A Symbol it’s Meaning and Reason in Classical Art

For those that love historical and classical paintings they may well known about the hidden meanings but if its something you are new to then you may wonder as to why in a city in renaissance Italy there is a lamb in the painting? Artists have used visual metaphors to subtly
communicate the subject of their works. Before we had the modern world of surrealism artists hid messages in their works; Why? Find out more in A Symbol it’s Meaning, and Reason in Classical Art

Let’s start in many ways with one of the first movements in art to be considered ‘modern’. With the development of new techniques and new artistic sensibilities, art historians, saw The Renaissance mark the transition in Europe from the medieval period to the Early Modern age. So in many ways the art form this period was the modernist of its day. And like much in modern art it had its codes symbols and metaphors.

The Renaissance era, spanning from the 14th to the 17th centuries, was not just a form of expression but also a powerful communication tool, embellished with symbols that conveyed deeper meanings. Understanding this symbolism offered a more profound appreciation for the masterpieces of the day. The symbolism portrayed an insightful visual language.

But why? Well the use of these symbols would also allow for the intended audience, who were by and large illiterate, so there were placed within paintings so the viewer understand the meaning and purpose of the artwork. After all just like theatre it was a form of entertainment for all, not just the upper echelons of society. Many of these symbols held consistency in their meaning and made recurrent appearances in prominent masterpieces.

For example clothing and its colour had much more meaning that we would initially think.

As simple as a white dress may have seen, it represented so much more. A white dress, robe or even a cloak was associated with angels, the Virgin Mary, purity, innocence, religious, saintly, holy, righteousness. Therefore anyone painted with these garments would have been seen as pure goodness. And similarly blue robes, dresses, and cloaks symbolised heavenly purity. Think of key religious figure in christianity like Saint Peter or the Virgin Mary who were often painted wearing blue.

Sacred and Profane Love (1514–1515), by Titian, Borghese Gallery, Rome

Orange was worn by the middle classes , Yellows depicted prostitutes, Green symbolised youth, love and joy, light blue was for women of marriageable age, browns were for religious dressings, grey for peasants and purple was a rich colour as it was popularised by the Medici family which wore it. 

Then again a red cloak, or coat could stand for love, power, and church authority, as well as wealth, nobility or royalty. Yet at the same time it was painted to represent the devil, demons, and those suffering from melancholy were also depicted wearing this ruby tone.

Of course with any painting of the time, what was around the image would help with more exact meaning.

Youth of Moses, Sistine Chapel Sandro Botticelli

Then there are the animals, plentiful in this period dotted amongst crowd scenes in towns and villages. A sheep mingling in a crowd was a reference to Jesus. Of course for artists in renaissance Florence, Jesus wouldn’t be walking their streets so he is depicted in religious iconography as a lamb or even a dove; white and pure. To represent death or imminent passing a black crow would be placed within a scene. See butterflies in a depiction from this period? It was there to symbolise metamorphosis, change or ’emotional’ growth of a person

As for nature, an oak tree could signify strength and endurance, while a lily might symbolise purity, tree roots for strong foundations and family roots. As for the Carnation flower, the Greeks named it Dianthos meaning “flower of God”, so once in a painting this is its meaning. Generally flowers would stand for fragility.

Vittore Carpaccio, Young Knight in a Landscape

Food, of course has huge implications in renaissance works with its roots being in literature and even the bible. For instance, a Pomegranate stood for desire, fertility and marriage, but could also mean resurrection and even immortality. An apple, synonymous with evil, because the word Malum for “apple” and “evil” in Latin is same, but also because Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden. Pear for incarnation, grapes, the symbol of Bacchus who is the god of wine, also because wine represents suffering of Christ as Jesus offered wine on the last supper to the apostles.

Madonna of the Pomegranate, c. 1487, by Sandro Botticelli. Tempera on panel, 143.5 cm diameter. Uffizi, Florence

And so many more, a storm in a painting like in literature foretells danger, clocks and sundials the passage of time, the ticking a reminder of our mortality. A mirror, broken suggests separation or insecurity. A diamond was placed to symbolise elegance and value, whilst a blade symbolised precision or danger. A tear in a woman’s clothing could signify rape or a stone hovering above a hand would mean the person had been stoned to death.

This level of symbolism added a layer of intrigue to the paintings. Each symbol had a story to tell, a mystery to unravel, which drew the viewers in and kept them engaged. these markings portrayed universal themes like love, death, and faith.

The paintings now it seems are as much a book of its time, a way to tell a story through codes myths and symbols to those that couldn’t read. Now a classic painting may well have a whole new meaning for us now.

If you enjoyed reading A Symbol it’s Meaning and Reason in Classical Art why not read Beneath The Surface Here

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