Fine art of the twelve signs

Your sign, as the
atlases drew it.

Every piece here is painted new — and every one is grounded in the real record: Bayer’s Uranometria, Hevelius’ Firmamentum, Urania’s Mirror, the Très Riches Heures. The original plates are sold beside the new art, with their sources named.

Find your sign The Archive — 36 historical plates

12 signs · 369 finished pieces · every plate sourced

The twelve.

Brightest star, magnitude, ruler and element — the catalogue line for each sign, and the painting behind it.

Aries

Mar 21 – Apr 19

The first house. Beginning as an act of will.

Brightest star: Hamal · α Arietis
Apparent magnitude: mag 2.00
Ruler: Mars
Element and modality: Cardinal fire

Taurus

Apr 20 – May 20

Strength that does not need to move to be strength.

Brightest star: Aldebaran · α Tauri
Apparent magnitude: mag 0.85
Ruler: Venus
Element and modality: Fixed earth

Gemini

May 21 – Jun 20

Two minds, one light — and the argument between them.

Brightest star: Pollux · β Geminorum
Apparent magnitude: mag 1.14
Ruler: Mercury
Element and modality: Mutable air

Cancer

Jun 21 – Jul 22

The armour is the tenderness. That was always the point.

Brightest star: Tarf · β Cancri
Apparent magnitude: mag 3.53
Ruler: The Moon
Element and modality: Cardinal water

Leo

Jul 23 – Aug 22

The heart-star of kings, and no apology for it.

Brightest star: Regulus · α Leonis
Apparent magnitude: mag 1.36
Ruler: The Sun
Element and modality: Fixed fire

Virgo

Aug 23 – Sep 22

Wings, and a single ear of wheat held exactly right.

Brightest star: Spica · α Virginis
Apparent magnitude: mag 0.97
Ruler: Mercury
Element and modality: Mutable earth

Libra

Sep 23 – Oct 22

The only sign that is not alive — and the hardest to hold level.

Brightest star: Zubeneschamali · β Librae
Apparent magnitude: mag 2.61
Ruler: Venus
Element and modality: Cardinal air

Scorpio

Oct 23 – Nov 21

A red star at the heart of it. Everyone can see that.

Brightest star: Antares · α Scorpii
Apparent magnitude: mag 1.06
Ruler: Mars
Element and modality: Fixed water

Sagittarius

Nov 22 – Dec 21

Aimed at the centre of the galaxy. Literally.

Brightest star: Kaus Australis · ε Sagittarii
Apparent magnitude: mag 1.85
Ruler: Jupiter
Element and modality: Mutable fire

Capricorn

Dec 22 – Jan 19

Goat above, fish below. The climb starts underwater.

Brightest star: Deneb Algedi · δ Capricorni
Apparent magnitude: mag 2.85
Ruler: Saturn
Element and modality: Cardinal earth

Aquarius

Jan 20 – Feb 18

Pouring out something the rest of the sky has not asked for yet.

Brightest star: Sadalsuud · β Aquarii
Apparent magnitude: mag 2.90
Ruler: Saturn
Element and modality: Fixed air

Pisces

Feb 19 – Mar 20

Two fish, one cord, opposite directions. The wheel closes here.

Brightest star: Alpherg · η Piscium
Apparent magnitude: mag 3.62
Ruler: Jupiter
Element and modality: Mutable water

On your wall

Finished paintings, framed and hung.

Not a poster shop — a gallery. Every piece below ships as museum-grade fine art.

Cancer hanging framed in a room — Cancer

Capricorn hanging framed in a room — Capricorn

The Fire Trine hanging framed in a room — The Fire Trine

The Water Trine hanging framed in a room — The Water Trine

The Night Sea hanging framed in a room — The Night Sea

Gemini, the Twins hanging framed in a room — Gemini, the Twins

Virgo, the Maiden hanging framed in a room — Virgo, the Maiden

Sagittarius, the Archer hanging framed in a room — Sagittarius, the Archer

Pisces, the Fishes hanging framed in a room — Pisces, the Fishes

The Twelve Celestial Houses hanging framed in a room — The Twelve Celestial Houses

The Children of the Moon hanging framed in a room — The Children of the Moon

Uranometria hanging framed in a room — Uranometria

The Ptolemaic System hanging framed in a room — The Ptolemaic System

The Zodiac Crown hanging framed in a room — The Zodiac Crown

The Gilded Ecliptic hanging framed in a room — The Gilded Ecliptic

The Procession hanging framed in a room — The Procession

Aries, the Ram — Restored hanging framed in a room — Aries, the Ram — Restored

Aries, the Ram — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Aries, the Ram — Prussian

