Plants and animals

Plants and animals pervade the art of the Middle Ages; they are a reflection of the living creation of God. As a matter of course, real animals appear side by side with mythical creatures such as dragons, griffins and the winged creatures of the Apocalypse that symbolise the evangelists. The symbolism and nature of the animals are often left ambiguous: thus, a lion can be understood both as a symbol of Christ and as a wild, dangerous animal. In part, interpretations of the animals and plants refer back to the Bible, however, others may also allude to writings such as the “Physiologus”, a collection of interpretations of nature compiled in Early Christian times. Animals and plants were often not placed at the centre of a work, but were used as its framework. In book illuminations, they can be found in the marginalia, in architectural sculpture on capitals and archivolts and in works of the goldsmith’s art on settings. Art objects can sometimes come alive through allusions, such as a lion’s feet carrying a reliquary or a bishop’s crosier in the form of a snake.

Stone relief on which there are two stylized lions. They turn their heads towards the viewer.

Bas-Relief with a Pair of Lions and a Monkey, Rhineland, 11th cent., limestone, 36.5 x 75 x 15 cm, Inv. No. K 6, © Museum Schnütgen

Bronze lion head holding a bronze ring in its mouth.

Lion’s Head Door Pull, Magdeburg (?), c. 1150, cast bronze, Ø 23 cm, inv. no. H 20, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Lion figure made of bronze. On his back is a kind of handle. From his mouth protrudes a short tube.

Vessel for the washing of hands (aquamanile) in the Shape of a Lion,
Central Germany (Saxony ?), 2nd half 13th cent., bronze, 21 x 22.5 cm, inv. no. H 45, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Figure made of wood of a man. He kneels next to a lion. With one hand he opens his robe over his chest. His gaze is directed upwards.

St. Jerome in Penitence, Rhineland, 1550-1600, wood, H. 12.3 cm, Inv. No. A 220, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Cylinder-shaped container standing on four gold-plated paws. The center is made of set rock crystal.

Rock Crystal Reliquiary,
Cologne, c. 1200, rock crystal, gilt copper studded with gemstones, 16 x 17.5 cm, inv. no. G 17, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Detail of a larger object made of white stone. In the center are two dragon heads next to a human head.

Arch Segment with Dragon and Human Head,
Cologne, presumably after 1219, limestone, 59 x 25 cm, inv. no. K 125e, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

The detail from the stone relief shows the image of a toad. This sits next to a flower.

Frog, detail from a relief depicting the Raising of Lazarus, Cologne, c. 1520, Baumberg sandstone, Inv. No. K 208, © Museum Schnütgen

Section of the human skeleton made of ivory. In the abdominal cavity sit a toad, a snake and two salamander-like animals.

Memento Mori, Paris, attributed to Chicart Bailly, c. 1520-1530, ivory, ebony, 12.5 x 42 cm, Inv. No. B 160, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Detail of a stone relief: a snake sits in a hollow.

Detail of a Snake from a Relief Depicting Christ on the Mount of Olives (from the former sacrament house of Cologne Cathedral), after 1508, limestone, 75 x 59 cm, Inv. No. K 180, © Museum Schnütgen

A rider carved from wood sits on a horse also carved.

Knight on Horseback, Side Panel from the Choir Stalls of the former Collegiate Church of St. George in Wassenberg, Lower Rhineland, 1298, oak, H. 206 cm, Inv. No. A 802, © Museum Schnütgen

A figure of Christ sits on a donkey. This stands on a cart.

Christ upon the Donkey for the Palm Procession, Cologne, c. 1520, lime and softwood, H. 193 cm, Inv. No. A 124, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Glass pane with papagai and dove against blue background. In addition, a church steeple and a cross is depicted.

Pane of Glass with Animals, Rhineland, 13th cent., Inv. No. M 7, © Museum Schnütgen

Tendrils with acorns and dogs on the edge of a disc.

Plant Tendrils with Animals from a Glass Panel with St. Catherine and St. Barbara,
Cologne, late 15th cent., Inv. No. M 517, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Female bust with a coat of arms on the chest and a headdress of braided vines

Console Bust with the Parler Coat of Arms, Cologne workshop of the Parlers, c. 1390, limestone, polychrome, h. 44.5 cm, inv. no. K 127, © Rheinisches Bildarchiv

Plants on a section of a white stone relief.

Plants, detail from a relief depicting the Raising of Lazarus, Cologne, c. 1520, Baumberg sandstone, Inv. No. K 208, © Museum Schnütgen

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