Flight

From the goldfinch in Raphael’s Madonna del Cardellino to the sacred ibis on an ancient Egyptian wall painting and the quetzal feathers of an Aztec headdress, birds have always held a special place in human culture and belief systems. But where did such symbolism come from? Why do we view some birds as special while others are comical? Flight examines 42 birds and the diverse roles they have played across civilizations. Each individual profile offers a fresh perspective on our feathered friends, drawing from history, music, art, and folklore, delving into the myriad ways people have worshipped, feared, hunted, and consumed birds, utilized them as medicine, or relied on them to predict the weather. Organized by habitat, with rich artwork with a range of contextual material, Colin Rees reveals how certain species have been perceived and why they continue to captivate our imaginations.