Seeing the Hidden Christian Messages in the Horticulture of Religious Art

SAINT PAUL REVIEW 
By Joanne Madore

"The Annunciation" (1540) by Girolamo da Santacroce
(Italy, Europe) at Minneapolis Institute of Arts

MINNESOTA---During the Middle Ages when most people were illiterate and superstitious, there needed to be a simple way to communicate spiritual ideals to them. So this article introduces you to horticultural symbols in religious art. Most of the symbolism started in the monasteries’ manuscripts and represented the cycle of life — birth, growth, reproduction and death — desirable human qualities and religious teachings. Thus, religious painting had consistent elements to represent individuals or attributes. Colors and plants in a painting or stained glass were often significant, not randomly chosen. [link]

In general, flowers and fruit represented the cycle of life and death. 

• The white lily of Joseph’s staff symbolized a non-sexual friendship with the young woman.
• Walled gardens represented control, order, discipline. 
• A woman draped in blue was consistently the Virgin Mother Mary.
• Blue and purple represented truth and faithfulness. 
• Bluebells warded off evil. 
• Among blue flowers, forget-me-nots took center stage for faithful love. 
• Dark blue columbines symbolized sorrow. 
• Fig trees and pomegranates represented fertility because of all their seeds. 
• Palms symbolized triumph. 
• The olive tree or branch symbolized God’s generosity.