Iconography and Context
Iconography and Context teaches reading attributes, gestures, and settings. The exam tests identification of deities, Buddhas, Tirthankaras, and Christian figures, plus the context that changes meaning.
Core rules
- Buddha: bhumisparsha as earth witness, dhyana as meditation, abhaya as protection, dharmachakra as teaching; ushnisha, urna, and elongated ears.
- Hindu: Shiva Nataraja with drum, fire, and ring; Vishnu avatars including Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Rama, and Krishna; Durga Mahishasuramardini; Lakshmi with lotus.
- Jain: Tirthankaras have lanchhana, chaitya tree, and attendant yaksha or yakshi; Parshvanatha has a snake hood; Mahavira has a lion.
- Christian: Good Shepherd, Christ in Majesty, lamb, and cross. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara has a lotus and crown.
Worked example
A seated figure holds a lotus, wears a crown, and has a small Buddha in the crown. Reasoning: the lotus and crown identify Avalokiteshvara or Padmapani. The small Buddha in the crown is a specific attribute of Avalokiteshvara, not Shakyamuni.
Traps
Do not identify every crowned figure as a king. Do not ignore the object in the hand. Do not read a Buddhist deity with Hindu attributes without checking context. Do not separate iconography from patronage and location.
Exam focus
Read attributes first, then gesture, then context. Confirm identity with at least two diagnostic features.