THE ROSE 77 



holds the crown of thorns, and at His feet are the 

 globe and the apple. All around, filling the 

 background, are blood-red roses, symbol of the 

 Passion which was to come. 



This forecast of pain in the Spanish render- 

 ings of the Saviour's infancy is even more 

 marked in a picture by Zurburan,' where in 

 play He plaits a crown of rose thorns, the 

 flowers lying beside Him and at His feet. 



Divine love and divine passion, intermingled, 

 may be what the roses indicate in many * Adora- 

 tions * of great beauty where the scene is laid 

 in a rose-garden In the ' Adoration ' of Neri 

 di Bicci ' the Holy Child lies surrounded by lilies 

 and red and pale roses. The hHes signify His 

 sinlessness and the roses apparently His love 

 and passion. The little Saint John stands 

 behind with a scroll on which is inscribed 

 ' ECCE AGNUS DEL' 



There is a lovely picture ^ now ascribed to 

 Botticini, where angels playfully sprinkle rose 

 petals over the Infant Christ in a rose-trellised 



' Museo Provincial, Seville. 



' Florence. To be placed in the Riccardi Palace. 



* Palazzo Pitti. 



