Comparative assessment: Which recently published book delves deeper into the historical background, mystical elements, and romantic aspects of roses is superior?
Flowers, you damn right - particularly the almighty rose, have bewitched us all through the ages. From dusty tomes on botanical history to floristry manuals, these books sure as hell can't keep their praise for these enchanting, sometimes bewildering, creatures quiet.
On the odd occasion, it's necessary to dig deeper, seeking answers as to why we find ourselves so captivated by these blooming bruisers. Why do we feel compelled to cultivate them with such zeal? What's behind the global love affair with roses?
Hey, maybe it's a primal thing, akin to our shared magnetic connection with those busy buzzing bees - but complexity and human obsession can't be confined to biology alone. It bleeds into culture, baby. And by Jesus, we must dissect it.
These two new books take up the challenge of diving headfirst into the curious conundrum that is mankind's enduring love for roses.
The first, The Rose Book, plucked from the shelves of esteemed publisher Phaidon, is an exhaustive examination brimming with visual decadence. Slicking the pages with digestible essays on roses in history, fashion, perfume, and language, this deep dive considers the rose through artistic depictions that span the centuries. Featuring contributions from well-known authorities such as fashion curator Amy de la Haye and Royal florist Shane Connolly, this book combines breathtaking artworks that span every discipline, from paint to print, sculpture to needlework, architecture, mosaic, and even stained glass.
The Rose Book leaves no stone unturned, clarifying why the rose - yes, more than any other plant - weaves itself so tightly and profoundly through our collective psyche. Eschewing a linear structure, interesting and highly improbable pairings are made across the page spreads, unearthing common ground between rose-related works by artists as diverse as Georgia O'Keeffe, Alexander McQueen, and Sandro Botticelli. As you flip through, you'll find yourself captivated, from an exquisitely detailed 18th-century watercolor to a heavily stylized 1930s woodcut, and from a sumptuous still life by a Dutch master to Tiffanie Turner's 2022 tower of browning rose petals.
In contrast, Roses in the Garden, penned and illuminated by renowned New York-based photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo, takes a more reflective approach to this sprawling subject. After the death of her father, an avid rose enthusiast, she embarked on a voyage through gardens worldwide, immersing herself in the roses that thrived there. Far from a conventional monograph, Ngoc's comprehensive exploration of the rose is chronicled through her unique voice and the voices of those whose gardens are traversed with roses.
"At the end of a day spent photographing roses," she writes, "their perfume - an ineffable combination of sweet, spicy, fruity, myrrh, and citrus scent - lingers on my hands and pervades my dreams."
As with all of Ngoc's garden photography, the resulting images are dreamlike. With chapters that shift through apricot and copper hues of Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis' at Italy's crumbling Giardino di Ninfa, the tree-scaling roses of Umberto Pasti's romantic garden in Morocco, and cascades of rambling Rosa 'Wedding Day' at the entrance of Château de la Rongère in France, we're left in awe of these enchanting florae.
Both books brilliantly combine extensive representation of rose species and cultivars with fresh takes on their exposition. Each leaves you with a crystal-clear understanding of why the rose - arguably more than any other plant on this twisted little planet - nestles itself so tightly and profoundly within our collective consciousness.
Reviewer Matt Collins is a garden writer and head gardener at the Garden Museum.
THE ROSE BOOKby Phaidon Editors, with essays by Amy de la Haye, Victoria Gaiger, and Kristine Paulus. Phaidon. £34.95. ISBN 978-1838668808.
ROSES IN THE GARDENby Ngoc Minh Ngo. Rizzoli. £58. ISBN 978-0847843053.
[1] History of the Rose: https://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-the-rose[2] Romance of the Rose: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Romance-of-the-Rose[3] The Language of Flowers: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-history-of-the-language-of-flowers[4] Rose Symbolism in Belize: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/rose-petals/faq-20068407[5] Eastern Rose Symbolism: https://www.eastlandflowers.com/blog/rose-symbolism-in-eastern-culture
[1] The captivating allure of roses extends beyond their enchanting appearance, delving into the realm of garden design and photography, as demonstrated by the comprehensive book, The Rose Book.
[2] This prestigious publication by Phaidon Editors, enriched with essays by authorities like Amy de la Haye, offers an in-depth examination of roses in history, fashion, perfume, and language, through a kaleidoscope of artworks.
[3] In a unique and intriguing manner, The Rose Book explores connections between rose-related works by artists spanning centuries and diverse genres, from Georgia O'Keeffe to Sandro Botticelli.
[4] Conversely, Roses in the Garden, penned by renowned photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo, captures the essence of roses in a more reflective light. Her journey through various gardens worldwide, inspired by her late father's love for roses, results in dreamlike photographs.
[5] These two books, masterpieces in their own right, illuminate the global love affair with roses, delving into their intricate connections with various aspects of human life, from our gardens and lifestyles to fashion and beauty.
