Bridwell Library Entry Hall Exhibition: Religious Emblem Books

Bridwell Library at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, announces an exhibition featuring religious emblem books; volumes which engaged readers with linguistic and visual puzzles in order to convey both Christian doctrine and moral lessons.

The combination of symbolic images, poetic epigrams, and narrative explications found in emblem books was utilized in the creation of meditations, catechisms, calendars, and histories. Authors believed that readers better absorbed corrective and inspirational lessons through the active construction of meaning in the process of deciphering coded messages.

This exhibition explores the entertaining and occasionally sensationalistic imagery of emblem books, examining their use of biblical, mystical, mythological, and scientific sources to create evocative scenes.

For more information, click here or  contact R. Arvid Nelsen, Rare Books and Manuscripts Librarian, 214-768-3440, arvid@smu.edu.