Saints and Their Cults in Art: Books

Saints in and Their Cults in Art: Books

How to Find books on Saints at the UNT Libraries

To find books on saints and the social, cultural and political aspects of their cults, search the UNT Online Catalog. The UNT Online Catalog contains books and other materials added to the UNT Libraries since 1979.  For older materials consult the card catalog along the first floor wall of the Willis Library.

*To search, choose the "subject" or "keyword" search options.  Search the name of the saint or the artist of the art work (if known).  Search by last name, first name.  Example: von Bingen, Hildegard, or Bingen, Hildegard, or Hildegard, Saint (for Saint Hildegard von Bingen).
*Other Subject search examples: Saints, Hagiography.  Examples  of Keyword searches (Boolean): Saints and Medieval, Saints and Art, Martyr and Christianity,  Martyrdom and Christianity, Saints and Relics, Saints and Cults.

How to Find books on Saints at Other Libraries

*Search the World Catalog to find out about books and other materials not owned by UNT.  The World Catalog contains more than 35 million records describing items owned by libraries around the world. World Catalog does not include individual journal, magazine or newspaper articles.
*To find out if UNT owns the book or other material, click on the title of the book and then "Libraries that own" link. Books not owned by UNT may be borrowed through UNT's Inter-Library Loan Department.

Saints and Their Cults in Art: Reference Books

*Located in Reference, 1st Floor, Willis Library (unless otherwise noted).
*Search for the name of your saint in the following books.  Saints are listed alphabetically in most of these books.  Other books are for the iconographical identification of saints based on their attributes. 

The Architectural Setting of the Cult of Saints in the Early Christian West, c.300-1200 NA5453 .C76 2000
Encyclopedia of Monasticism BL631 .J85 1999 vols. 1-2
Encyclopedia of the Medieval World D114 .E55 2005
Symbols in Eastern and Western Art N7740 .H35 1994
A Latin-Greek Index of the Vulgate New Testament BS2303 .B47 1991
The Oxford Dictionary of Saints NA5453 .C76 2000
Post-Biblical Saints Art Index: a Locator of Paintings, Sculptures, Mosaics, Icons, Frescoes, Manuscript Illuminations, Sketches, Woodcuts, and Engravings N8079.5 .R63 1994
The Vulgate (Latin Bible-Gutenberg facsimile) Z241 .B58 1968b vols. 1-3 (Science Library-regular shelves)

Saints and Their Cults in Art: Regular Circulating Books

*A sampling of regular circulating books located on the second (B call numbers), and  third floors (N call numbers), of the Willis Library.

Catholic Religious Orders; Listing Conventional and Full Names in English, foreign language, and Latin, also abbreviations, date and country of origin and founders BX2420 .K3 1957
Decorations for the Holy Dead: Visual Embellishments on Tombs and Shrines of Saints NB1912.C47 D43 2002
The Habit: a History of the Clothing of Catholic Nuns BX4223 .K84 2003
Hagiography and the Cult of Saints: the Diocese of Orléans, 800-1200 BX4659.F8 H43 1990
Hermits and the New Monasticism: a Study of Religious Communities in Western Europe, 1000-1150 BX2847.E85 L49 1984
How to Distinguish the Saints in Art by their Costumes, Symbols, and Attributes 755 B617 (3rd floor)
Iconography of the Saints in the Painting of North West Italy ND1432.I8 K33 1985, v.4
Images, Relics, and Devotional Practices in Medieval and Renaissance Italy BX1544 .I48 2006
Instruction et Vie Religieuse dans le Haut Moyen Age CB353 .R53 1981 
Medieval Hagiography: an Anthology BR1710 .M39 2001
Medieval Irish Saints' Lives: an Introduction to Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae BX4662 .S52 1991
Medieval Monasticism: Forms of Religious Life in Western Europe in the Middle Ages BX2470 .L39 1984
Middle English Legends of Women Saints PR1120 .M524 2003
Middle English Saints' Legends Z2012 .S28 2005 (Reference, 1st floor, Willis Library)
Monasticism Order in England; a History of Its Development from the Times of St. Dunstan to the Fourth Lateran Council, 940-1216 BX2592 .K56 1963
Personal Names Studies of Medieval Europe: Social Identity and Familial Structures CB351 .S83 v.43
The Royal Saints of Anglo-Saxon England: a Study of West Saxon and East Anglian Cults BR754.A1 R53 1988
Sacred Biography: Saints and Their Biographers in the Middle Ages PR275.R4 H44 1988
Sainted Women of the Dark Ages BX4656 .S28 1992
Saints' Lives in Middle English Collections PR1120 .S37 2004
Saints: Studies in Hagiography BX4662 .S24 1996
Signs and Wonders: Saints, Miracles, and Prayers from the 4th century to the 14th BX2465 .W37 1992  
Soldiers of Christ: Saints and Saints' Lives from Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages BX4659.E85 S65 1995  
Spirituality and Law: Courting Martyrdom in Christianity and Judaism BM645.M34 G755 2005
Text, Image, Message Saints: Formations and Transformations BX4659.E85 A26 1994

Biographical Reference Books on the Artist Who Depicted the Saint

*If you know the name of the artist who painted the saint, search the artist's name in the biographical reference books listed below.  Be sure to search their name in the following manner: (last name, first).  The artist's name may have been spelled differently in different countries.  Be sure to consult these books to find these alternate spellings, so that you do not miss vital resources on the artist.

Dictionary of Artists (Benezit), N40 .D5213 2006 14 vols.  One of the best sources available. Includes artists from antiquity to the 20th century.  Also includes many artist's signatures. 

N40 .A63 1992 47 vols.  This source is in German but is the most comprehensive source available.  It covers artists from antiquity to the 20th century.

This is a great source for fine craftsmen such as goldsmiths, engravers, printmakers, etc., from antiquity to the 20th century.