Imago, imagines

The authors chose the Latin word imago as the starting point for the concept of a new synthetic publication devoted to medieval art in the Czech lands (denoting not only two-dimensional paintings, drawings, etc., but also three-dimensional creations and possibly architectural works). In contrast to today's understanding of art, it was considered a key element of a work of art and its function in the Middle Ages, while the aesthetic aspect was merely linked to it. The structure of the book is based on this - after an introductory explanation of the term “imago”, the individual sections deal with the functions that imagines performed - religious, didactic, memorial and representative functions, and finally also aesthetic functions, which are associated with style changes. This unconventionally conceived history of medieval art is set in the context of the historical development of the Czech lands and the text is accompanied by numerous images.