The Enclosed Garden: The symbolic language of flowers and herbs

Before Carl Linnaeus gave us binomial nomenclature, there existed a rich symbolic language of trees, flowers, and herbs. In medieval times botanical lore proffered lessons in life and health to illiterate populations. We can still read this language by looking at paintings, stained glass, tapestries, and other art from those times. We will dip into the Hortus Conclusus for what it tells us about the uses of plants in the Middle Ages. We will examine the period history of roses and lilies, the myths connected with marigolds, iris, lavender, and other flowers, and the flowers and herbs portrayed in the famous late 15th-century Unicorn Tapestries. A workbook will be provided, offering keys for identifying and interpreting the significance of plants that appear in medieval art.

A field trip to the Metropolitan Museum’s medieval gem, The Cloisters, will make possible a direct encounter with the art, architecture, and gardens, an essential contribution to understanding and appreciating the course material. The course fee includes the cost of the museum excursion.

Instructor: Vicky McCarthy
3 classes, Mondays, October 14, 21, 28, 4:00–6 :00pm. Field trip, Saturday, October 26th, The Cloisters, NYC. Ttransportation will be provided, departing late morning from campus.