Animals have appeared in art throughout history. Ancient cave paintings illustrate various animals including dinosaurs and deer. Some ancient Egyptian symbols include animals as well as ancient pottery. This page includes information on how animals have influenced art and humans throughout history.
The
Bestiary (Christian and other religions)
A Bestiary is a
collection of short descriptions about all sorts of animals, real and
imaginary, birds and even rocks, accompanied by a moralizing explanation. Additional
Christian symbols of interest.
Aberdeen
Bestiary The recorded
history of the manuscript begins in 1542 when it was listed as No.518 Liber
de Bestiarum Natura in the inventory of the Old Royal Library, at
Westminster Palace.
Animals
in Medieval Art Metropolitan Museum of Art Timeline
Book: An Egyptian Bestiary
- A professor of Egyptology at the University of Geneva has created An Egyptian Bestiary, highlighting, in 280 lavish color illustrations, the Egyptian perception of animals as representations of divine creativity, from the secular and mundane world of craftsmen to the sacred realm of priests, pharaohs and gods.
Book: Meditations with Animals: A Native American Bestiary
- This first bestiary ever compiled from the Native American tradition brings forth sacred animal spirits and reminds us of our deep connection to our surroundings.
Animal Symbolism
Animal Symbolism - Various Cultures. List complied from Internet Sources. Contains many duplicates.
Animal
Symbolism Chart Very ice compilation of sources online.
Celtic
Animals in Celtic and Welsh mythology are tied in with fertility and
vitality, because they are living, moving, and growing.
Each animal is associated with a different characteristic
Ancient
Egypt -
Symbology must be studied in order to understand the culture-- for each
nation had its own peculiar methods of expression. See Animals
and the Gods of Ancient Egypt for a list of the god and goddesses and
their animal spirits. Chart gives the hieroglyphics for the animals and a
brief description. Also see Egyptian
Animals from Cleveland Museum of Art.
Book: The Continuum Encyclopedia of Animal Symbolism in World Art
- The focus of the encyclopedia is on animals and their symbolism in diverse world cultures and in different eras of human history. Most entries on particular animals begin with brief zoological information, which includes the animal's scientific name and classification as well as its range, habitat, and behavior.
Animals in Culture
Chinese
– Zodiac animal symbols Commercial
tour site - has brief summary of each characteristic.
12
Zodiac animal signs (About.com-
has pop-ups)
Taoism and
the Arts of China EDSITEment
Lesson Plan: Animals of Chinese Zodiac
Book: Animal Symbolism of the Chinese Zodiac
- The signs of the Chinese zodiac are designated by well-known animals rather than constellations, and the twelve animals reflect various characteristics of human behavior.
Animals
in Art of India From Objects
from India: Site created by Sir Robert Hitcham's Primary School,
College Road, Framlingham, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
Digital
Art of Daniel Lee - Watch the digital animation how animal transforms
into man. See Manimals.
Pre-Columbian
Art: Animals played an important role in the art of ancient
Columbia. Animals could be represented realistically or in fantastic
guise, in whole or in part, and with or without human characteristics.
Works representing animals are called "zoomorphic". Explanation
of animals spirits in many cultures from book written by Sir James
Frazer. (Pre-Columbian link was broken - a suitable replacement will be
found)
Animals
in African Art University of Virginia
- student web page.
Native
American Folk Lore Links to several stories of Native American Indian
Lore from several Tribes across Turtle Island (North America).
Native
American Animal Totems. Site by Lady Hawke.
Northwest
Symbols - selected animal symbolism
Native
American Animal Totem - Horoscope- This is a commercial
site - this section may be of interest as it lists various animals by
month.
Plains
Indians symbolism Learn the importance of animal symbols in the Plains
Indians' Sun Dance.
Honoring
the Animal Spirits
In the Native American tradition, man communicated with the Creator
through interaction with nature; the birds, the forest, the animals....
Many chose or were given symbolic "power animals" whose strength
or character reflected the human character traits of the individuals
claiming the "power" of that specific animal. That
"tradition" carries on today in our society. Individual Stories
included. More
animals
Native
American - additional
animal totems (This site now has pop-up ads)
Native
American – Totem Poles ThinkQuest site created by students. In Native American Culture, each animal represents a different
quality or way of life. This site a partial list of those animals and that qualities that they
represent.
