Raffigurata

Raffigurata is the feminine form of the Italian past participle raffigurare, used as an adjective meaning depicted or represented. In art history, criticism, and cataloging, the term describes the subject shown in an artwork, illustration, or icon. It is commonly found in phrases such as la raffigurata Madonna or la figura raffigurata, where the focus is on what is depicted rather than who created it.

Etymology and related forms: raffigurare derives from figura (figure) and ultimately from Latin figura. Related terms include raffigurazione (depiction), raffigurante (depicting), raffigurato (depicted, masculine), and raffigurata (depicted, feminine). The gendered form must agree with the noun it modifies.

Contexts and usage: In museum labels, art catalogs, and iconographic studies, raffigurata specifies the subject of an image, icon, coin, or relief. It can apply to religious figures, mythological personages, or portraits. When the subject is male, the masculine form raffigurato is used; for plural subjects, the forms differ by gender (raffigurate for feminine plural, raffigurati for masculine plural). The term emphasizes the content of representation rather than the creator.