ARRIVAL OF THE FLOWER SHIP - 25 x 20 INCHES | Vladimir Kush

The images of the picture were possibly suggested by the most famous “botanical” venture in history. By the early 19th century the British ship “Bounty” sailed to take, from Tahiti to the Caribbean, the plants of the bread fruit tree. The planters wanted to use them to feed the slaves working on fields. But Tahiti amazed the crew appearing before the seamen as a shining paradise. They did not want to leave the South Seas and mutinied against the captain. The artist represents the “flower” ship sailing among the islands of the terrestrial paradise. The pink glow of her gladioli sails illuminates all around. The sea surface is strewn with flower petals. The natives use them to approach the ship, greeting her with palm branches. Magnificent voyage turns into a triumphal procession.

The vessel shown in the picture “Arrival of the Flower Ship” becomes in the artist’s work a symbol of revival and strengthening of the new life.

In this connection it is possible to cite here a curious event associated with the symbol of ship.

…In the morning of September 6, 1620 the vessel under the command of Captain

Christopher Jones sailed from Plymouth, England, having on board 102 Pilgrims: 41 adult men, 19 women, and children. On December 11, after three months of very difficult voyage

(the ship was not intended for taking passengers), thee ship doubled Cape Cod and anchored near the coast of Massachusetts (New England). Her passengers were the Puritans who fled from religious persecutions. They decided to leave, as they hoped for the Promised Land!

…The very name of the ship gave them hope for rebirth and new happy life in the New World: her name was “The Mayflower”!

Here, in America, the Pilgrims established the first permanent colony of New Plymouth, thereby giving start to colonies in New England.

In England, may flower (any of various plants that blossom in May) symbolized fertility and return of the Sun.