

The emblem, an image accompanied by a motto and a verse or short prose passage, is both art and literature: in the emblem tradition, the image presents a story – often with pictorial symbols – and the verse below it drives home the picture-story's moral instruction. It is one of the most fascinating, and enduring, art forms in Western culture.John Manning's book charts the rise and evolution of the emblem from its earliest manifestations to its emergence as a genre in its own right in the sixteenth century, and then through its various reinventions to the present day. The seventeenth century saw the development of new emblematic forms and sub-genres, and the sharpening of the form for the purpose of social satire. When the Jesuits appropriated the emblem, producing enormous quantities of material, a further dimension of moral seriousness was introduced, alongside a concentration of emblematic "wit". The emblem later came to be directed increasingly at young people and children; in particular, William Blake adopted a fresh attitude towards ideas of the child and childishness. Since then, reprints of 17th-century emblem books have been produced with new plates, and writers and artists from Robert Louis Stevenson to Ian Hamilton Finlay have used emblems in new and subversive ways. The emblem - an image accompanied by a motto and either verses or a short prose passage - is both art and literature: the picture's wit or moral instruction is driven home by the accompanying text. It is one of the most fascinating, and enduring, art forms in Western culture. In this important new book, John Manning traces the emblem to its Renaissance roots in a pan-European, neo-Latin humanist culture, and then teases out its various reinventions down to the present day. In the 17th century new forms and sub-genres developed, and both were sharpened for the purpose of social satire. When the Jesuits appropriated the emblem, producing enormous quantities of material, a further dimension of moral seriousness was introduced, alongside a concentration of emblematic wit. Emblem books became one of the most popular kinds of publication throughout Europe, and increasingly appeared in vernacular languages. Later, the emblem was to be directed at young people: William Blake, in particular, adopted a fresh attitude towards children and their world. Since then, reprints of 17th-century emblem books became one of the most popular kinds of publication throughout Europe, and increasingly appeared in vernacular languages. Later, the emblem was to be directed at young people: William Blake, in particular, adopted a fresh attitude towards children and their world. Since then, reprints of 17th-century emblem books have frequently been published with new plates, and writers and illustrators from Robert Louis Stevenson to Ian Hamilton Finlay and his artistic collaborators have used emblems in fresh and subversive ways. -- from dust jacket In This Book, John Manning Traces The Emblem To Its Renaissance Roots In A Pan-european, Neo-latin Humanist Culture, And Then Teases Out Its Various Reinventions Down To The Present Day. In The 17th Century New Forms And Sub-genres Developed, And Both Were Sharpened For The Purpose Of Social Satire. When The Jesuits Appropriated The Emblem, Producing Enormous Quantities Of Material, A Further Dimension Of Moral Seriousness Was Introduced, Alongside A Concentration Of Emblematic Wit. Emblem Books Became One Of The Most Popular Kinds Of Publication Throughout Europe, And Increasingly Appeared In Vernacular Languages. Later, The Emblem Was To Be Directed At Young People: William Blake, In Particular, Adopted A Fresh Attitude Towards Children And Their World. Since Then, Reprints Of 17th-century Emblem Books Have Frequently Been Published With New Plates, And Writers And Illustrators From Robert Louis Stevenson To Ian Hamilton Finlay And His Artistic Collaborators Have Used Emblems In Fresh And Subversive Ways.--book Jacket. Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Talking With The Dead : The Beginning And Before The Beginning -- Towards An Emblematic Rhetoric -- Imaginotheca : Curators And Janitors -- Children And Childish Gazers -- Carnal Devotions -- Fame's Double Trumpet -- Licentious Poets And The Feast Of Saturn -- Last Things -- Appendix : Three Emblem Books. John Manning. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [373]-376) And Index. The emblem, an image accompanied by a motto and a verse or short prose passage, is both art and literature: in the emblem tradition, the image presents a story – often with pictorial symbols – and the verse below it drives home the picture-story's moral instruction. It is one of the most fascinating, and enduring, art forms in Western culture. John Manning's book charts the rise and evolution of the emblem from its earliest manifestations to its emergence as a genre in its own right in the sixteenth century, and then through its various reinventions to the present day. The seventeenth century saw the development of new emblematic forms and sub-genres, and the sharpening of the form for the purpose of social satire. When the Jesuits appropriated the emblem, producing enormous quantities of material, a further dimension of moral seriousness was introduced, alongside a concentration of emblematic'wit'. The emblem later came to be directed increasingly at young people and children; in particular, William Blake adopted a fresh attitude towards ideas of the child and childishness. Since then, reprints of 17th-century emblem books have been produced with new plates, and writers and artists from Robert Louis Stevenson to Ian Hamilton Finlay have used emblems in new and subversive ways. John Manning's book charts the -evolution of the emblem from its beginnings to its full flowering in the 16th century and through its various reinventions to the present day. "This book is a magisterial performance, sure to be in demand as an introduction to the emblem for general readers, as well as having much to say to emblem specialists."-Alastair Fowler, regius professor emeritus, University of Edinburgh, U.K. John Manning is a professor of English at the University of Wales, Lampeter, U.K. The "emblem", an image accompanied by a motto and a verse or short prose passage, is both art and literature. This text charts the rise and evolution of the emblem from its earliest manifestations to its emergence as a genre in its own right, through its various reinventions to the present day.