Page Twenty-seven from 'Flora's Feast', Monkshood

Category

Library Item

Item no

40157

Title

Page twenty-seven from 'Flora's Feast', Monkshood and Bluebells

Description

An old monk, dressed in robes, sandals and wearing a hat, stands clutching a book. Two frolicking women encircle him as they pull on a stalk of bluebells. The accompanying text reads:
"The Monk that wears the hood of blue,
The Bells of Canterbury too".

Artist / maker

Crane, Walter

Date

1902

Size

25.0 x 18.5 cm

Type

Publisher's print

Location

Art and Design Library

This is another witty play of word and image as Crane simultaneously links the monkshood flower with the religious figure of a monk and the bluebells with church bells. By referring to Canterbury and choosing to depict a monk Crane both continues the links to the medieval past that run throughout the book, as well as referencing another type of community in the human world, a religious one supposedly untarnished by an outside world that was corrupted by capitalism. He may also be referring to the link between religion and public art as he often lamented that art had become confined to elite galleries and private interiors (1).

On the whole this is a busier composition and therefore most resembles his earlier illustrations and the influence of Art Nouveau that is less apparent in this book in comparison with his other works.

(1) Walter Crane, 'The Prospects of Art Under Socialism' in 'The Claims of Decorative Art', Lawrence and Bullen (1892), p.78.

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hair ornaments

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Sandals

Clothing and dress > Garments > Dresses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Robes

People > Adults > Older people

People > Adults > Women

People > Religion > Monks

Plants > Flowers > Bluebells

Plants > Flowers > Flowers

Religion > Religious articles > Bells

Religion > Religious communities > Monasteries

Religion > Religious facilities > Cathedrals

Sport and leisure > Activities > Reading and books

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