GARLANDS OF ROSES 97 



picted Heaven not as a rose but as a rose-garden ; 

 and as a second and more perfect Eden rather 

 than as the Holy City, the stupendous piece of 

 jeweller's work described in the Revelation of 

 Saint John. A few Flemish and German artists 

 have attempted to realize the jasper wall, the 

 * pure gold like unto clear glass,' and the ' foun- 

 dations garnished with all manner of precious 

 stones,' but for the majority of artists on both 

 sides of the Alps Heaven was a paradise, a 

 garden. The prophet Esdras describes it in 

 detail : . 



' Twelve trees laden with divers fruits, 



' And as many fountains flowing with milk 

 and honey, and seven mighty mountains, where- 

 upon there grow roses and Hlies.' ' 



The Byzantine Guide to Painting ^ directs 

 that Paradise be depicted as * surrounded by a 

 wall of crystal and pure gold, adorned with 

 trees filled with bright birds,' so combining 

 both visions of the home of the blessed. 



But Western art usually paints Heaven 

 simply as a garden with twelve or six fruit trees, 



' 2 Esdras ii. 18-19. 



* Written by the monk Dionysius of Mount Athos in the 

 twelfth century. Translated by M. Didron. 

 G 



