Celestial Bodies in Art: From Halley's Comet to Van Gogh's Starry Night

A new article delves into the artistic representation of celestial entities, detailing works that highlight various astronomical phenomena. Halley's Comet, historically noted in 239 BCE China, appears in the Bayeux Tapestry, predicting Harold Godwinson's fate. In the 1588 Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I, the sun signifies authority, while in Blake's 1803-1805 piece, it embodies optimism. The moon is depicted in Friedrich's approximately 1830-1835 painting, and Aublet's 1880 work draws inspiration from Greek mythology. Notable creations include Burne-Jones's Star of Bethlehem from 1890 and van Gogh's 1889 The Starry Night, completed during his time in an asylum. Planetary identification began around 1000 BCE with the five visible planets, followed by Uranus in 1781 and Neptune in 1846.