Srinagar, May 11 -- Throughout art history, animals have served as powerful symbols and during the Renaissance, artists elevated this tradition by weaving deep metaphorical meaning into their masterpieces. These creatures were not just decorative additions, but rich with allegory, revealing spiritual beliefs, human traits, and cultural values of the time.
The Ermine's Dual Identity
Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine presents a seemingly innocent white creature often tied to purity and chastity. However, in this case, according to some writers the ermine may also be a political symbol a nod to the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, who was associated with the Order of the Ermine. Thus, what appears to be a moral emblem may actually repre...