The role and symbolism of flowers in paintings in Malta : a brief overview

Abstract

In George Bernard Shaw's play John Bull's Other Island a little girl cuts some heather and is consequently admonished. "Dear Miss Nora, don't pluck the little flower. If it was a pretty baby you wouldn't want to pull its head off and stick it in a vase of water to look at " Evidently, Shaw was not a flower arranger. However, it is a known fact that throughout the centuries people have used flowers and plants to decorate and this always imparted a particular delight. The aim of this long essay is to produce a study which shows how, where and when flowers and plants were used in Maltese paintings and to what effect. I also intend to show which varieties were used and this would shed light on whether importance was given to home grown species or to foreign ones. The thematic approach has been found preferable to a chronological discussion. The purpose of this essay has been to gather and to interpret as much source material as possible from various periods ranging from Roman times till the early 20th century. The illustrative material has been gathered from many sources and consists of Ecclesiastical paintings as well as those belonging to the State and private collections in Malta. The paintings hail from the main parish churches as well as a number of filial chapels in Malta. The Fine Arts Museum in Valletta, the Palace at Valletta, the Palace at San Anton, Verdala Castle, the Inquisitor's Palace at Birgu, the Wignacourt Museum at Rabat, the Cathedral Museum at Mdina, and the Parish Museums of B 'Kara and Naxxar have also been included. I have also visited some less known private collections in Malta.