Alexander Markov-philosopher, cultural historian, Professor of RSUH and VlSU, leading researcher of the Institute of world culture of Moscow state University. M. V. Lomonosova, guest lecturer at a number of European and American universities. In his book, the author tells how to learn to see and understand the messages of complex pictorial compositions, to be able to unravel the hidden philosophical and ideological meanings. He examines how the themes of iconology, Christendom, mythological heroes and historical characters are realized in art. For this purpose, the famous paintings of Sandro Botticelli, Rembrandt, Titian, Leonardo da Vinci, Alphonse Mucha and many others are chosen. In parallel, the author shows that painting is closely connected with poetry, and often the artist's thought can be very accurately revealed in his verse by the poet.