Human Flower Project
Quatrefoil—Flower of Andalusian Architecture
Georgia Silvera Seamans has recently come back to Berkeley, CA, from Southern Spain (que suerte!). She captured this picture in Sevilla, at the 16th century Casa de Pilatos (a.k.a. Palacio de San Andrés). You’ll not be surprised to learn that the palace was constructed at the apex of cuenca ceramics production in Sevilla.
The quatrefoil designs (stylized four-lobed flowers) are characteristic of Gothic Christian art; some art historians say the form symbolizes the four evangelists. But this same shape occurs everywhere in Moorish art, which is, of course, the splendor of Andalusia. We’ve investigated cinquefoil a bit, the five-petalled rose of medieval Europe. Now we hope to hear from quatrefoil scholars as to the meaning of this elegant, enduring design. Moors, Christians, local ecologists, let us hear from you.
Y mil gracias, Georgia!
Photo: Georgia Silvera Seamans