Browse Exhibits (7 total)

Foxgloves, a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Digitalis family, are known for their bell-shaped flowers that come in various colors like white, pink, purple, and yellow. These flowers are frequently featured in medieval manuscripts, especially illuminated books of hours containing calendars and prayers, with their significance varying based on the context and symbolism employed.

One interpretation of foxgloves in medieval manuscripts is their representation of the Virgin Mary. The name Digitalis, which means "finger" or "thimble," suggests Mary's sewing or spinning activities, while their bell shape represents her purity and grace. This interpretation reinforces Mary's significance in Christian devotion, intensifying the emotional impact of religious texts and fostering a sense of connection between the reader and the divine.

Foxgloves are also known as "folksgleow, with 'folk' meaning fairy folk and 'gleow' referring to a row or chime of little bells" (Fisher, 53). In contrast to their Christian associations, foxgloves played a crucial role in Celtic folklore as a symbol of the magical and mysterious, and a potent instrument for protection and healing. Their connection to fairies and the Otherworld further highlights their mystical nature and contributes to their enduring popularity in folklore and magic.

The duality of the religious symbolism of foxgloves with their magical and witchcraft associations could create a sense of complexity and ambiguity in the reader's mind. On the one hand, foxgloves were associated with the Virgin Mary and Christian devotion, reinforcing the dominant religious ideology of the time. On the other hand, they were also linked to fairy folk and magic, which challenged the Christian worldview and opened up the possibility of alternative beliefs and practices.

Assuming a reader was aware of this dichotomy, it may have created a sense of tension or unease as they were confronted with multiple and conflicting meanings of the same flower. The foxglove's ability to symbolize both healing and harm, medicine and toxicity, could also add to this complexity, making it difficult to categorize the flower in a simple or straightforward way. Ultimately, this multifaceted nature of the foxglove encourages readers to engage with the text on a deeper level, questioning their assumptions and exploring the various layers of meaning that could be found within.

"The wine medled with wine...given to them that shall be cut in their body...so they should not feel the sore knitting."

-Bartholomew Anglicanus

Mandrakes, also called Mandragora officinarum, possess a rich cultural and symbolic past. During the middle ages, illuminated manuscripts often depicted mandrakes, rendering them a prevalent theme in medical and herbal manuscripts. People attributed mandrakes with medicinal and magical properties, using them to cure a range of ailments, induce sleep, and even as an anesthetic during surgeries. However, such uses were frequently based on superstitions and folklore rather than scientific evidence.

In illuminated manuscripts, mandrakes were depicted as plants with an aura of power and mystery, rendered in vibrant hues and featuring roots that resembled human figures. According to legend, they would let out a piercing scream when plucked from the ground, which was believed to cause the harvester to go insane or die. Dogs were also commonly portrayed in these manuscripts alongside mandrakes, as they were frequently tied to the plants as a solution to the deadly scream. In some depictions, mandrakes are shown with a dog chained to them, which people would abandon with the hope that hunger would compel the dog to pull the mandrake out. These beliefs added to the mandrake's enigmatic image as a symbol of magic and otherworldliness.

Depictions of mandrakes in medieval manuscripts can have a profound impact on readers, eliciting a wide range of emotions and thoughts. In addition to providing knowledge and wisdom about herbal medicine and magic, the illustrations have significant symbolic meaning. The mandrake's representation as partly human engenders a complex effect on the reader, forging a connection between the person and the plant, highlighting similarities in their existence and needs. This increased appreciation and respect for living plants, triggers curiosity and wonder about the natural world and its mysteries.

However, mandrakes' depiction as partly human also creates a sense of separation and unnaturalness, accentuating human superiority and the plant's subservience. This might promote the colonization and exploitation of nature, where humans take what they require without considering nature's well-being. Furthermore, the mandrake's notoriety as a highly toxic plant linked with mystical powers adds an element of danger and mysticism to its portrayal. The reader may be instilled with fear and awe, making them conscious of the power and unpredictability of nature.

Strawberries were initially associated with temptation. This was a common meaning shared amongst many fruits. According to “The Medieval Flower Book” by Celia Fisher there was a Virgilian proverb that warned children of snakes sleeping coiled in the cool of their leaves. Furthermore, Hieronymus Bosch used strawberries as a symbol of fleeting and dangerous pleasures in the Garden of Earthly Delights. In some depictions of Christian art, strawberries are not “sinister” but rather they were considered the perfect fruit and symbolized the Virgin. The white flowers and red fruit represent purity and martyrdom and the three leaves the Trinity. Medicinally, strawberries were believed to fight inflammation. The fruit helped with skin, while the leaves and roots cured ailments of the liver and kidneys.

Strawberries are frequently depicted in European medieval manuscripts and are one of the most common plant images found therein.