Il raffinato volume affronta un tema di notevole fortuna nel romanticismo europeo, oggi recuperato da studi sul giardino e sulla cultura scientifica «al femminile». Con un linguaggio ricco di suggestioni e riferimenti colti, l’autrice descrive questo «linguaggio», un codice espressivo di antica origine orientale che attribuiva una connotazione sentimentale ai fiori che assurgevano così a emblemi dei moti del cuore. A corredo, le tavole floreali di Pancrace Bessa, piccoli capolavori della pittura botanica coeva.
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This sophisticated book deals with a theme that was remarkably popular in European Romanticism, re-examined today through studies on gardens and on the feminine approach to science. Using richly suggestive language and abundant literary references, the author describes this “language”, an ancient expressive code of oriental origin where flowers had a sentimental connotation and became the symbols of human feelings. Pancrace Bessa’s floral illustrations, little masterpieces of the coeval botanical painting, complete the book.
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This sophisticated book deals with a theme that was remarkably popular in European Romanticism, re-examined today through studies on gardens and on the feminine approach to science. Using richly suggestive language and abundant literary references, the author describes this “language”, an ancient expressive code of oriental origin where flowers had a sentimental connotation and became the symbols of human feelings. Pancrace Bessa’s floral illustrations, little masterpieces of the coeval botanical painting, complete the book.
