Did Renaissance Artists Really Paint UFOs? The Evidence is Surprising

Let’s revisit the most intriguing and debated UFO related artworks in history. Long before modern sightings and videos, artists were painting strange objects in the skies, sometimes with incredible detail. 

Why does this matter? Because these images suggest that humans have been noticing unexplained aerial phenomena for centuries, capturing them in ways that still leave us wondering today. By looking at these works closely, we can explore the mystery of the skies through the eyes of people from another time. 

Today we’re going to examine five examples that continue to spark curiosity and debate: The Madonna with Saint Giovannino, The Baptism of Christ by Aert de Gelder, the Crucifixion of Christ fresco at Visoki Dečani Monastery, The Annunciation with Saint Emidius by Carlo Crivelli, and The Miracle of the Snow by Masolino da Panicale and Perugino.

The first artwork is The Madonna with Saint Giovannino, attributed to Domenico Ghirlandaio or his workshop from the 15th century. At first glance, it’s a classic Renaissance scene: Mary and the baby Jesus with Saint Giovannino in the foreground, a serene landscape stretching behind them. But in the background, above Mary’s left shoulder, there’s a disk-shaped object hovering in the sky. Beside it, a small figure or cross seems to be interacting with it.Many scholars interpret this as symbolic, a halo or angelic presence, but its resemblance to a small craft floating in the distance is hard to ignore. It’s one of those enigmatic details that has kept historians and UFO enthusiasts talking for centuries.

The Baptism of Christ by Aert de Gelder, painted in 1710, captures a dramatic and holy moment: John the Baptist immersing Christ in the river, light dancing across the water. Yet above this scene, a circular shape or disk appears in the sky, almost glowing as it radiates light. Traditional interpretations describe it as divine illumination marking the moment of baptism, but for those looking at it through a UFO lens, it’s impossible not to notice how much it resembles a hovering craft shining down on the scene. The contrast between the ordinary earthly moment and the extraordinary sky object draws the eye and the imagination.

The Crucifixion of Christ fresco at Visoki Dečani Monastery, created in the 14th century, contains another mysterious element. High above the crucifixion, two tear-shaped or oval objects hang in the sky. Scholars interpret them as symbolic representations of divine or cosmic forces, but their shapes and placement stand out from the rest of the scene, leaving room for speculation. Modern viewers can easily imagine these as early depictions of hovering craft, recorded by an artist trying to make sense of something unusual in the heavens.

The Annunciation with Saint Emidius by Carlo Crivelli, painted in 1486, depicts the moment Mary receives the Holy Spirit. Above her, a perfect circular form of light descends, surrounded by rays. While everyone agrees it represents divine intervention, the precision and geometry of the circle are striking. To some, it looks less like a symbol and more like an object hovering in the sky, echoing descriptions of UFOs that appear in reports centuries later.

Finally, The Miracle of the Snow, painted by Masolino da Panicale and later Perugino, illustrates a legendary snowfall marking the site of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The 15th century painting shows clouds overhead with unusual shapes. Stylized as they may be, the forms are distinctive enough to spark speculation about aerial phenomena. The way the dramatic sky dominates the scene draws viewers in, inviting questions about what inspired the painter’s vision.

These five artworks are more than just curiosities; they show a recurring pattern of strange, unexplained shapes appearing in the skies across centuries, countries, and artistic styles. 

Were they purely symbolic, stylized clouds, or something real that caught the attention of the artists? We may never know. What is clear is that humans have long looked up and wondered about the unknown, and these paintings capture that enduring fascination. 

They remind us that the mystery of the skies is not just modern, it is historical, and perhaps, it has always been there.

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