The Medieval Flower BookIn our modern world, the spiny-stemmed flowers, intertwined leaves, and delicate pink blossoms of the rubus fruticosus, or common blackberry bramble, might catch the eye of the casual observer or weekend gardener. Pleasant, prolific, and decorative, plants like the blackberry are looked upon as sources for harvest, landscape, and visual pleasure. To the medieval and Renaissance artist, however, these botanicals were far more. Part of a richly symbolic visual language culled from the classical era, their exquisite depiction in illuminated manuscripts of the age evoked fertility, conjured bad dreams, and even aligned itself with ancient wisdom. The popular and enduring appeal of flowers in medieval art and literature extended beyond simple botanical illustration; instead, flowers helped to tell countless stories without words through potent symbolic imagery. The Medieval Flower Book artfully presents an alphabetical collection of over one hundred of the major flowers that appear in medieval manuscripts--gathered with fascinating explanatory texts on their history, significance, and usage. The sumptuous reproductions that accompany each entry offer a visual reference to the symbolism of botanicals in medieval manuscripts that's beyond breathtaking in its appeal. An introductory section explaining the ancient roots of practical horticulture's expansion into cultural and spiritual realms not only places the volume in the context of gardening history, but gives the general reader insight into our enduring interest in these remarkable herbals. Widely appealing to all of those interested in flowers and gardening, the horticultural historian, and the student of visual culture and medieval history, The Medieval Flower Book is a fascinating and important primer on the beauty and language of florals. Extensively ranging through the canon of medieval botanicals--from acanthus and anemones to violets and wallflowers--this volume is the perfect gift for anyone interested in blossoms and blooms, and should thrill the everyday gardener and art collector alike. |
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acanthus Anne of Brittany Arabic Artemisia arum beans became Belluno Belluno Herbal Book of Hours borders Bourdichon Hours Brba campions carline thistle Carrara Herbal Chaucer Christ Christian Circa Instans colour columbines cranesbill cultivation daisies decorative deus Dioscorides early 16th century Egerton MS 2020 Egerton MS 747 emblem England English fecula femper fene feverfew fiat ficut Flemish flowers folia French Friar Henry Daniel funt Ghent-Bruges Greek grew Harley MS 1585 hellebore Henry Daniel herbals herbs Holy Huth Hours included Islamic Italian known Latin name lavender leaves LEFT lilies mandrake manuscripts medici de virtutibus medicinal medieval gardens mulberry nettles Nigella officinalis orange orchids Orchis mascula paintings peas peonies petals pink plants pomegranates quinces related species RIGHT rose rosemary saffron scent seeds southern Europe Spain speedwells sweet symbol tansy thistle tibi Tractatus medici vines violets Virgin wallflowers wild