What is the flower motif used in many pictures of Christ?
Flower
motifs developed as adornments for various images of Christ. This is
particularly so with in the Byzantine world starting in the middle of the
sixth century. We find it in mosaics, icons and particularly the epitaphios
Notice the extensive use of flower images on this epitaphios that seemingly
is inspired by the whole frontal image on the Shroud of Turin.
An epitaphios is a large cloth that usually contains a full-length image of Jesus, most usually in burial repose. The full name is Epitáphios Thrēnos, meaning a Lamentation of the Grave. It is used on Good Friday and the Saturday before Easter by Greek and Eastern Orthodox Churches as well as a number of autonomous Catholic churches (in communion with the Roman Catholic Church) that use the Byzantine Rite.
See: Epitaphios