Taurus, the Bull — Restored hanging framed in a room — Taurus, the Bull — Restored

Taurus, the Bull — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Taurus, the Bull — Prussian

Gemini, the Twins — Restored hanging framed in a room — Gemini, the Twins — Restored

Gemini, the Twins — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Gemini, the Twins — Prussian

Cancer, the Crab — Restored hanging framed in a room — Cancer, the Crab — Restored

Cancer, the Crab — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Cancer, the Crab — Prussian

Leo, the Lion — Restored hanging framed in a room — Leo, the Lion — Restored

Leo, the Lion — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Leo, the Lion — Prussian

Virgo, the Maiden — Restored hanging framed in a room — Virgo, the Maiden — Restored

Virgo, the Maiden — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Virgo, the Maiden — Prussian

Libra, the Scales — Restored hanging framed in a room — Libra, the Scales — Restored

Libra, the Scales — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Libra, the Scales — Prussian

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Restored hanging framed in a room — Scorpio, the Scorpion — Restored

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Scorpio, the Scorpion — Prussian

Sagittarius, the Archer — Restored hanging framed in a room — Sagittarius, the Archer — Restored

Sagittarius, the Archer — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Sagittarius, the Archer — Prussian

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Restored hanging framed in a room — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Restored

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Prussian

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Restored hanging framed in a room — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Restored

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Prussian

Pisces, the Fishes — Restored hanging framed in a room — Pisces, the Fishes — Restored

Pisces, the Fishes — Prussian hanging framed in a room — Pisces, the Fishes — Prussian

Zodiac hanging framed in a room — Zodiac

Celestial Chart with Horoscope hanging framed in a room — Celestial Chart with Horoscope

Tableau of Astronomy hanging framed in a room — Tableau of Astronomy

See every piece in the gallery →

Astrology has an art history. Most zodiac prints ignore it.

For four hundred years the signs were drawn by engravers working from star positions — the ram with his head turned back, Capricorn half fish, Virgo’s wheat-ear holding Spica. We ingested those plates, we sell them as found, and we painted new work that keeps their iconography. You are buying the artwork, not a service.

One sign. Many hands.

Every sign is painted several times over — the celestial oil, then the same figure as an engraved atlas plate, a hand-tinted Urania card, an illuminated Book of Hours page, and in gold ink on night blue. Choose the sign, then choose the hand.

Aries — Celestial Atlas — Celestial Atlas
Engraved copperplate star chart, after Bayer and Hevelius.

Aries — Urania's Mirror — Urania's Mirror
Hand-tinted etching on card, in the manner of Sidney Hall, 1825.

Aries — Book of Hours — Book of Hours
An illuminated manuscript page — gold leaf and lapis, c.1416.

Aries — Art Nouveau — Art Nouveau
Mucha’s Zodiac made new — flowing line, ornamental halo, pale gold.

Aries — Gold-Ink Night — Gold-Ink Night
The figure and its stars in burnished gold on deep night blue.

Aries — Baroque Tenebrism — Baroque Tenebrism
A single shaft of light tearing out of the dark — Caravaggio’s heavens.

Aries — Celestial Oil — Second Study — Celestial Oil — Second Study
The same sign painted anew — another moment entirely, in celestial oil.

And each sign in its element’s hand

A fire sign also comes as an ember study in molten gold; a water sign as a tide study in deep indigo; earth as a florilegium plate; air as a Turner sky. The element, painted as a medium.

Aries — The Ember Study — The Ember Study
Molten gold and living flame — the fire trine’s own hand.

Taurus — The Florilegium — The Florilegium
Botanical copperplate and verdure — the earth trine’s own hand.

Gemini — The Aether Study — The Aether Study
Luminous cloud and silver light — the air trine’s own hand.

Cancer — The Tide Study — The Tide Study
Deep indigo sea and moonlit swell — the water trine’s own hand.

All twelve, in one painting.

The wheel is the oldest way to draw the zodiac — every sign in its own compartment, the whole year readable at a glance. We painted it 10 ways: as an engraved atlas plate, a Mucha panel, a Victorian parlour chart, a manuscript rota, and six more.

The Engraved Wheel

Engraved celestial atlas plate

The Zodiac Crown

Art Nouveau decorative panel

The Heavens Illustrated

Victorian chromolithographic chart

The Calendar Rota

Illuminated manuscript page

The Gilded Ecliptic

Gold ink on night blue

The Complete Cards

Hand-tinted etching, after Sidney Hall

The Vault of Heaven

Baroque ceiling fresco

The Procession

Celestial oil

The Armillary

Brass volvelle and zodiac band

The Whole Ecliptic

Night panorama

The wheel

Every sign in its element’s hand.

