Animals in Art throughout History Worldwide

Animals have always played an important part of art – from the first known cave art in Northern Spain dating back 17,000 years to the art of medieval times until today on everything from drawings and paintings to jewelry. From carved lions guarding tombs to cats painted on Egyptian cat urns animal art has been portrayed in a variety of mediums worldwide. Animals often held many symbolic associations; the lamb served as an important sacrificial animal in ancient Near Eastern religious rites, while the griffin was regarded in antiquity as an attendant of Apollo and a keeper of light. There was also a collection of descriptions and interpretations of animals known as the Bestiary that was intended as both a natural history and a series of moral and religious lessons. Widely read in the Middle Ages, it served as a source for artistic invention. Furthermore, animals were used in calendars as zodiacal symbols and as participants in seasonal activities. Discovered in 1879, the Altamira paintings were found in a cave by a little girl and her Father who was a Spanish nobleman and amateur archaeologist one day while they were looking for pre-historic tools in a cave. There on the ceiling of the cave they saw the bull drawings. But even more famous are the cave paintings which were found at Lascaux in the south of France around 1940. Reportedly, when Pablo Picasso first saw them he said, "We have learned nothing."

In these caves, pestles and mortars were found in which the paint colors were mixed, made from primitive crayons of red, black, white, brown and yellow, mixed with cave water and vegetable or animal oils to bind them. The paint appeared to be applied with brush-like tools or it was sprayed on with blow pipes.

At the end of the ice age agriculture was possible, which made it possible for early cultures to flourish. One of the earliest civilizations was in Ancient Egypt adored, and actually worshipped cats, often featuring them in as pet portraits and pet art. By 200 BC Rome was a dominant force in the Mediterranean, and the Romans were not known for their artistic abilities.

The 14th century brought forth beautifully illustrated books or for example, the 'enluminure' commissioned by Gaston Phebus, Count de Foix of France. A teaching book for the court huntsmen called The Book of Hunting, the artwork shows a group of French veterinarians caring for their hunting dogs.

By 1502, animal art became more scientific in study, as Renaissance artists like Durer, who was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci. Both used mathematics in art and carefully studied the anatomy of animals, setting new standards for artists. By the 1900's, German Expressionist Franz Marc often used animals them in his spiritual paintings, while Picasso's art depicted animals from Spanish bulls to the horses of 'Guernica'.

Throughout history, many animals are also portrayed in death, on pet urns, at burial sites, and on grave memorials with strong symbolic meanings. Birds in flight are often symbolic of the "winged soul." Lions symbolized the power of God and are often found guarding a tomb against evil spirits. The butterfly, or the soul, it sometimes seen on graves of children, signify loyalty and that their master was worth loving. Dolphins portray the idea of resurrection, while a fish indicates faith. A horse means courage or generosity.

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