Attribute (art)

An attribute (from Latin attribuere : “to assign”, “to ascribe”; attribute : “what is added”) is the characteristic addition of a figure in the visual arts . In contrast, identifying items that are or on its own to replace their signified representative, as a symbol or emblem referred to (in turn can have attributes).

Attribute of allegory

The attribute of an allegory is an object that makes the allegory recognizable. In this way, a figure becomes the embodiment of a general concept: an allegory of justice traditionally includes the scales (which "weighs guilt and innocence") and the blindfold ("blind justice"), an allegory of death includes the scythe (as the " grim reaper. " "That mows people away) or the skull (the" skull "of the ossuary).

Attributes of the activity

Professions are often associated with attributes. The doctor was often represented with a urine glass or with a pulse- sensing device (less often with a watch for pulse measurement), an anatomist with a dissecting knife, a scholar with a book or a pen.

Saints attributes

→ Main article : Iconographic attribute of saints

Certain people, situations and rooms can also be made recognizable through an attribute. Iconographic attributes of saints such as the key of Peter in images of the apostle Peter represent the passage from the Bible I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. ( Mt 16,18f  EU ) and thus become the unmistakable sign of Simon Peter.

Examples

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  Apollo with the arrow that brings death and plague, Artemis with bow, quiver and hunting dog; Greek pottery, ca.470 BC Chr.

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  Francesco del Cossa : St. Peter with key, 1473

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  Statue of the Roman god Mercury , with his attributes winged helmet , snake staff, winged shoes, purse, rooster and billy goat; 17th century

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  Allegory of Justice ( Justitia ) on the Palace of Justice in Munich, with the attributes scales and sword, 1897

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  Vulcanus , the Roman god of blacksmithing with a hammer , anvil and forge fire at the crown gate of the Dresden Zwinger , 1715 (historical photo 1945, Deutsche Fotothek)

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  Saint Eligius as patron saint of the blacksmiths at the north portal of the church of Öja on Gotland with hammer and pliers; 14th Century

India

Many Hindu gods can be easily identified by their companion animals ( vahanas ) or by their weapons etc. The standing or seated figures of Jain - Tirthankaras are - if at all - almost to differ only by the small animal attributes to her feet.

Web links

• Attribute in the BeyArs art dictionary, listing and explanation of several hundred attributes
• Symbols in the BeyArs art dictionary

Individual proof

1. ↑ Werner Friedrich Kümmel: The pulse and the problem of time measurement in the history of medicine. In: Medical History Journal. Volume 9, 1974, pp. 1–22, here: p. 1.