The Rose Lover

Sensual, tantalizing, and sweet: the scent of roses. Their open pink blossoms stretch towards the nose of the clergyman, who dreamily inhales their fragrance. Pink is also the color of the dress worn by the girl in the arbor, who imagines herself unobserved in her sweetheart’s arms. Only on closer inspection do we realize that the rose lover is in fact a secret witness to the scene. What at first glance looks like a romantic moment of the pious enjoyment of nature abruptly dissolves into a depiction of human desires that must remain unsatisfied: sniffing is allowed, but not touching.

We present today's work thanks to the Städel Museum.  : )

P.S. My favorite painting with roses though is still The Roses of Heliogabalus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema! Check it here, so decadent!