Book: The Holy Cow and Other Animals: A Selection of Indian Paintings from the Art Institute of Chicago
- This book provides an account of the fascinating interaction among the realms of the animals, mortals, and immortals as represented in 38 paintings created on the Indian sub-continent between about 1400 and 1900.
Book: Painting the Native World: Life, Land, and Animals
- Featuring more than fifty works from the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Santa Fe, this book showcases the graceful, innovative work from this exceptional period in Native American art.
Print
Resources
Rowland, Beryl. Animals with human faces: A guide to animal symbolism.
[Knoxville] University of Tennessee Press [1973].
Werness, Hope B. The Continuum Encyclopedia of Animal Symbolism in World Art
/ Hope B. Werness ; line
drawings by Joanne H. Benedict and Hope B. Werness ; additional drawings
by Tiffany Ramsay-Lozano and Scott Thomas. New York.
Animals in Art
- Engaging images of animals painted by master artists give this collection of excellent reproductions from London's National Gallery its universal appeal.
Animals in African Art: From the Familiar to the Marvelous
- This book illustrates and discusses animals throughout African history.
Artists
who Paint Animals
James
Audubon Specializing in
birds National
Gallery of Art
Walton
Ford - contemporary - Audubon style watercolors with social
comment. Some
works. See
artnet
Norm
Magnusson -contemporary New York artist - see Animal Allegories
Franz
Marc German Expressionist Painter
LeRoy
Neiman
Henri
Rousseau
Robert
Bateman Contemporary Canadian wildlife artist Virtual
gallery from Art and Nature
Daniel
Smith - Montana wildlife artist. Site features African animals,
American mammals, exotic animals and American birds.
George
Stubbs (English Romantic 1724-1806)
Artcyclopedia:
Artists Specializing in Animals
Animals
in Art- Lesson Plans
Lesson plans:
Lesson
plan: Animal
symbols in Egyptian art
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Egyptians believed that
the gods in their multiple forms revealed the creative and destructive
forces of the universe.
Animals
in Art - Museum Lesson Plan for National Gallery of Art.
Chinese
Zodiac - EDSITEment lesson
Clay Whistle – Ocarina
Middle School Unit Plan: Our Relationship with Animals
- created by Dr. Craig Roland's art education students at University
of Florida. Includes suggested projects.
Monumental
Animal Sculpture - from Kennedy ArtsEdge
Curriculum Materials:
Amazing
Animals in Art - Minneapolis Institute of Art . Images
from the collection.
Animals
in Art 
PDF from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Animals
in African Art - Teacher's
guide Learn about animals symbolism, purpose and more.
Artcyclopedia:
Spotlight on Animals in Art
Animals
in Art I and II CD-ROM available from Crizmac
Art and Cultural Education Materials
Middle School Unit Plan: Our Relationship with Animals
- created by Dr. Craig Roland's art education students at University
of Florida. It is a work in progress. Students in his class used Wiki Spaces to
collaborate on the unit. They designed this after studying "Backwards Design" model made
popular by Wiggins & McTighe. Use the side navigation to view resources, suggested artists and more.
Wild
Things - Animals Role in Art From Amarillo Museum of Art. Examples of
animals alone, animals with other animals and animals with people. See
suggested activities with each section.
Online
Activities: Animals in Art
Egyptomania- learn all about
Egyptian animals. Cleveland Museum of Art
Discover
Art - Creatures at the Indianapolis Museum of Art-
Learn about various works in the collections and about the people who made
them. Create your own creature.
Art
Safari
Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art- Explore the theme of animals in art through the work in the Museum of Modern
Art. Take a “journey”—and adventure in looking at art.
National
Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Check out these fun
online activities using the collection. Museum
home page.
Switch
Zoo Switch the animals' heads, legs, and tails
to make new creatures at this surrealistic virtual zoo. Thousands of combinations are possible! New animals monthly.
[ Animal Symbolism | Artists Who Paint Animals ]
[ Lessons Involving Animals | Online Activities ]