Leo — The Ember Study — LeoThe Ember Study

Virgo — The Florilegium — VirgoThe Florilegium

Libra — The Aether Study — LibraThe Aether Study

Scorpio — The Tide Study — ScorpioThe Tide Study

Sagittarius — The Ember Study — SagittariusThe Ember Study

Capricorn — The Florilegium — CapricornThe Florilegium

Aquarius — The Aether Study — AquariusThe Aether Study

Pisces — The Tide Study — PiscesThe Tide Study

The Fire Trine — Celestial oil — The Fire TrineCelestial oil

The Earth Trine — Celestial oil — The Earth TrineCelestial oil

The Air Trine — Celestial oil — The Air TrineCelestial oil

The Water Trine — Celestial oil — The Water TrineCelestial oil

The Great Wheel — Celestial oil — The Great WheelCelestial oil

The Midheaven — Celestial oil — The MidheavenCelestial oil

The Night Sea — Celestial oil — The Night SeaCelestial oil

The Engraved Wheel — Celestial oil — The Engraved WheelCelestial oil

The Zodiac Crown — Celestial oil — The Zodiac CrownCelestial oil

The Heavens Illustrated — Celestial oil — The Heavens IllustratedCelestial oil

The Calendar Rota — Celestial oil — The Calendar RotaCelestial oil

The Gilded Ecliptic — Celestial oil — The Gilded EclipticCelestial oil

The Complete Cards — Celestial oil — The Complete CardsCelestial oil

The Vault of Heaven — Celestial oil — The Vault of HeavenCelestial oil

The Armillary — Celestial oil — The ArmillaryCelestial oil

The Whole Ecliptic — Celestial oil — The Whole EclipticCelestial oil

Aries, the Ram — Restored — Celestial oil — Aries, the Ram — RestoredCelestial oil

Aries, the Ram — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Aries, the Ram — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Aries, the Ram — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Aries, the Ram — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Aries, the Ram — Prussian — Celestial oil — Aries, the Ram — PrussianCelestial oil

Aries, the Ram — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Aries, the Ram — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Aries, the Ram — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Aries, the Ram — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Taurus, the Bull — Restored — Celestial oil — Taurus, the Bull — RestoredCelestial oil

Taurus, the Bull — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Taurus, the Bull — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Taurus, the Bull — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Taurus, the Bull — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Taurus, the Bull — Prussian — Celestial oil — Taurus, the Bull — PrussianCelestial oil

Taurus, the Bull — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Taurus, the Bull — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Taurus, the Bull — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Taurus, the Bull — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Gemini, the Twins — Restored — Celestial oil — Gemini, the Twins — RestoredCelestial oil

Gemini, the Twins — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Gemini, the Twins — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Gemini, the Twins — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Gemini, the Twins — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Gemini, the Twins — Prussian — Celestial oil — Gemini, the Twins — PrussianCelestial oil

Gemini, the Twins — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Gemini, the Twins — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Gemini, the Twins — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Gemini, the Twins — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Cancer, the Crab — Restored — Celestial oil — Cancer, the Crab — RestoredCelestial oil

Cancer, the Crab — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Cancer, the Crab — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Cancer, the Crab — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Cancer, the Crab — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Cancer, the Crab — Prussian — Celestial oil — Cancer, the Crab — PrussianCelestial oil

Cancer, the Crab — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Cancer, the Crab — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Cancer, the Crab — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Cancer, the Crab — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Leo, the Lion — Restored — Celestial oil — Leo, the Lion — RestoredCelestial oil

Leo, the Lion — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Leo, the Lion — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Leo, the Lion — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Leo, the Lion — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Leo, the Lion — Prussian — Celestial oil — Leo, the Lion — PrussianCelestial oil

Leo, the Lion — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Leo, the Lion — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Leo, the Lion — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Leo, the Lion — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Virgo, the Maiden — Restored — Celestial oil — Virgo, the Maiden — RestoredCelestial oil

Virgo, the Maiden — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Virgo, the Maiden — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Virgo, the Maiden — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Virgo, the Maiden — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Virgo, the Maiden — Prussian — Celestial oil — Virgo, the Maiden — PrussianCelestial oil

Virgo, the Maiden — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Virgo, the Maiden — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Virgo, the Maiden — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Virgo, the Maiden — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Libra, the Scales — Restored — Celestial oil — Libra, the Scales — RestoredCelestial oil

Libra, the Scales — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Libra, the Scales — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Libra, the Scales — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Libra, the Scales — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Libra, the Scales — Prussian — Celestial oil — Libra, the Scales — PrussianCelestial oil

