Bracketed text

Bracketed text is a feature that enables the user to break away from the
hierarchy of alphanumeric notations. At certain points in the hierarchy the user
is invited, by the phrase: “with NAME”, to add a species name, a proper name, a
number, or a combination of these in parentheses to the end of a notation. Thus
a nonhierarchical platform is created within the hierarchy.

Example from division 2 of the Iconclass system:

Notations that are ready to accept an entry of bracketed text, for example
25G41(..), form an integral part of the Iconclass system. Usually, notations
with bracketed text spelled out, for example 25G41(ROSE), are incorporated in
the Iconclass Browser only for notations that have literary warrant in the
Iconclass Bibliography. However, a large number of proper names of historical
persons or fictional characters have found their own place in Iconclass, their
life stories can often further subdivided by means of structural digits, for
example 11H(BONAVENTURA) or 98B(CAESAR).

Keys

Keys are elements of the Iconclass system that are declared in lists. A list
of keys is valid for a certain range of notations. Keys are made up of strings
of digits, occasionally of digits and word(s). Keys are preceded by the plus “+”
sign and placed between brackets. They are placed at the end of a notation and
add a `shade of meaning’ to the definition or meaning of the notation proper.
Example:

The notation for a lion is 25F23(LION). Keys, valid for notations beginning
with 25F, are:

…etc.

Key (+12) adds the notion `heraldic’ to the concept `lion’: the notation for
a heraldic lion reads 25F23(LION)(+12).

Queue of key

Certain keys can be expanded with digits from a `queue’. The keys +1 to +6 of
25FF, for example, all indicating an abnormal part, limb or organ of a fabulous
beast, can be expanded with one or more digits from a queue indicating the part
or limb affected: 1 head, 11 nose, tusk, etc. Thus 25FF241(+511) denotes a
`unicorn with nose or tusk in an unusual place’. The added part (11) is referred
to as “Queue of Key”. Some `queues’ are made up of an entire key from a
different part of Iconclass.

Doubling of letter

At several points Iconclass offers the option to duplicate the upper case
letter of a notation and in this way modify its meaning. Letter duplication or
doubling the letter is context sensitive: it is valid only for certain parts of
the system. Within a declared range, duplication has a specific meaning. Often
some kind of opposition is intended.

Examples:

*)NOTE since 31AA
means female, the implied meaning of 31A is male

Structural Digits

Originally, at the time when Iconclass was devised, structural digits were
guidelines in structuring the information concerning certain large groups of
characters, such as Greek gods, persons from classical history, or male and
female saints. All important episodes in a character’s lifetime were numbered
consecutively with `structural’ digits:

Example (classical gods):

1       early life
2       love-affairs
3       most important deeds
92B3   (story of) Apollo
92B32   love-affairs of Apollo

Example (saints):

1             specific aspects
2             early life
3             personal devotion
11H(FRANCIS)  founder of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), 
              Francis(cus) of Assisi; possible attributes: book, 
              crucifix, lily, skull, stigmata
11H(FRANCIS)2 early life of St. Francis of Assisi

Structural digits share with key numbers the property of having an intrinsic
meaning which is valid only for a particular part of the Iconclass system. Like
keys, structural digits are declared in lists, valid for a particular range of
the system. Structural digits can be used to make cross-sections through the
system which are very interesting from an iconographical point of view.

Unlike keys, structural digits are not flagged, but form an integral part of
a notation. There are no formal rules to establish that a certain digit is in
fact a structural digit, other than the declaration that it is.

Example of applied notations

The following picture shows a printer’s device used by the 17th-century Dutch
printer Boutesteyn (“sturdy stone”). The subject of the image is indexed with
four Iconclass notations, from divisions 2, 4, and 7. The short description
says: ‘House built upon a rock, house built upon sand’: landscape with castle on
rock; windmill in background.