The Secret Language of Flowers: Notes on the Hidden Meanings of the Louvre’s Flowers

by Jean-Michel Othoniel (Artist)

An intimate herbarium of flowers in the collection of the Louvre To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Louvre pyramid, French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel was invited to create a work about the presence of flowers in the museum's eight art departments. Visiting the Louvre’s collections of paintings, drawings, sculptures, embroidery and enamel, the artist photographed the flowers that appeared there. Using these images, Othoniel composed his own original herbarium, accompanied with notes on the secret language of flowers and their symbolism in the history of art.

Among the 70 flowers Othoniel compiled in this volume, you will find the thistle in Dürer's self-portrait, the poppy in the Paros funerary stele, the apple sitting on a stool in The Lock by Fragonard and the peony attached to the unfastened blouse of the young woman in Greuze's Broken Pitcher . Also included are lesser-known details in lesser-known works―concealed treasures, hiding in plain sight at the museum.

Following a similar format to Othoniel’s previous book about flowers, this volume intersperses photographs and drawings with short texts in a luxurious, eminently giftable book.

Once an attendant at the Louvre while studying at the École des Beaux-Arts, Othoniel returns to his artistic roots in this volume to offer a personal, poetic look at the artistic wonders of the greatest museum in the world.

From drawing to sculpture, installation to photography, writing to performance, for more than 25 years, French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel (born 1964) has made poetic works in a range of materials such as sulfur, wax and glass.

192 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2019

Reviews

[Adelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not what I thought it was. Very religious symbolism and legends. I was looking for more of the language of flowers. But for what it was meant to be, it did good. I just didn’t like it as much because I’m an atheist and hate manipulative religions. Very pretty with paintings attached to flower description.

[Mallory Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not what I thought it was. Based on the cover and description of “notes on the meanings of flowers in art”, I presumed they meant that. Flowers depicted in art and their meaning. Especially since I purchased this from an art museum. However, all of the flower meanings are Biblical. I am not a religious person, but even if I was, this book is very misleading and not at all what I was expecting.

[Arina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful coffee table book that gives a brief introduction into the symbolism of flowers and plants.

[Hallie Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting this to include symbolism for specific paintings, and a wide collection of religions and time periods, but 90% of the symbolism was from the Christian Bible. It's a beautiful book with lovely art, but not at all what I was expecting it to be, and only operated within a very narrow band.