Garden of Paradise
Anonymous artist, Upper Rhine, c.
1410–20, Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt
This small painting (10.5” x 13.5”) is densely packed with
both highly accurate botanical illustration and complex allegorical symbols.
The unknown artist presents us with the “hortus conclusus,” the enclosed garden
beloved of medieval theologians, artists and poets. This symbolic allusion
arose from the Song of Songs: "Hortus conclusus, soror mea sponsa; hortus
conclusus, fons signatus," or "my sister, my spouse, is a garden
enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up" (4:12). Within the
walled garden that represents both Mary’s virginity and the Church, the
Christian allegory of salvation is portrayed in exquisite detail. Over 35 types of plants and 12 species of
birds can be identified in the Garden of Paradise.
This Paradise is St. Paul’s “new creation” brought about
through Jesus, the new Adam, and his mother , the new Eve. With a truly
incarnational imagination, the artist depicts heaven as the beautiful world
restored, perfected and sanctified by the presence of the divine. Fruits and flowers of all seasons blossom
simultaneously in this timeless garden. Mary, the learned Virgin and mother of
the Word, sits at the center of the garden reading while the Christ Child
happily plays a psaltery. Sweet music, pure water, choice fruits, and fragrant
flowers add to the Biblical perfection of this symbolic garden.
In this peaceful garden even the “warrior” saints are at
rest. In the lower right hand corner of the painting, Michael the Archangel and
St. George (notice his chainmail tunic and stockings) relax in the shade of a
tree with a chained monkey and a dead dragon (symbols of defeated evil) at
their feet.
One last, significant detail to notice: the walls of the
garden do not exclude the viewer. We are already included (enclosed) in Mary’s
garden of paradise.
No comments:
Post a Comment