Circle of stars

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Carlo Dolci, Madonna in Glory, c. 1670, oil on canvas, Stanford Museum, California

A Circle of stars often represents unity, solidarity and harmony in flags,^[1] seals^[2] and signs, and is also seen in iconographic motifs related to the Woman of the Apocalypse as well as in Baroque allegoric art that sometimes depicts the Crown of Immortality.

1 Woman of the Apocalypse
2 Crown of Immortality
3 European Union
4 Art Gallery
- 4.1 Religious
- 4.2 Non religious
5 External links
6 References

The New Testament's Book of Revelations (12:1, 2 & 5) describes the Woman of the Apocalypse: And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth .... And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne^[3] In Catholic tradition she has been identified with the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially in connection with the Immaculate Conception. Mary is often pictured with a crown^[4] or halo of stars.

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was somewhat controversial in the medieval church, and the liturgical Office for the feast was only established in 1615. In 1649, Francisco Pacheco (father-in-law of Velasquez) published his Art of Painting firmly establishing the detailed correct iconography for paintings of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, which included the circle of stars (he also advised the Inquisition in Seville on artistic matters). This was followed by Murillo and his school in very many paintings, and influenced non-Spanish depictions.

The Crown of Immortality is a separate and earlier motif (and metaphor) which also uses a circle of stars. It has been widely used since the Early Church as a metaphor for the reward awaiting martyrs, but they are not depicted in art wearing a circle of stars. In art the use is mainly in Baroque allegorical compositions, and those with Ariadne.

Since the circle of twelve stars was chosen as the flag of the European Union, there have been numerous allegations that the motif was chosen, deliberately or subconsciously, as a representation of or reference to Mary.^[5] The European Union has always strenuously denied this.^[6] Many other flags show similar circles of stars.

A star circle halo is found on a ceiling fresco in an Annunciation Church located in Fuchstal, a Municipality of the Bavarian district Landsberg, Germany.	Blessed Virgin Mary in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin (Primate of Ireland) with a star circle halo.	Virgin Mary with a crown of stars at a Catholic Mariavite Church, La Salette,Grenoble(France).	Blessed Virgin Mary also known as Lady of Good Success in Quito, Ecuador
Crown of Immortality, held by the Allegoric figure Eterna (Eternity) on the Swedish House of Knights Fresco by David Klocker Ehrenstrahl	"Our Lady the Garden Enclosed," statue of Our lady of Sorrows in the hermitage church of Warfhuizen.	The statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, Żejtun, Malta.

The European Union Flag with circle of stars representing European unity	Flag of the International Paneuropean Union	The first American flag (Also known as: Betsy Ross flag)	The Confederate Navy Jack, 1861-1863
Flags of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1863	Flag of Missouri	Flag of Rhode Island	Flag of Georgia (U.S. state)
Flag of Myanmar, Burma	United States Yacht Ensign	Flag of the Cook Islands	Flag of Cape Verde
Flag of Indiana	Flag of Louisiana (January 1861, unofficial)

The FBI Seal where the circle of stars represent unity of 13 original states.	Seal of the President of the United States	Seal of the President of the Philippines	Coat of arms of Brazil
Coat of arms of Singapore	Coat of arms of the Cook Islands	Seal of United States Air Force