Madonna Lilies

by Sarah Loft

Title

Madonna Lilies

Artist

Sarah Loft

Medium

Photograph - Digitally Painted Photograph

Description

These lilies were growing in the Bonnefont Cloister Herb Garden at the Cloisters Museum.

Per Wikipedia: Lilium candidum, the Madonna lily, is a plant in the true lily family. It is native to the Balkans and Middle East, and naturalized in other parts of Europe, including France, Italy, and Ukraine, and in North Africa, the Canary Islands, Mexico, and other regions. It has been cultivated since antiquity, for at least 3,000 years, and has great symbolic value since then for many cultures. It is susceptible to virus diseases of lilies, and especially to Botrytis fungus. One technique to avoid problems with viruses is to grow plants from seed instead of bulblets.

Madonna lilies are depicted in the fresco titled "Prince of the Lilies" in the ruins of the ancient Minoan palace of Knossos.

The Bible describes King Solomon's Temple as adorned with designs of Madonna lilies on the columns, and on the brazen Sea (Laver).

The lily symbolizes purity for Roman Catholics. Medieval depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially at the Annunciation, often show her holding these flowers or show them nearby. Additionally, St. Joseph is frequently depicted with them.

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Uploaded

September 19th, 2018

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