Yellow Lilies in Blue Vase 

John Michael Carter painted these “Yellow Lilies in Blue Vase”, capturing a familiar, yet potent array of symbols. The lilies, bursting forth in vibrant yellow, are prominent. Across cultures, lilies have carried varied meanings—from purity and innocence to love and transience. In ancient Greece, they were associated with Hera, the queen of the gods, symbolizing fertility and rebirth. In Christian art, the white lily often signifies the Virgin Mary's purity. Yet here, the yellow hue infuses the flower with connotations of friendship and joy, a departure that hints at a more contemporary reading. The arrangement in a blue vase, flanked by delicate porcelain, suggests a domestic scene, a still life imbued with understated emotion. The cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth is subtly echoed. Symbols such as the lily recur, transformed, yet still resonant. This image echoes through time, a testament to our enduring engagement with such powerful, archetypal forms.