STARPAP Art Visual Annotation

Birds represented in Renaissance Damascene

Birds were a constant motif in many forms throughout Renaissance art. Common birds used included Peacocks, Magpies, Goldfinches, Owls, Birds of prey, and more. Most birds were used as spiritual/religious symbols, such as Magpies, Owls, or red birds, seen as symbols of demons, devils, and evil, whereas birds like Peacocks, associated with the resurrection of Jesus, and birds of prey, associated with divine justice and world order through the predation cycles. Finally, the Goldfinch, which is associated with the "Passion of Christ" the act of Jesus dying on the cross is most likely depicted in this image, one key reason is the symbolism of thorny plants surrounding the bird which goldfinches are strongly associated with, another reason could be the use of actual gold through the damascene style to represent the goldfinch.