Gladiolas and Roses 1881

Henri Fantin-Latour painted this still life of gladiolas and roses. These flowers, symbols in the Victorian era, speak volumes of sentiments. Consider the gladiolus, named from the Latin for "sword," its upright form echoes strength and integrity. This imagery stretches back to gladiatorial combat, the very name reminiscent of those ancient arenas. The rose, however, is an even older symbol: since antiquity, its layers and thorns have carried meanings of love and sacrifice. Think of the rose windows in Gothic cathedrals, where the rose symbolizes the Virgin Mary, embodying divine love and purity. Latour’s choice to combine these blooms connects the raw energy of the gladiolus with the timeless passion of the rose, and engages us on a deep, subconscious level. The recurring symbolic association of these flowers reminds us how the emotional power embedded in such visual symbols transcends time.