Venus with Doves 1781 - 1835

Bartolomeo Pinelli rendered this delicate ink drawing of Venus with Doves in 1821. Here, the goddess of love is depicted with her symbolic companions, the doves, creatures long associated with affection and devotion. But why doves? These birds, gentle and graceful, carry a weight of history. We find them accompanying goddesses of love from ancient Mesopotamia to Greece, Rome, and beyond. Consider the Minoan Dove Goddess, her presence a testament to the dove’s enduring association with feminine power and divinity. Even today, the dove's symbolism persists. In Christianity, it embodies the Holy Spirit, and, universally, it stands for peace. It is a symbol which transcends eras and cultures, constantly reappearing, transformed, yet fundamentally the same. This drawing touches something deep within us, a collective memory, a longing for love, peace, and the divine feminine. It is a powerful expression of archetypal imagery passed down through generations.