— Hortus Conclusus
The Garden — Hortus Conclusus The enclosed garden: paradise recovered in miniature. Mary’s garden. The alchemist’s garden. The monastery garden. Each plant placed with symbolic intention. Each plant chosen for correspondence meaning. The garden as living lapidary and herbal simultaneously. The physical space embodying the symbolic world.
A formal garden as a philosophical map of the universe, blending classical landscaping with complex alchemical and religious symbolism. The central fountain, featuring intertwined serpents, represents the source of life and the "prima materia," surrounded by figures symbolizing the four corners of the world and various stages of scientific transformation. Figures like EUDEM and the presence of open tombs in the background suggest themes of death, resurrection, and the pursuit of divine truth. Ultimately, the garden serves as a visual puzzle where the symmetry of the "jardin à la française" reflects the harmony between human reason, nature, and the spiritual search.