The Art of Flowers

Flowers were born to seduce although we were never the prime targets. The shape of a particular bloom, and the subtle variations of the colours, evolved to lure insects and the hummingbird, the pollinators that enable flowers to perpetuate themselves.

However, although the seduction was not aimed at us, we have nevertheless been enslaved. Before flowers had names, they were brought into gardens and cultivated, initially for the practical uses of medicine, based on the plant extract, then for their beauty. Transplanted into new habitats, cosseted, protected from the elements and the plants prospered, as did the volume. We thought we were using flowers but of course, they were using us.

Roses, Lilies, Tulips, Irises, Peonies, Columbines as well as Carnations were the first ornamental flowers to decorate European Gardens.

Art played a large part in the extension of flowers into the garden and home. Artists such as Hans Membling’s Vase of Flowers painted in 1490, and the portrait of Sir Thomas More and his family, painted in 1526 are just a few examples of European artistry with flowers and then of course. Artists from far warmer climates were doing exactly the same thing and the export of these beautiful flowers inevitably happened, and exotic flowers found their way to Europe, which had been heavily influenced by art and the wealthy people who could afford that art.

Turkish flowers around this period of time went on to conquer Europe with exotic Lilies, hyacinths, Iris, Fritillaries, and Ranunculus flooded into Europe from the middle of the 16^th Century, which was a defining characteristic of the next 100 years. The art of the flower had been accepted into the art world and the public which embraced the concepts and colours. This is well illustrated by the Flemish painter Jaques Le Moyne de Morgues, who produced an eye-catching miniature. The painting featured from a wild flamboyant tribe, where the Pict girl stood in a cold background but was decorated with eastern flowers from Constantinople. The girl stood wearing nothing but her long hair and a sword. Arranged heartsease and columbine, cornflowers and poppies. However, the public were astonished with the exotic flowers of the east. Vast purple, Iris Susiana adorned her knees with Tulips covering her thighs, where, Tulips were unknown in Europe before 1559. The white Madonna lily which was very much associated with religious painting is ousted by hot orange Turkish cap lilies.

Although in 1529 the Turks had been turned back at the gates of Constantinople, their flowers went on to conquer the whole of Europe with the Iris, fritillaries, and Ranunculus.

These exotic lilies, together with the hyacinth and Ranunculus that flooded into Europe from the middle of the 16^th Century, fed a fever for flowers which was a defining characteristic of the next one hundred years.

The wealthy built up vast collections of auriculas and carnations, tulips, and anemones, as an example, Francesco Caetani had 29,000 anemones.

In 1637 an auction of Tulip bulbs took place, where the most expensive bulb went for a staggering 5400 guilders with the last 99 lots reaching 90,000 guilders. Which was around £6-10 million in today’s money and was probably the catalyst for the Dutch Bulb frenzy, which saw the Dutch middle class entering the world of flowers as a form of speculation.

Floral art continued to become ingrained within society, flowers were painted on money chests, inlaid as Mother of Pearl. Display cases became so popular, that they were flamed with flowers. Even bouquets of flowers were copied by famous artists.

In 1631 the first wave of Huguenot immigrants arrived in Norwich and were deemed as people that grew flowers as a hobby, described as florists who brought carnations, gillyflowers, Province roses and were specialists in Anemone, Auricula, pink Carnations, Ranunculus and Tulips.

A second wave of Huguenot immigrants arrived around 1680, which further expanded the already growing flower market.

Florist societies began and were helped by the public interest through newspapers and by the middle of the 18^th Century florist societies had been formed all over England.

Much if not all of the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th, centuries had been driven by the wealthy to show off the owner’s good taste.

It wasn’t long until the first florist shop was opened in 1875, which served the wealthy who wanted floral art in their town hoses and the middle class who could afford these flowers. We have all seen films of circa 1860 plus of flower girls with a basket, trying to sell roses, which is a practise still conducted today or they might be trawling the queues of cars at traffic lights.

The retail florist hasn’t really been around for very long and during the last 30 years have seen supermarkets and logistic companies jumping on the selling of flowers.

I think we are at the bottom of the curve, there really isn’t many other ways to sell flowers and building up a name as a good florist helps to keep the high street alive.

www.nicoladownie.co.uk