Symbolism in Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque Art

TIME (life is fleeting)

• Hourglass
• Clock

EVIL

• Owl
• Whale
• Serpent
• Blackbird
• Apple
• Leopard

HOLY SPIRIT

• Dove
• Clover

VIRGIN MARY (chastity)

• Chestnut
• Lily
• Iris

LOVE

• Pink Carnation

ETERNITY

• Star
• Sun
• Moon

DEATH AND IMMORTALITY

• Ivy
• White Flag

HUMILITY

• Ox
• Ass

DILIGENCE

• Bee
• Stork

LAZINESS AND LUST

• Cat
• Horse
• Pig

VIGILANCE AND WATCHFULNESS

• Cock
• Crane
• Goose

COURAGE

• Lion

PURITY AND PEACE

• Dove
• Olive Branch

HOPE AND RESURRECTION

• Eagle
• Egg
• Butterfly
• Phoenix
• Palm Branch

NUMBERS

• One: Unity, Origin
• Two: Christ as God and Man
• Three: Trinity, Birth, Life, Death
• Four: Four Evangelists, Four Elements (Earth, Fire, Wind, Water)
• Seven: Seven Days and Nights, Seven Deadly Sins
• Ten: Ten Commandments
• Twelve: Twelve Apostles

SAINTS

• Matthew: Winged Angel
• Mark: Winged Lion
• Luke: Winged Ox
• John: Winged Eagle
• Catherine: Wheel
• Barbara: Tower

COLORS

• Blue: Heaven, Virgin
• Purple: Royalty
• Green: Life over death, "Green with envy"
• Red: Love and Hate
• White: Purity and Innocence
• Yellow: Heaven, Sun, Jealousy, Treason

FIGURES

• Triangle: Trinity
• Circle: Eternity
• Square: The Earth
• Pentagram: Protection against sorcery