ABSTRACT
A passage from Three Men in a Boat, another from The History of Louis XIV, a bust by Bernini and a painting by Canaletto have served as examples of representations. These examples demonstrate the existence of a wide variety of representations. In fact, representations are even more various than these examples indicate. We also find examples of representation in the arts of photography, dance, drama and (though this is controversial) music. More examples of representation are found in scientific theories and mathematical equations. Even mental states are said to be representations. Despite this apparently endless variety, it is possible to give a taxonomy of representations and the provision of such a taxonomy is an important part of the epistemology of art. We need to know what sort of representation is employed in the arts, and how it differs from the representation employed in other forms of inquiry, such as science and history.