Libra, the Scales — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Libra, the Scales — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Libra, the Scales — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Libra, the Scales — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Restored — Celestial oil — Scorpio, the Scorpion — RestoredCelestial oil

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Scorpio, the Scorpion — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Scorpio, the Scorpion — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Prussian — Celestial oil — Scorpio, the Scorpion — PrussianCelestial oil

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Scorpio, the Scorpion — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Scorpio, the Scorpion — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Scorpio, the Scorpion — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Sagittarius, the Archer — Restored — Celestial oil — Sagittarius, the Archer — RestoredCelestial oil

Sagittarius, the Archer — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Sagittarius, the Archer — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Sagittarius, the Archer — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Sagittarius, the Archer — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Sagittarius, the Archer — Prussian — Celestial oil — Sagittarius, the Archer — PrussianCelestial oil

Sagittarius, the Archer — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Sagittarius, the Archer — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Sagittarius, the Archer — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Sagittarius, the Archer — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Restored — Celestial oil — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — RestoredCelestial oil

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Prussian — Celestial oil — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — PrussianCelestial oil

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Capricorn, the Sea-Goat — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Restored — Celestial oil — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — RestoredCelestial oil

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Prussian — Celestial oil — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — PrussianCelestial oil

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Aquarius, the Water-Bearer — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Pisces, the Fishes — Restored — Celestial oil — Pisces, the Fishes — RestoredCelestial oil

Pisces, the Fishes — Illuminated — Celestial oil — Pisces, the Fishes — IlluminatedCelestial oil

Pisces, the Fishes — Illuminated II — Celestial oil — Pisces, the Fishes — Illuminated IICelestial oil

Pisces, the Fishes — Prussian — Celestial oil — Pisces, the Fishes — PrussianCelestial oil

Pisces, the Fishes — Venetian Red — Celestial oil — Pisces, the Fishes — Venetian RedCelestial oil

Pisces, the Fishes — Antique Gold — Celestial oil — Pisces, the Fishes — Antique GoldCelestial oil

Aries · Leo · Sagittarius

Fire

Will, courage, and the leaping spark.

The ram, the lion and the archer. The fire trine begins things, defends them, and aims past the horizon — painted in molten gold against char-black, with embers rising as stars.

Taurus · Virgo · Capricorn

Earth

Patience, harvest, and things built to last.

The bull, the winged maiden and the sea-goat. The earth trine holds ground — painted among grain, blossom and standing stone, in the manner of a hand-coloured florilegium plate.

Gemini · Libra · Aquarius

Air

Thought, balance, and the travelling wind.

The twins, the golden scales and the water-bearer. The air trine weighs and carries — painted half-dissolved in luminous cloud, silver and pale gold, the stars glinting through.

Cancer · Scorpio · Pisces

Water

Feeling, memory, and the returning tide.

The crab, the scorpion and the paired fishes. The water trine remembers — painted in deep indigo and moonlight, the constellation reflected whole on the surface of the sea.

The Archive

The plates our art was made from — out of copyright, printed as found, never repainted. 36 of them, each with its source on its page.

Uranometria — Johann Bayer, Augsburg, 1603 — Uranometria
Johann Bayer, Augsburg, 1603
Gave every bright star its Greek letter — and gave the twelve figures the poses they still hold.

Harmonia Macrocosmica — Andreas Cellarius, Amsterdam, 1660 — Harmonia Macrocosmica
Andreas Cellarius, Amsterdam, 1660
The most beautiful star atlas ever printed. Every zodiac image since has borrowed from it.

Urania's Mirror — Sidney Hall, London, 1825 — Urania's Mirror
Sidney Hall, London, 1825
Hand-tinted cards, pierced so the stars shone through when held to a candle.

Très Riches Heures — Limbourg brothers, c.1416 — Très Riches Heures
Limbourg brothers, c.1416
The Zodiac Man — each sign governing the part of the body it rules. Gold leaf on vellum.

See every plate

The commission room

Ask a sign to do something.

Tell us the sign and the scene — the lion at the helm of a ship, the archer over a city you love, the twins at a piano — and we paint it in the house style, in your choice of shape. You see it before you buy it.

Commission a sign

How a sign gets to your wall

Three steps. Nothing to upload, nothing to wait for.

Choose the sign

The twelve, the four element trines, the great wheel — or a historical plate from the Archive.

Choose the hand

Each sign is finished several ways — engraved atlas plate, Urania hand-tint, illuminated Book of Hours, gold-ink night, and its element’s own study.

III

Choose the frame

Archival print, Hahnemühle, gallery canvas, heirloom float frame, or a 4K digital file.

Enter the gallery

A studio of the Painted family

Your sign, as the atlases drew it.