ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the funeral monuments erected to commemorate children. It contributes to understanding attitudes towards children during this period of fundamental religious and social changes. Central or Eastern Europe has tended to be neglected as an area of art historical study in Western Europe, but it is an area with rich textual and visual sources. The book serves the concepts of iconography and iconology. According to the founding father of modern iconographical methodology, Erwin Panofsky: Iconography is that branch of art which concerns itself with the subject matter or meaning of works of art, as opposed to their form. Iconography involves the identification of such images, stories and allegories. Iconology involves the analysis of the various cultural and social influences that affect the appearance and content of a work of art.
