Festoon with Fruit, Corn, Nuts and Flowers

Grapes symbolize the Eucharistic wine and hence the Redeemer’s blood, a concept expressed by Augustine, ‘Jesus is the grape of the Promised Land, the bunch that has been put under the wine-press’. The black bunch of grapes at right and a white in the centre probably allude to John’s account of the wounding of Christ on the cross ‘and at once there was a flow of blood and water’ (19:34). Ears of corn, as visible in the lower right, in association with grapes, stand for the bread of the Eucharist while the walnut as seen at the lower left, was also elaborated by Augustine; the outer green case was the flesh of Christ, the shell the wood of his cross, the kernel his divine nature. Peaches are similarly associated with the Trinity due to their three constituent parts (skin, flesh, stone) and with Truth. Strawberries are associated with the Incarnation while green plums evoke the charity and humility of Christ and purple plums are associated with His Passion and death. Jasmine flowers (?) are an attribute of the Virgin symbolising Grace and Divine Love.