Bats in the Florentine Renaissance: from darkness to enlightenment (Chiroptera)

Renaissance art in Florence, Italy, features numerous stylized bat motifs, often linked to the powerful Medici family. These images, found in works by Michelangelo and others, depict bats with exaggerated ears or wing membranes, though not always accurately representing their biology. While some interpretations suggest bats symbolized cultural darkness or ignorance, others propose they represented happiness and prosperity, possibly influenced by Chinese symbolism. This study highlights how bat imagery evolved from medieval demonic associations to more complex Renaissance meanings, offering a unique lens into the period's artistic and conceptual developments.

Riccucci, M., & Rydell, J. (2017). Bats in the Florentine Renaissance: from darkness to enlightenment (Chiroptera). Lynx New Series, 48(1), 165–182. https://doi.org/10.2478/lynx-2017-0010