author
Elizabeth Haig
A Scottish botanical artist and writer best known for a richly illustrated study of flower symbolism, she brought together art history, botany, and a deep eye for visual detail. Her work still appeals to readers who love the hidden meanings woven into paintings and plants.
1 Audiobook
The floral symbolism of the great masters
by Elizabeth Haig
About the author
Born in London in 1871, Elizabeth Haig was a botanical illustrator and author with strong ties to Scotland. A feature from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh notes that she was the daughter of James Richard Haig of Blairhill and Highfield, and that she became known for her carefully observed flower paintings.
She is best remembered as the author of The Floral Symbolism of the Great Masters, first published in 1913. The book explores the meanings of flowers in art, combining close looking with a love of plants and painting. Records from Open Library and the Biodiversity Heritage Library also connect her name with this work and related botanical material.
Haig died in 1954. Although not widely known today, her writing and illustration preserve a thoughtful meeting point between botany, symbolism, and the history of art.