Spring is coming soon. Wait.
autumn
winter
spring
flora
«flora» Francesco Melzi, 1520, Hermitage
Music by Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century nun, modernly performed by Susan Lincoln.
For the first time in the composer tradition, she began to compose music based on her own texts, without drawing boundaries between word and sound.
In her works, she seemed to be constructing a non-existent superlanguage. And it was appreciated only in the 20th century. And in 2012, the Catholic Church canonized her as a saint.
For the first time in the composer tradition, she began to compose music based on her own texts, without drawing boundaries between word and sound.
In her works, she seemed to be constructing a non-existent superlanguage. And it was appreciated only in the 20th century. And in 2012, the Catholic Church canonized her as a saint.
flora
— ancient Roman goddess of flowers, blossom and spring
The bluish jasmine in Flora's right hand symbolizes purity.
Created by him in the year of his wedding, it testifies to the artist’s enthusiastic love for his wife Saskia van Uylenburch. They met in Amsterdam in the house of Saskia’s cousin Hendrik van Uylenburg, an art dealer who organized workshops in his house where Rembrandt lived and worked.
The contrast between the model’s uncertainty and timidity and the splendor of richly embroidered clothes and accessories gives the image a special charm.
Rembrandt's flora
«a wreath of flowers surrounding a bust of flora» France Aikens?, 17th century, Hermitage
«Flora» Lizzie Riches
flora" Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1590, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
Titian's flora
flora by arcimboldo
Giuseppe Arcimboldo in his works shows the relationship between man and nature. In the 16th century, man begins to doubt his role in this world. Some discoveries have already been made — that the earth revolves around the sun and man is not the center of the Universe, new countries and continents are opening up. And he expresses these feelings of the fragility of the world in such bizarre forms.
«Flora» Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn, 1634, Hermitage
Flora, Titian Vecellio, c. 1515, Uffizi
Flora is one of the deities who personify nature in general and its spring awakening in particular. She patronizes vegetation and partly agriculture.
Flora's chest, according to the legend told by Ovid, exuded flowers. Therefore, she is often depicted bare-breasted.
The anemones in the folds of her robe in the lower left corner of the image symbolize rebirth. In Ancient Greece, anemones were also the flower of the wind.
The ivy in the upper right corner symbolizes eternity, and the fern in the upper left corner reflects the solitude of the grotto.
the plants surrounding the flora had symbolic meaning
variations
Columbine (aquilegia) is a symbol of fertility. Next to Flora’s bare breasts, the columbine emphasizes her role as the "mother of flowers."
The portrait depicts a woman of idealized beauty in the image of the model known as Violante, Titian’s early lover and model. In her right hand, Flora holds a bouquet of spring flowers — rosehip, violet and jasmine.
flora through the eyes of a contemporary artist
Lizzie Riches creates the image of a woman through a combination of skill and mystery. Her paintings are like little stories, full of puzzles and secrets that women keep.
As Lizzie explains, "I like to challenge the viewer to create their own stories through my work."
As Lizzie explains, "I like to challenge the viewer to create their own stories through my work."
A spectacular decorative motif that is often found in both religious and secular painting of the 17th century. It arose as an imitation of fresh flowers, which served as decoration for prayer images on church holidays.
flora flower frame
«flora» Francesco Melzi, 1520, Hermitage
zephyr
—god of the west wind, harbinger of spring, strong and fickle, but warm
Often brought with him rains and even storms,
while in its eastern part Zephyr was almost always a light and pleasant breeze
while in its eastern part Zephyr was almost always a light and pleasant breeze
however, flora in mythology always goes hand in hand with zephyr
zephyr, detail of an antique fresco from Pompeii
legend
Stalked her, then kidnapped her. And he made her his wife and the goddess of spring, Flora.
