Delirious

© Eva-Maria Ruhl, 2011

24" x 24", oil on textured canvas

Delirious, Helleborus niger, is framed and packed up, ready for the journey to the Delaware Art Museum 
for the upcoming exhibit 
Beyond Words: the Symbolic Language of Plants.

Hellebores niger, also known as the Christmas rose or Lenten rose, is noted for its early blooming and toxicity. In the early days of medicine, hellebores were used to cure insanity. Their symbolism includes magic, madness and delirium. In one mythological tale, the ancient seer Melampus used hellebore to cure the daughters of the king of Argos after the god Dionysos punished them with madness for scorning his worship. 


Details: