2o6 FLORAL SYMBOLISM 



hands, to be engaged in a conference on the con- 

 ception of the Virgin.' 



In another altar-piece by Signorelli' it is 

 the Infant Christ who carries the lily, the 

 symbol of His own sinlessness. In this picture 

 all the symbolism refers to the Holy Child, not 

 to the Virgin, which is unusual in an * Enthroned 

 Madonna.' But the scroll upon the cross of 

 the Baptist, with the words ' Ecce Agnus Dei,' 

 directs the devotion of the worshipper to the 

 Son. 



In still another of Signorelli's compositions ^ 

 the archangel Michael stands on one side of 

 the Madonna's throne with his scales for the 

 weighing of souls, and Gabriel upon the other 

 side with a large stalk of hUes. The latter 

 carries the lilies, not merely as his own attri- 

 bute, to denote that he is Gabriel, but also in 

 greeting to the Madonna, for in his other hand 

 he holds a scroll with the words, ' Ave Maria, 

 gratia plena.' 



There is a Madonna and Child by Fra 

 Angelico,3 where the Virgin, whose features 



' Cathedral, Perugia. * Accademia, Florence. 



' Collection Pierpont Morgan, America. 



