Come vestono i gigli del campo. Trasformazioni dell’immaginario floreale nei primi secoli cristiani

The essay analyzes the debate about use of flowers in the Early Christianity identifying two principal attitudes of the Fathers of the Church. Initially there is a negative attitude towards flowers that is related with the critique of the pagan idolatry (Tertullian, Minucius Felis, Clemens of Alexandria). Along side to this refusal of pagan practises gradually grows a more positive floreal imaginary that valorizes the beauty of flowers as symbol of the presence of God and his divine providence. Analyzing some patristical comments to the famous Gospel passage of Mt 6 about “lilies of the fild”, the autor shows that this new imaginary is related to a more broader transfomation of Christian sensibility towards creatural beauty that involves not only flowers but also the sacred images.