Astrology in Art

Article by Flora

Astrology has always been a point of interest in the history of art. In today’s popular culture and social media circles, Astrology is a trendy area accessible to almost everyone. This was not so before the twentieth century, it used to be practiced and admired by a tiny portion of the society.

Astrology is a technique that has been developed since very early ages. It is a tool to determine the quality of time. In the past, kings and queens consulted their astrologers to select the best times to decide or start a process. In a modern sense, Astrology can also benefit self-analysis and self-improvement. It is also a way to give meaning to the universe, which allows us to extend our imagination beyond our daily experience.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, astrological symbols were used discreetly. The artists did not want to share these secrets openly with everyone, so they added these details to their paintings in ways only the knowledgeable of their time could understand.

In the early ages, people named the stars after their gods; today, we still use the same names. For example, Venus is the name of the Goddess of Love and Beauty in Roman mythology; hence, the planet Venus signifies love, beauty, harmony, friendships, and all that is valued. In Astrology, Venus is associated with the direction of west and the western winds are signified by Venus. The element of Venus is copper. In Botticelli’s most famous Birth of Venus, we find that she has copper red hair and she is supported by the West wind:

The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most discussed, debated, and admired works of art. There is also a suggestion which indicates that Da Vinci secretly painted the twelve astrological signs in this painting as the apostles:

During modern times, the secrecy on the subject of Astrology was elevated. For example, Mucha used astrological symbolism directly and openly in his works.

Alfonse Mucha made a series of allegorical paintings featuring astronomical objects: The Moon, Pole Star, and Morning Star. They are made in the famous Art Nouveau style. The Moon and the Stars was made in 1902. In this set, the Moon and the stars were personified as women:

Mucha also painted Zodiac in 1896. Zodiac was made for a calendar in the form of a lithography. The word Zodiac means “Wheel of Life”. It also translates as “The Wheel of Animals”. It is a circle with the symbols of the signs such as Aries, Taurus, etc. In this image, we can see the Zodiac Wheel with some of the symbols of the signs on it. It is located around the head of the woman, almost like a halo, bearing the brilliantly designed symbols of the signs in circles inside. The jeweled crown the lady wears also carries a device, which the old astrologers might have used to calculate or observe the movements in the heavens.

The Heavens and concepts such as fate, predetermination, and divination still continue to inspire artists. I believe the popularity of these subjects in art relies on their close connection with human imagination and creativity. Myths, tales, stories, and mysterious subjects such as astrology always allow a space for creativity.

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