Offering to the Virgin

The painter Simon Saint Jean was living in Lyon when the city became one of Europe’s greatest horticultural centers, specialising in the production roses.

This opulent crown is made of roses, from among which tulips, poppies, morning glory (ipomea), and tuberoses also emerge. The artist has managed to reflect the subtlest variations of color and texture. The pale shades of the roses create a shining halo, enhancing the sculpted figure of the Virgin and child. The naturalistic aspect of this work, which is absolutely true to botanical fact, places the artist in the same echelons as the Flemish and Dutch flower painters of the preceding centuries. Simon Saint Jean was a central figure in the Lyon school of flower painting, where he taught for several years. He also produced drawings for Lyon's silk workshops alongside his artistic production.