The floral symbolism of the great masters

The volume surveys the use of flowers and plants as Christian iconography in Western art, tracing how emblems evolved from early pictorial symbols to the richer visual language of later painters and mosaicists. Individual chapters analyze associations attached to specific blooms and fruits—lilies, roses, irises, carnations, palms, pomegranates, vines, strawberries, gourds and others—and show how botanical motifs signify virtues, divine mysteries, martyrdom, and salvation. Illustrated examples and gallery attributions accompany concise notes aimed at readers interested in theological meaning rather than formal criticism.