Botanical Studies: Bloodwort

These studies have been extracted from a prayer book and form part of the decoration of initials and text, which continues on the reverse as supplications to saints and martyrs. Representations of flowers in such a context are much rarer than figurative subjects. The examples shown here do not appear to have any specific symbolic meaning, but may reflect the botanical interests of monastic communities where medicinal plants and herbs were always cultivated, especially in cloister gardens. The flowers and insects are highly stylized and were not copied from nature, but more likely from a pattern book of floral designs.

Bequest of Milton McGreevy