Use GetImageList to access the list of images that contains the image for this menu item. The ImageIndex property identifies a specific image from the list that GetImageList returns. 

GetImageList first checks the Parent of this menu item for a SubMenuImages property. If the parent menu item does not maintain a list of images, it checks that menu item's parent, and so on until reaching a top-level menu item (a menu item where Parent is not set). If none of the parent menu items has a SubMenuImages property, GetImageList checks the top-level menu for an Images property. 

GetImageList returns the first image list it finds. If it doesn't find an image list, GetImageList returns nil (Delphi) or NULL (C++). 

ImageIndex 

SubMenuImages 

Images 

Parent