DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18734#0112
104 ICO
of the Rofe, or feels not the majefty of the Ce-
dar ?
The machines, implements and utenfils, employed
by mankind, become fignificant emblems: the Plough
is a juft fymbol of agriculture, as the Sword is of war*
To an emblem of Mufic, we ufe fuch mufical inftru-
ments as are known among us ; as to a figure of Paint-
ing, we infert the pallette and pencils.
Particular countries, cities, &c. have generally fome-
what peculiar to themfelves, either the growth of the
country, or manufacture of the city ; or, perhaps, a
particular cuflom, privilege, or character, diftinguifhes
them from others, and which, when judicioufly em-
ployed, forms a becoming allufion to the fubject in-
tended.
Iconology exacts three principal qualities; firft, that
it be intelligible, that the fymbols introduced are
fuch as fpeak at once to the eye and to the underftand-
ing, and whofe relation and application to the fubjecl: to
be expreffed, is obvious and clear. It is highly ofFen-
(ive to keep the attention long in fufpenfe, ere it can
decypher newly-invented or round about related tokens,
myfterious as free-mafons figns. This obfeurity is con-
trary to the ufe of introducing fymbols, which is ex-
planation and information.
The fecond quality neceffary in emblems, is, that
they fhould be authorized by cuftomary ufage. This
authority is ufually attributed to the antique ; for my
own part, however, I cannot but regret the influence
which is allowed to antiquity on this fubject. It feems
to me, that with regard to religious emblems or ideas,
we
of the Rofe, or feels not the majefty of the Ce-
dar ?
The machines, implements and utenfils, employed
by mankind, become fignificant emblems: the Plough
is a juft fymbol of agriculture, as the Sword is of war*
To an emblem of Mufic, we ufe fuch mufical inftru-
ments as are known among us ; as to a figure of Paint-
ing, we infert the pallette and pencils.
Particular countries, cities, &c. have generally fome-
what peculiar to themfelves, either the growth of the
country, or manufacture of the city ; or, perhaps, a
particular cuflom, privilege, or character, diftinguifhes
them from others, and which, when judicioufly em-
ployed, forms a becoming allufion to the fubject in-
tended.
Iconology exacts three principal qualities; firft, that
it be intelligible, that the fymbols introduced are
fuch as fpeak at once to the eye and to the underftand-
ing, and whofe relation and application to the fubjecl: to
be expreffed, is obvious and clear. It is highly ofFen-
(ive to keep the attention long in fufpenfe, ere it can
decypher newly-invented or round about related tokens,
myfterious as free-mafons figns. This obfeurity is con-
trary to the ufe of introducing fymbols, which is ex-
planation and information.
The fecond quality neceffary in emblems, is, that
they fhould be authorized by cuftomary ufage. This
authority is ufually attributed to the antique ; for my
own part, however, I cannot but regret the influence
which is allowed to antiquity on this fubject. It feems
to me, that with regard to religious emblems or ideas,
we