Depictions of Nature in French and Flemish Books By Logan Perleth
The world around us has, for centuries, been influenced by nature and the natural world as we perceive it through our eyes and through the eyes of religion. In the Middle Ages, the inspiration that nature had on individuals and organizations seems to be at its zenith whether it be Saint Francis of Assisi, writings such as the fables of Reynard the Fox, and the influence it had on people in the artistic community. Books written during the time, such as the French Book of Hours and the Flemish Book of Hours held in the Loras College Library Special Collections, contained abundant depictions of nature in the marginalia and within the paintings and full page drawings and pictures. The use of plants and animals are some of the most common uses of nature in these books and are most regularly seen as domesticated beasts, birds, plants, and landscapes rich in the natural world. Both the French Book of Hours and the Flemish Book of Hours contain these themes but utilize them in different ways.
The French Book of Hours tends to contain more full-page drawings and more intricate natural depictions within the marginalia whereas the Flemish book spends more time on the capitals and in the marginalia than with full-page drawings and depictions. The extensive and expensive detail in the French Book indicates that it was produced for a wealthier recipient than the Flemish book. The details in nature in the French book are very distinguishable and easier to study. On page 8 of the French book one of the flowers appears to be a “Glory of the snow” and another example of it can be seen on page 13.1
The French Book of Hours tends to contain more full-page drawings and more intricate natural depictions within the marginalia whereas the Flemish book spends more time on the capitals and in the marginalia than with full-page drawings and depictions. The extensive and expensive detail in the French Book indicates that it was produced for a wealthier recipient than the Flemish book. The details in nature in the French book are very distinguishable and easier to study. On page 8 of the French book one of the flowers appears to be a “Glory of the snow” and another example of it can be seen on page 13.1
The Glory of the Snow typically has five or six petals depending on the species and has a blue coloring with lighter coloring towards the middle and darker on the petals. Although they are native to the western Mediterranean area, especially Turkey, they have naturalized outside of that into Germany, Austria, France, and the United Kingdom.2
They typically grow in mountainous regions when the snow begins to melt and the start of spring arrives. This can be interpreted as a very special time to Europeans because when this flower enters, it symbolizes spring and the beginning of new life and a new season especially in colder, higher altitude regions. The flowers seen on pages 8 and 13 are good examples of nature in the marginalia and tend to be located in the center of a group of flowers signifying their importance to a civilization based on farming and attentive to beauty nature as a reflection of divine perfection.
In the Flemish Book of Hours, flowers and plants are also greatly detailed in the marginalia. The Flemish book centers mostly on detail in marginalia and in capitals and doesn’t focus on full-page drawings like the French Book of Hours. The flower that I identified easiest within the Flemish book was what seemed like a Persian speedwell flower.3 The Persian speedwell is extremely similar with the Glory of the snow in that it is a snow-growing flower found in all of Europe and Asia in mountainous regions mostly.4 Examples of this flower are seen in the inserted two-page drawing of the crucifixion of Christ and the four Evangelists.
In the Flemish Book of Hours, flowers and plants are also greatly detailed in the marginalia. The Flemish book centers mostly on detail in marginalia and in capitals and doesn’t focus on full-page drawings like the French Book of Hours. The flower that I identified easiest within the Flemish book was what seemed like a Persian speedwell flower.3 The Persian speedwell is extremely similar with the Glory of the snow in that it is a snow-growing flower found in all of Europe and Asia in mountainous regions mostly.4 Examples of this flower are seen in the inserted two-page drawing of the crucifixion of Christ and the four Evangelists.
They are very easy to identify in that they are blue in color, only four petals, smaller, and usually grow in groups with numerous flowers. Since they are a wintering flower, they could be held in high respect because of their strength and durability. They represent a sense of “good news” because of them flowering when winter resides and this good news is shown in relationship with the representatives of the four Evangelists writing the four gospels which, when translated, means “good news.” This flower has great importance because in the entire book, there is only one, full-page drawing and this flower was chosen to represent the artist and author’s thoughts and beliefs. This page also has significance in that the change in artistic drawings in the marginalia happens after this page in that there seems to be less nature in the drawings and details. The comparison of the flowers found in the French and Flemish books shows that these regions shared similar beliefs and symbolism. This could be signified to show the nation of the book’s strength and power to overcome hardships even when considered a smaller country or county; Flanders could easily be compared to this description because they faced many enemies whether they are Burgundy or France or another European nation.
Another interpretation that could be made is the comparison of these flowers to the resurrection of Christ after the crucifixion. Since the Persian speedwell and the crucifixion are depicted in the Flemish book on the same page, there is a connection between the two. Both Christ and the Persian speedwell represent new life and a distinct characteristic of “surviving” life after death. Christ rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion and the Persian speedwell regains life and bloom once again each spring after the hardships of the winter season.
The Flemish and French books are both amazing works of art, history, and literature and the comparison of the two seems easy enough. Both have many aspects of nature in them especially that of landscapes with plant life that shows the small details that can enhance a story. These details can help historians understand the cultures of the people that live there and how these cultures share many ideas and beliefs.
Another interpretation that could be made is the comparison of these flowers to the resurrection of Christ after the crucifixion. Since the Persian speedwell and the crucifixion are depicted in the Flemish book on the same page, there is a connection between the two. Both Christ and the Persian speedwell represent new life and a distinct characteristic of “surviving” life after death. Christ rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion and the Persian speedwell regains life and bloom once again each spring after the hardships of the winter season.
The Flemish and French books are both amazing works of art, history, and literature and the comparison of the two seems easy enough. Both have many aspects of nature in them especially that of landscapes with plant life that shows the small details that can enhance a story. These details can help historians understand the cultures of the people that live there and how these cultures share many ideas and beliefs.
Bibliography
1Healthy Home and Gardening. Glory of the Snow. April 2010. http://healthyhomegardening.com/Plant.php?pid=1684 (accessed April 2011).
2Pacific Bulb Society. Chionodoxa. March 25, 2011. http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Chionodoxa (accessed April 2011).
3—. Persian Speedwell. March 2009. http://healthyhomegardening.com/Plant.php?pid=1091 (accessed April 2011).
4Virginia Tech. Persian Speedwell: Veronica persica. 2008. http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/verpe.htm (accessed April 2011).
1Healthy Home and Gardening. Glory of the Snow. April 2010. http://healthyhomegardening.com/Plant.php?pid=1684 (accessed April 2011).
2Pacific Bulb Society. Chionodoxa. March 25, 2011. http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Chionodoxa (accessed April 2011).
3—. Persian Speedwell. March 2009. http://healthyhomegardening.com/Plant.php?pid=1091 (accessed April 2011).
4Virginia Tech. Persian Speedwell: Veronica persica. 2008. http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/verpe.htm (accessed April 2011).