 <p>In this line : </p> <pre><code>Categories.Add(1, new Menuitem() { Name = "Menu1", Image = "Menu1Resource" }); </code></pre> <p>You are setting probably ResourceKey Menu1Resource to Image thinking that you will get an Image object.</p> <p>Do this : </p> <pre><code>Categories.Add(1, new Menuitem() { Name = "Menu1", Image = _getImgFromResKey("Menu1Resource") }); Image _getImgFromResKey(string key) { //access resource from res dictionary } </code></pre> <p>and finally <code>&lt;Image Source="{Binding Value.Image}"/&gt;</code></p> <p><a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/618648/how-can-i-access-resourcedictionary-in-wpf-from-c-sharp-code">How to get resource from Res Dictionary</a></p>