This attractive small volume provides students and other art lovers with an accessible guide to the symbolism associated with plants, fruits, insects, flowers, fantastic creatures, animals of the sea, and animals of the land. In addition to an explanation of the symbol's meanings, each entry features several works of art, beautifully reproduced in color plates, with lines connecting the symbol in the painting to an accompanying explanation. The works selected are mainly European paintings from the 14th-17th centuries. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)