STUDI DI ICONOLOGIA | 1975 | ERWIN PANOFSKY

In this seminal work by Erwin Panofsky, Studies in Iconology (Italian translation: Studi di iconologia. I temi umanistici nell’arte del Rinascimento) delineates a profound method for interpreting works of art beyond mere form and subject matter. Panofsky articulates a three-stage process—pre-iconography (description of motifs), iconography (identification of themes) and iconology (interpretation of underlying cultural, philosophical, and symbolic meaning) —and applies it especially to Renaissance art.  Through this lens, the book becomes both a theoretical treatise and a practical guide for art historians. It marked a turning point by emphasising that art is embedded within broader humanist, religious and social contexts rather than solely aesthetic or stylistic domains. In the Italian edition (1975) it has had enduring influence in the humanities and visual-culture studies.