Iconography of the Day: Dove

Artist

Fra Filippo Lippi

Title
Annunciation scene detail, “The Word” entering Mary through rays of light emanating from dove

Date
c. 15th century

Current location
National Gallery, London

The Hebrew word for dove is Yonah, which means "I moan like a dove" (Is 38: 14). Traditionally, in Judaic culture, the dove identifies with the love that God has for the Israelites, His Chosen people. White doves were offered by the Jewish poor because they were signs of purity. In Song of Solomon, the dove is used frequently as a device of endearment. In Psalm 55:6, the dove is used as a device of rest and peace:"Oh that I had wings of a dove to fly away and be at rest ..."

In Genesis 8:8-11 Noah sends a dove to see if the flood had subsided: “Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find no place to set its feet because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.” Through the flood, all the evil had been destroyed then and God wanted Noah to go forth with his family and multiply on the earth. The messenger, the dove, brought back an offering of peace between mankind and God to Noah: the olive branch.

Traditionally in Christian culture, the dove is the messenger of Peace and the sign of Peace. It is the symbol of the Holy Spirit ("At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17), gentleness, and innocence ("I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16). Additionally, any Christian Church may also be associated with the symbol as messengers of Peace.
Iconographically, it is common for 7 doves to encircle the head of Christ, symbolizing the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, right judgment, courage, knowledge, reverence, fear of the Lord).

Title
Page from The Capuchin Bible, Tree of Jesse, detail of Christ encircled with 7 doves

Date
c. 1180

Current location
Bibliotheque Nationale France, Paris

A dove is also commonly placed over the Virgin's head, symbolizing Mary's gentle, peaceable, and innocent nature. Some saints were characterized by their gentle, peaceable, and innocent natures and also had the dove placed above their heads, particularly St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Fabian, St. Gregory the Great, St. Louis, and St. Dustan. Columba, the Latin term for dove, was a common name among saints used to recognize their peaceable natures.