Flowers in Art

Why does the lily represent purity, the rose — love and suffering in medieval paintings? And when did flowers stop being symbols and become independent subjects of interest in visual art?

This book is a journey through the history of flowers in world culture: from the lotuses of Ancient Egypt and the art of Antiquity to medieval gardens, luxurious still lifes, and modernist experiments. Eras, religions, and artistic languages changed — along with them, the meaning of the flower evolved: a sign of Paradise and faith transformed into a reminder of the transience of life, an object of admiration, and a way to express the artist's personal experiences.

The reader will learn how the language of flowers developed, why some plants had different meanings in the East and the West, and how the floral still life became an independent genre.

Vera Kalmykova — poet, art historian, philologist, candidate of philological sciences, author of books on the history of art and literature. Specializes in the history of world painting and artistic culture. Author of numerous popular science publications about great artists, artistic movements, and eras.