depictum

Depictum is a Latin noun meaning “a depiction” or “that which is depicted.” The word is derived from the verb depingere, “to paint, portray, or describe.” Historically, depictum has been used in medieval theological, legal, and artistic treatises to denote an image, illustration, or representation of a subject, object, or person. In many medieval manuscripts, a depictum would be the painted figure or illuminated illustration accompanying a text, serving as a visual exegesis of the narrative.

In the field of art history, the term appears in scholarly works that analyze iconography and the transmission of visual motifs. A depictum is often contrasted with “objectum,” an object in the physical world, emphasizing that a depictum exists within the realm of representation. This dichotomy highlights the distinction between the reality of the subject and its portrayal. The concept is useful for discussions of imagery in religious art, where the depictum might embody doctrinal messages intended for an audience incapable of reading.

Modern usage of depictum is rare; it is mainly found in academic texts that preserve the Latin terminology for precise reference. In legal contexts, especially in the analysis of antiquities and copyright, a depictum might be cited as an object for judicial consideration of originality and representation. The term remains a useful lexical choice for scholars who wish to keep the distinction between representation and object literal.