The Language of Flowers- Floriography- An insight

Wiki: The language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, is a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers. Meaning has been attributed to flowers for thousands of years, and some form of floriography has been practised in traditional cultures throughout Europe, Asia and the the Middle East. Plants and flowers are used as symbols in the Hebrew Bible--particularly of love and lovers in the Song of Songs, as an emblem for the Israelite people an the coming Messiah -- and of Jesus in the New Testament. In Western Culture, William Shakespeare ascribed emblematic meanings to flowers, especially in Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

Interest in floriography soared in Victorian England and the United States during the 19th century. Gifts of blooms, plants and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society. Armed with floral dictionaries , Victorians often exchanged small  "talking bouquets", called nosegays or tussie-mussies, which could be worm=n or carried as a fashion accessory.

Two very important aspects of Victorian Life was the language of flowers and the Pre-Raphaelite movement. These aspects merged into one in many beautiful pieces of artwork. Expressing emotion and meaning into their artwork as many people during that time could not read. The pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (also known as the Pre-Raphaelites) was a group of English painters, poets and critics, founded in 1848 by John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rosetti and William Holman Hunt. The groups intention was to reform art by rejecting what they considered to be mechanistic approach adopted by the Mannerist artists who followed Raphael and Michelangelo. ( Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood-wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I have included below a few examples of pieces of art from the period in question and attempted to interpret what the artist was trying to tell the viewer through the language of flowers.

The Pre-Raphaelite paintings are known for their idealistic portrayal of women, their emphasis on nature and morality, and their use of literature and mythology. Flowers are highlighted in many of these painting. The Victorian era, when language of flowers was spoken by everyone.

Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Venus Verticordia 1863-8

 She hath the apple in her hand for thee, 

Yet almost in her heart would hold it back;

She muses, with her eyes upon the trach

Of that which in thy spirit they can see.

Haply, 'Behold, he is at peace', saith she;

'Alas! the apple for his lips,- the dart

That follows its brief sweetness to his heart,-

The wandering of his feet perpetually!'

A little space her glance is still and coy;

But if she give the fruit that works her spell,

Those eyes shall flame as for her Phrygian boy.

Then shall her birds strained throat the woe foretell,

And far seas moan as the single shell,

And through her dark grove strike the light of Troy.

Honeysuckle is used to create a barrier between Venus and her viewer: the flower itself represents bonds of love, generosity and devoted affection.

Pink/Red roses symbolise grace and admiration (pink) and love (red)

The other symbols/ signifiers within the image are butterflies, an apple, and an arrow pointing to the left breast. Her cascading red hair and full red lips could be a representation of her passion and femininity. The apple is closely linked to Eve as is Venus, so I think the apple is representing her innocence/virginity and she is offering it but also holding it closely to her chest. I think the arrow is a symbol of Venus ready to fall in love as it is pointing to her heart and is a symbol recognised with cupid, who by means of this arrow helps people to fall in love. I noticed that there is also a bird featured in the top right of the image. I think this along with the butterflies represents freedom and Venus virginity.

Sir John Everett Millais, Bt, Ophelia 1851-2

This images is of the drowning of Ophelia FROM Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Picking flowers on the river bank, Ophelia slips and falls into the river and drowns. Mad with grief after her fathers murder by Hamlet, her lover, she allows herself to drown and die.

The flowers she holds are symbolic: the poppy represents death, daisies represent innocence and pansies mean to love in vain.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Lady Lilith 1866-8

Lady Lilith appears to be sat in her bedroom if you observe the objects in the background, however I doubt that this is the case as the image is also teaming with flowers so it may be in the gardens, noting the reflection of the candles confirms that it is not a window in the top left but a mirror so I would say the location was the garden.

Lady Lilith's self-absorbed gaze both parallels male voyeurism and reverses it. she seems completely satisfied with herself. 

Cold, white roses --  symbols of sterile passion are featured in the top right of the image and spread out across the line of her hair. If you look closely there are a few still pink, suggesting that the roses first 'blushed' when meeting Eve.

Poppies -- symbol of death or sleep and forgetfulness ( bottom right)

Foxgloves -- indicate sincerity ( under the mirror)



*This information will be heavily used in my final feature for Unit 48 in Narrative Imagery, since i have decided that I will be featuring a series of narrative images consisting of Victorian Silhouetted portraits double exposed with flowers to represent the subjects personality.

 Floriography click on this link to be directed to an excellent site for information on the Language of Flowers.

Please see my other posts within this blog. For related research and practice.