Sacred or profane? This is a book that uses flowers to explore a vast range of symbols whose meaning varies according to place and period. From the fleur-de-lys to wildflowers, in natural settings or compositions, as ornaments or the focus of a still life, flowers have always been a favorite with painters. While seemingly innocent and bucolic, they can denounce human vanity, kindle reflection on existence, be imbued with amorous significance and make play with artistic codes in a dialogue with the history of painting. To guide the reader through this selection of works and decipher their hidden meanings, the author offers a personal point of view in a series of perceptive commentaries.  

 The authors

Michel Lis (preface) is an iconic figure in the world of gardening. Editor in chief of the magazine L'Ami des jardins and a contributor to Rustica, he has also been a much appreciated figure on France Inter radio and Télématin television show.  

Béatrice Vingtrinier (notes on the works) spent fifteen years directing the Visitor Services educational workshops at the Louvre. She now gives art history classes and leads guided tours at the Musée du Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Picasso, Musée Rodin, the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, the Musée du Quai Branly and elsewhere.