The Garden of Paradise

General Idea

Rhodes, J.T., and Clifford Davidson. “The Garden of Earthly Paradise.” The Iconography of Heaven. Ed.Clifford Davidson. MI: Medieval Institute Publications, 1994.

Rhodes and Davidson presented the topic of the Garden of Paradise from the Medieval and Renaissance era. In the Ghent Altarpiece we can see contrast and symbolism in some of the figures. There is a contrast between Heaven and Hell. Also, they use the Garden of Eden as a symbolism of a site of growth and fruitfulness. Ghent Altarpiece is a very interesting piece.[1] Another interesting manuscript is the Psalter of Robert de Lisle in which only the calendar and full-page miniatures survive from this remarkable English Psalter. The six scenes from the life of Christ on this folio are attributed to the Madonna Master. This piece portrays Christ as the full and fertile field.[2]

Manuscripts

1. Ghent Altarpiece