BENJAMIN FRANKLIN YOE AND SON 1810

This is Joshua Johnson's portrait of Benjamin Franklin Yoe and his son. The rose, clutched delicately in the boy's hand, speaks volumes. A rose in art is never just a rose. It’s a layered emblem of love, secrecy, and transient beauty. Roses have appeared in art since antiquity. Think of the Roman frescoes at Pompeii where roses symbolize both luxury and the ephemeral nature of life. Later, the rose became tied to the Virgin Mary, evoking divine love and purity, evolving through the Renaissance, often linked to Venus, goddess of love, symbolizing desire and beauty. Here, the rose held by the child suggests nascent innocence, but it carries an undertone of mortality, reminding us that beauty fades. A flower is often used to convey deep, unspoken emotions. And though seemingly innocent, it connects us to a rich tapestry of human experience.