The Sun in Art: Sun Symbolism of Past and Present, in Pagan and Christian Art, Popular Art, Fine Art and Applied Art

The sun is an emblem of glory and brilliance. It is also a symbol of authority. It represents happiness, life and spirituality. The rising sun is a symbol of hope. The sun, when not rising, is always blazoned the "sun in splendour." The rays are alternately straight and wavy, which symbolize the heat and light that we derive from them, and the heraldic sun usually has a human face though this is not strictly necessary. Rays of the sun, also called beams, are sometimes borne singly as in the ancient rolls, but more often they issue from other charges when described by one of the terms as radiant, rayonné or rayonnant. One ray of the sun signifies "by the light of heaven."