Quick Links
Home
Art
Artists
Art History
Architecture
Architects
Mythology
Celtic Myth
Greek Myth
Roman Myth
Bookstore
Art Book Reviews
The collections at Loggia explore select areas of study in art and art history, architecture and design, the decorative arts, industrial design, and classical studies such as Greek, Roman, and Celtic mythology.
Gardner's Art Through the Ages
This book is the classic reference for the study of art. It features a history of artists and their works, as well as lucid and engaging descriptions of the styles and periods of art history. Highly recommended for both students and scholars.
home | art | art history | medieval | art speak | millefleurs
Millefleurs in Medieval Art
The word millefleurs is French for "a thousand flowers". This term is used to describe a particular type of floral decoration that was popular during the Middle Ages.
During the Gothic period, a millefleurs background for a tapestry was considered the height of fashion and sophistication. Tapestries of this time sparkle with a profusion of blossoms. Often amazingly intricate, these flower backgrounds provide the perfect foil for scenes depicting late Medieval hunts and courtly love.
Perhaps the best examples of millefleurs backgrounds can be found in the so-called Lady and the Unicorn (La Dame a la Licorne) tapestries. This group of tapestries features an enchanting combination of deep red ground strewn with an abundance of flowers.
Although the precise origin of the millefleurs motif is open to speculation, one possible suggestion is that this technique was an attempt to preserve year round images of fleeting flowers. Speculation aside, the thousand flowers style clearly continues to delight viewers, even after all of these centuries.
Return to Art Speak in Medieval Art
