The Sacred Egyptian Bean

Religious writings, particularly those from the Bible, offer rich plant symbolism linked to purity and innocence. A Christian monk known as the Venerable Bede likened the Virgin Mary to a white lily: its petals symbolized her pure body and its golden anthers the radiance of her soul. In the Victorian language of flowers, known as floriography, white lilies embodied beauty, virtue, and unblemished love, making them staples in bridal bouquets.

The nun’s cap orchid, also known as the swamp orchid, evoked purity and innocence. White orchids—a favorite of Monet’s—symbolized virtue and refined beauty, often presented as tokens of admiration. Similarly, the lotus, rising unsullied from muddy waters, reflected purity and spiritual enlightenment.