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Theme: vices
Despite the fact that roses and white lilies symbolised love and purity, they also held opposite meanings of corruption.
The thorns of roses signified not only the pains of love but the lust and other vices which were its darker side. The rose was also haunted by the imagery of blushing for shame.
Scattered roses were often used to honour Venus and to accompany scenes of erotic temptation. Cleopatra was described receiving Anthony on a carpet of roses, and Roman emperors sent for the deeply-scented roses of Alexandria to add to the opulence of their feasts.
Most famously, Heliogabolus arranged for such vast quantities of rose petals to fall on his guests that they suffocated.
Tulips in 17th Century paintings could be read as signs of wicked extravagance or foolish excess. In satirical engravings, including those of Jan Breughel, this meaning was unequivocal. |
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