Fons signatus

A theological symbol in Christian doctrine and Marian iconography

Bibliographic Data

ID13073589
AuthorsJosé María Salvador-González (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume15
Pagese104322-e104322
Publication date2026-02-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEikon / Imago (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2254-8718 • E-ISSN: 2254-8718
PublisherUniversidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.5209/eiko.104322
OpenAlexW7128695775
LanguageEN
References cited4

Among the many metaphors with which Christian doctrinal tradition has designated the Virgin Mary, this article focuses on analyzing the “sealed fountain” (Fons signatus) from the Song of Solomon, as attested by numerous theological texts and some Marian images. The author begins by analyzing many testimonies from Fathers and medieval theologians of the Latin Church on this subject; secondly, he analyzes a large set of fragments of medieval liturgical hymns that poetically reconfigure this metaphor; in a third section, he analyzes five 15th-century Marian paintings that depict a sealed fountain invested with a clear symbolic intent. Finally, the author summarizes the results of the analysis of the texts and images, highlighting the essential relationship between the two

Christianity · Doctrine · Fountain · Iconography · Symbol (formal · The Symbolic · Byzantine Studies and History · Historical and Religious Studies of Rome · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies

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