iconography

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English icono- Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō) Ancient Greek -ᾱ (-ā) Ancient Greek -η (-ē) Ancient Greek γραφή (graphḗ) Ancient Greek -γραφίᾱ (-graphíā)bor. French -graphieder. English -graphy English iconography From icono- + -graphy.

1. A set of specified or traditional symbolic forms associated with the subject or theme of a stylized genre of art.

   “The hundredodd pages of photographs provide superb iconography of artistic collaboration and its rewards.”

2. The art of representation by pictures or images; the description or study of portraiture or representation, as of persons.

   “the iconography of the ancients”

3. The study of representative art in general.