Dame Liffe

​Media: Oak gall ink on calf-skin vellum with 24kt gold leaf.
​Size: 7.75" x 9"
Allison Stanley

Many perfuming plants are decorating her; jasmine, mint, frankincense, myrrh, olive leaves, dandelion, lavender, climbing nightshade, cornflower, damask roses and more.

Shee was brighter of her blee then was the bright sonn,
her rudd redder then the rose that on the rise hangeth,
meekely smiling with her mouth & merry in her lookes,
euer laughing for loue as she like wold;
& as shee came by the bankes the boughes eche one
they lowted to that Ladye & layd forth their branches.
Blossoms & burgens breathed ffull sweete,
fflowers fflourished in the frith where she fforth stepedd,
& the grasse that was gray greened beliue.
   (Anonymous, "Death & Liffe" I lines 65-73)