Objects of the Law, Holy Images
Affixed at the bottom of deeds, seals represent their owners’ authority by the means of a circular legend and a central image. They offer a strong ambivalence: a “seal” is a unique object—a matrix—but also the numerous identical imprints created by this matrix. This ambivalence takes on a philosophi...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2015
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| In: |
Method & theory in the study of religion
Year: 2015, Volume: 27, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 361-383 |
| Further subjects: | B
Seal
image
law
clergy
middle ages
France
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | Affixed at the bottom of deeds, seals represent their owners’ authority by the means of a circular legend and a central image. They offer a strong ambivalence: a “seal” is a unique object—a matrix—but also the numerous identical imprints created by this matrix. This ambivalence takes on a philosophical and theological dimension around the question of the tupos. Furthermore, choices of images are not dictated by a written rule but by proprieties related to the seal owner’s status, so they may answer to precise strategies and necessities. Then the adoption of an image reveals spiritual or temporal ambitions. The recent evolution of sigillography leads to a global approach of this subject, including researchers of various special fields. The iconographic dimension of seals is less and less confined to illustrate an article or a book: it tends to become a subject of its own of visual culture studies. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0682 |
| Contains: | In: Method & theory in the study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700682-12341360 |