In preparation for the Feast of St Giles on 1 September, Rev. Phillip Dawson reflects on the horticultural symbols associated with our patron saint
‘Saint Giles and the Deer’ by the mysterious ‘Master of Saint Giles’ originally formed one section of a multi-panelled altarpiece dating from the early 1500’s. The painting and its companion piece ‘The Mass of St Giles” depict two of the three most popular stories about the saint mentioned in the accounts of his life, the most recent of which being The Golden Legend, a famous medieval hagiography.
Both paintings can be seen in The National Gallery and their website allows us to zoom in to see minute detail. The commentary for St Giles and the Deer states: “The different types of plants and flowers in the wilderness are perhaps a reference to the legend that the desert flowered around Giles’s hermitage.” Tantalisingly no description of the flora or what it might symbolise is offered - nor is The Golden Legend or other versions of the Life of St Giles - so I have attempted to make an educated guess!
A tree divides the painting into two equal halves. At the base of the trunk and placed between St Giles on the right and the hunting party on the left is what looks like a black iris. In Greek mythology, Iris was regarded as a messenger - a link between heaven and earth - but in this case perhaps the iris in the painting is more likely to symbolise St Giles’ connection with the King of France, whose hunt chased the deer that Giles sheltered - wounding the saint with the arrow intended to kill the animal? Later, with the financial support of the King, Giles founded a monastery near Arles; where the town still bears his name.
The Fleur de Lys - a symbol of French royalty - is said to be a stylised iris rather than a lily, as the name might suggest. The black colour of the petals may relate to the mystery associated with the ministry and miracles attributed to St Giles, or perhaps to the Black Death, against which the name of the saint was invoked?
Behind St Giles, to the right-hand side of the painting, appears another plant with large leaves and a distinctive multi-budded stalk. Could this be a foxglove or digitalis? The scientific name refers to the chemicals produced by the plant which, when administered correctly, is said to heal many conditions, but when used incorrectly can be deadly. The distinctive shape of the flowers are perhaps why in some parts the plant is known as “dead man’s bells”. St Giles is associated with healing and has a particular link with leprosy (as at St Giles-in-the-Fields, which was founded as a chapel within a leper hospital). Lepers were often required to wear bells - both to alert those nearby of their presence and appeal for alms. Both connections which may be symbolised by the digitalis plant in the painting?
The small blue five petalled flowers on the bottom left hand side of the painting are more difficult to identify. They have too few petals to be a Passion Flower. Wood violets are a different height and have different leaves. Forget-me-nots have five petals but bloom in clusters of flowers as does the Jacob’s Ladder. Could they represent a type of geranium - or a brunnera, which thrives in woodland?
Perhaps a clue lies in the distinctive embroidered garment worn by the nobleman (who commentators describe as the King) facing St Giles, standing next to the priest (or bishop)? His red robe contains large stylised flowers (which could be chrysanthemums - although perhaps this is unlikely given the date at which trade between Europe and Japan began - are they sunflowers?) between which are embroidered small five-petalled blue flowers that appear to match those at his feet - suggesting some sort of connection between this nobleman and St Giles?
Perhaps these small blue flowers are intended to be periwinkles, whose name comes from a Latin word meaning to bind or entwine? Could these flowers symbolise the new bond between the King and St Giles - the bond of faith in Christ?
So, according to the ‘Master of St Giles’, which flowers might we use to create an authentic ‘St Giles Day’ bouquet? Certainly black irises and foxgloves, plus - perhaps - sunflowers and a small five-petalled single stem blue flower, like a periwinkle, together with lots of woodland foliage.
Can you identify any other plants from the painting to add to our imagined floral display?
Let me know!
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