242 FLORAL SYMBOLISM 



all die, even so in Christ shall all be made 

 alive.' 



But in the early instances of a fruit in the 

 Christ-Child's hand it does not appear to be 

 definitely the death-giving apple of Eden. It 

 is fruit of Paradise, a delight promised to the 

 blessed which the King of Heaven brings down 

 with Him to earth. 



In the early school of Siena, as we have 

 already seen, the little Christ was still the Royal 

 Infant, still ' trailing clouds of glory,' untouched 

 by shadow of suffering, and usually bearing in 

 His hand some indication of His high estate. 

 Often His hand was raised in blessing, sometimes 

 He held a lily of Paradise. 



On an early fourteenth-century panel in the 

 manner of the Lorenzetti, in Siena Academy, 

 the Child holds a fruit, but it is not clearly de- 

 fined. In one of Sano di Pietro's most attractive 

 works,' however, which is dated 1444, the Child, 

 seated on the Virgin's knee, holds a golden 

 orange with its foliage. To His right and left 

 are saints, and close around there are six angels 

 crowned with blue corn-flowers and carrying roses 



' Belle Arti, Siena. 



