Botanical Imagery as a depiction of God’s work
Animals aren't the only examples of God's work that cloister dwellers had to consider; the capitals also depicted natural imagery. The capitals of Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines display organic forms that resemble plants and flowers. Although the type of flower is not always obvious, it is clear the art is referencing nature. One such example is an image of six leaves branching out from a central stem with a circular shape, resembling a flower, at the top. Another is palmette leaves—teardrop shapes with a central vein and branching veins—that are common throughout Romanesque churches of the same era. The accepted idea of the time was that even the smallest plant displayed the wonder of God’s work and His purpose.[12] Whether plant iconography had a specific symbolic story attached to not, it still enabled monks to appreciate the beauty of God’s work. In the way that painters will copy the Master's paintings or a singer will cover a famous song, the architects of Saint-Genis-Des-Fontaines created a tribute to God and recreated his work through vegetal images on the capitals. In depicting nature in the cloister, architects were creating a tribute to God and creating space for God’s work to be appreciated.
Citations:
12.Fisher, Celia. Flowers in Medieval Manuscripts. Toronto and Buffalo: University of Toronto Press Incorporated, 2004. Print. Pg. 17