The legend says - Zephyr fell in love with the nymph Chloris
scene of the transformation of a nymph into a goddess
nymph
goddess
Strawberries — righteousness of spirit
Forget-me-nots — devotion to a loved one
Cornflowers — friendliness
Daisies — fidelity
oranges and orange blossom
Periwinkle — a symbol of fidelity
Buttercups — wealth
Primroses — marriage
Primroses — marriage
Roses — triumphant love
Daisies — love, purity
Geacinths were brought to earth by the Graces, associated with love and marriage (the painting was commissioned to celebrate the union of the Medici family)
Irises — purity
scene of the transformation of a nymph into a goddess
nymph
goddess
Zephyr (spiritual principle), awakening Chloris (material principle), gives birth to a new essence - the “everything giving birth” goddess Flora, the bearer of both material and spiritual.
In his painting, Botticelli encrypted the philosophy of the Neoplatonists, whose ideas he actively supported. Love, according to their ideas, is the path from the earthly nature of feeling to the divine. There is joy in it, and the fullness of life, and the sadness of knowledge.
«Spring» Sandro Botticelli, 1482, Uffizi
It is said that Flora's presence in the painting symbolizes both the Medici family, which financed the artist, and the city of Florence itself.
Zephyr in the embrace of flora blow on the shell, creating a wind filled with flowers
The roses depicted in the painting are the common and now ancient variety «Maiden's Blush»
art historical interpretation
«The Birth of Venus» Sandro Botticelli, c. 1485, Uffizi
variations
At that time in Holland, one painting often had two authors. In this case, the plants are by Jan Brueghel the Elder, and the bodies are by Rubens
Jan Brueghel the Elder and Pieter Paul Rubens
Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens — Flora and Zephyr, ca 1617
Click on the basket from the picture again and again and help the angel decorate the whole world with flowers
Flora and Zephyr in the fresco Allegory of Spring by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, 1757 Palazzo Labia, Venice
kingdom of
In the center of Flora, around her — heroes who, according to legend, when dying, turned into plants
hyacinth
narcissus
Adonis
Ajax
crocus
smilaka
clytia
kingdom of
hyacinth
narcissus
In the center of Flora, around her — heroes who, according to legend, when dying, turned into plants
smilaka
crocus
Ajax
clytia
Adonis
flora
despite the drama, the picture radiates light
The world on the canvas is illuminated by Flora’s smile and the radiance emanating from Apollo’s chariot. The artist depicted not the triumph of death, but the triumph of life. Heroes do not die, but turn into flowers, being reborn in a new quality
«kingdom of flora» Nicolas Poussin, 1631
Jan Brueghel the Elder. Flora in the flower garden. ca 1617
During the time of Gaius Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC. the holiday lasted 6 days
floralia
«floralia», Hobbe Smith, 1898
in ancient Rome, festivities were regularly held - Floralia
During Floralia, women wore colorful dresses, which was prohibited at other times. The doors were decorated with flower wreaths. As during any other holidays in Ancient Rome, music was played, people sang and danced. This holiday was full of joy, unbridled fun, which did not always respect the boundaries of what was permitted.
During floralia, the people of Rome decorated their clothes with flowers
FLORALIA, Lizzie Riches
prayer
in honor of flora
Great goddess
clear light of spring,
I ask you for help:
Help me grow this garden,
Fill it with your strength
Fill it with the breath of life,
May it bloom in full bloom
To the delight of all of us.
Let it be so.
clear light of spring,
I ask you for help:
Help me grow this garden,
Fill it with your strength
Fill it with the breath of life,
May it bloom in full bloom
To the delight of all of us.
Let it be so.
fragment of a fresco from a villa in ancient Rome
«Floralia» Prospero Piatti, 1899
The holiday atmosphere was relaxed and revelry
There were dancers, actors, acrobats, magicians, as well as strip dances performed by hetaeras. These days, quite free performances were staged, often peppered with immodest jokes and games.
These days it was not considered shameful to drink undiluted wine or even get drunk. It was believed that all actions performed had a magical effect on the fertility of the earth.
to flora
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