Fictitious & Symbolic Creatures in Art

This volume opens a vivid investigation into the fantastical beasts that have long adorned British coats of armour. It surveys every creature whose existence rests solely on legend—dragons, griffins, winged angels, and other chimeric forms—tracing how medieval heralds borrowed from classical myths, travelers’ tales, and the imagination of poets. The author explains why each monster was chosen as a symbol, linking its visual traits to the values, fears and aspirations of the societies that displayed them.

Richly illustrated, the book offers clear, hand‑drawn depictions that revive the original spirit of these emblematic figures. Readers discover the subtle meanings behind each design, from the fierce dragon’s power to the gentle cherub’s purity, and learn how heraldic artists struggled to give shape to such elusive concepts. It serves both as a reference for scholars of symbolism and a visual feast for anyone fascinated by the mythic language of medieval art.