Flower motifs and Their Symbolic Meaning in Liturgical Art
24th June–10th September 2023
Roman Catholic parish, Litomyšl Provostry. Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Šantovo nám. 183, Litomyšl
opening hours | Tue–Sat 10:00–17:30, Sun 13:00–17:30
opening ceremony | 23rd June 2023 at 17:00
curators | Radek Martinek, Helena Zápalková, Jitka Jonová
promoted by | Litomyšl Days of Baroque Tradition
Nature has inspired mankind since time immemorial. Its beauty and a certain mystery has provided numerous topics for artistic interpretation. Flowers have always been associated not only with life’s beauty and vitality but, due to their fragility, they have also symbolized its brevity and evanescence. In Christian art, floral motifs are common, adorning temples, appearing in paintings and sculptures, as well as on religious objects. However, they were never seen as mere decoration. They often carried a deep spiritual meaning, helping to express the unspeakable – the Mystery which in worship can only be read through the eyes of faith. During the mass we can thus glimpse a piece of the Garden which Man lost through his sin. Flowers say more than a thousand words. This intimate panel exhibition, complemented with several pieces from the collections of the Provost Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, will introduce the audience to various flower motifs and their meaning in Christian art with an emphasis on devotional objects.
From the opening ceremony:
