Martin Schongauer - Vine Ornament with Birds, German
Summary
All kinds of birds are hidden in the exuberant vegetation. Together they refer to the monk’s struggle with his faith. Disguised as a dove at the bottom of the print, he is being attacked by an owl, a symbol of unbelief. The other birds protest fiercely. One of them, the stork, also features on the ceremonial chain. Representing the virtue of fidelity, it stands for respect for the church, state, and master.
Tags
Date
1470 - 1490
Source
Rijksmuseum
Copyright info
Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication ("CCO 1.0 Dedication")