Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
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Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
Romance online exhibition
Accession number LIV.1990.11.2134
From its association with Venus, to Robert Burns’ poem expressing his love as being 'like a red, red rose’, roses have long been associated with romance. Different coloured roses are said to represent various meanings; red symbolising love, desire and passion.
The red rose, Rosa gallica variety officinalis, is a cultivated rose. It originally grew wild in central Asia and was first cultivated by the ancient Persians and Egyptians, and later by the Greeks and Romans. The Romans introduced it in Gaul (later to become France) hence its name Rosa gallica.
This print of Rosa gallica is from the prints and drawings collection of the botany section at World Museum. These collections are a valuable resource for the identification and study of plant biodiversity past, present and future.
This is just one of the romantic images available in our Valentine e-card selection. Why not send it to the one you love?
Mistletoe is another plant associated with romance, especially with the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe at Christmas. Find out more about how this tradition came about in our winter online exhibition.