Take, for example, lilies and lotus flowers. And though meanings have morphed over time, similar symbols still apply. From the Pagans to Buddhists, from the beginning of time to now, a flower is not just a flower. But other religions give meanings to their flora as well. As noted above, many meanings stem from Christianity. But it was best to be reminded subtly of what was to come in the future, and that, overall, one’s devotion to and love of God is what would carry you through life.įrom the eastern continents to the west, various religions hold certain truths of their own regarding the meaning of flowers. That is to say, the Dutch cared about material things and wealth. The message was religious in nature and reflective of the time of its creation. And Ruysch’s painting combines all of the meanings above into one canvas. It is a Biblical and Christian reference ( Matthew 6:19-21). Material objects and our lives are but fleeting. The mixture of flowers comes together to form a moral message: the beauty of the world around us fades and all living things will eventually die – the cycle of life. Red and white flamed tulip: red – passion and romance, white – forgiveness, respect, or purity. Roses: most commonly associated with romance.
Snapdragons: strength, deviousness, or grace. While the majority of known flowers have alternate meanings, here is a simple explanation of the flowers depicted in Ruysch’s 1726 still life. There is more than meets the eye with this still-life painting. However, mixed in among the various flowers are wilted ones the diagonal composition pulls our eye to the bottom left and top right corners. The pink, red, and white hued flowers rise and fall, intermingled with insects and a lone seashell (usually seen as a symbol of birth or good fortune) towards the bottom of the frame. 1726, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH, US.Īn array of flowers sits against a dark background. Language of Flowers: Rachel Ruysch, Flower Still Life, c. Let us see how many flowers and their meanings we can interpret from the following painting by the famous Rachel Ruysch. One of the better-known genres of art in the 16th and 17th centuries was Dutch still-life paintings. Language of Flowers – Interpreting a Dutch Still Life Painting Language of Flowers: Vincent van Gogh, Bulb Fields, 1883, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, USA. The flowers, alongside the painting, tell a story without the need for the use of words: that of Christ’s birth and the Virgin Mother. It mostly all ties back to the purity of the Virgin Mary, denoted by her blue wrap and gold nimbus. Various blue flowers, possibly variations of violets and orchids, are scattered throughout, alongside strawberries and other red vegetation. A large white lily sits in the center-left of the page. Below, for example, is an excerpt from the Dresden Prayer Book, today located at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Going back to the Renaissance, roses held meaning in Christianity. Just as a flower itself can hold a certain meaning, as well can its color. While the hidden messages in flora have shifted over the centuries and within different cultures, here are a handful of those flowers and their meaning(s) both in religion(s) and everyday life. Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.Rachel Witte, Close up of flower bouquets at the store, 2020.
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