Eikón/Imago 2023

Eikón/Imago 2023 lead image

Imago, ius, religio. Religious Iconographies in Illustrated Legal Manuscripts and Printed Books (9th -20th Centuries). Eikón/Imago, volume 12 (2023)

It is not unusual to come across religious iconographies in miniatures as well as borders and based-page scenes in illustrated legal manuscripts and printed books (9th-20th centuries) containing canon, civil or local law texts, like the Livres juratoires or municipal and professional statutes. Some of these iconographies, for instance those in the Decretum Gratiani or the Liber Extra, Gregory IX’s decretals, have been accurately examined. However, a comprehensive survey providing a global and chronological investigation of these depictions is still wanting. Therefore, the journal Eikon/Imago, alongside the research team IUS ILLUMINATUM of Institute of Medieval Studies (IEM) of the Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas at the Universidade NOVA in Lisbon, has decided to devote the 2023 special issue to the study and examination of religious iconographies in legal manuscripts and printed books, so as to create a place for discussion and exchange on the diverse artistic, historical and social aspects of these iconographies.

Proposals can concentrate on the following as well as further related themes:      

  • The depiction of liturgical space in illustrated legal manuscripts and printed books.
  • Text-image relation in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • The Holy Trinity in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • The depiction of liturgical rites (Marriage, Eucharist, Benedictions).
  • The pope in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • The bishop in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • Saints in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • Monks in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • Between sacred and profane: religious drolleries in legal manuscripts.
  • Mendicant friars in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • The depiction of religious buildings in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).
  • The depiction of religious authority in legal books (manuscripts and printed volumes).

Special Guest Editors
Maria Alessandra Bilotta, Universidade Nova de Lisboa 
Gianluca del Monaco, Università di Bologna

Articles due February 1, 2022.