4Real Forums: Madonna & Child Art w/ birds

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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The Arts in the Everyday
4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday

Topic: Madonna & Child Art w/ birds

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MaryM
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Joined: Feb 11 2005
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Posted: July 19 2013 at 11:46pm \| IP Logged

So I am looking for help in finding classic paintings which feature a bird with the Madonna & Child. Or other religious works with birds pictured - even if it isn't the Madonna & Child.

It also crops up frequently in Christian art. The bird symbolizes the soul or life, which passes all too quickly. In many pictures of the Virgin and Child, Jesus is portrayed holding a bird in his hand as an allusion to his death and resurrection.

Examples:

Madonna of the Goldfinch (Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1760)

Madonna of the Goldfinch (Raphael, 1506)

Meaning: Because goldfinches eat thistles, they symbolize the passion of Christ. Raphael has a painting of Jesus stroking a goldfinch, representing his acceptance of the passion.

Is it generally a goldfinch in these paintings of Christ child?

The Holy Family with a Bird (Bartolomé Murillo, 1650)
Not sure of the bird type here.

Would love help finding other religious paintings with birds.

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Mary M. in Denver

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SallyT
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Posted: July 20 2013 at 8:51am \| IP Logged

Are there any with doves? That would be the obvious other one, at least that springs to my mind, because of the association with the Holy Spirit. I can't think of a painting offhand, but I do wonder about that.

Sally

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Tami
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Joined: Dec 27 2006
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Posted: July 20 2013 at 10:25am \| IP Logged

Mary, Father Z has a whole series on this and what he calls the 'Christological goldfinch' on his site, posting on museums he visits when he travels.

I have found this fascinating, myself.

Here's the search link with 'goldfinch' as the term:

FatherZ site search: goldfinch

You might follow some of the other tags listed as well, I don't know if they will bring up other posts as well

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God bless,
Tami
When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become. (Nouwen)

MaryM
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Location: Colorado
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Posted: July 20 2013 at 11:16am \| IP Logged

Thanks, Tami! That is great - very helpful. Sally, I have seen some with a dove when it is clearly depicting the Holy Spirit. Might use some of those but more specifically am looking for ones that are different from that. This is going to be art of a Natural Science class when we study ornithology.

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Mary M. in Denver

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