Painting fruits and vegetables

Still life is genre that has fascinated artists from early baroque to 21^st century. This phenomenon was associated with ancient Egyptians who decorated their tombs with paintings of fruit, flowers, and vegetables in order to feed deceased souls in afterlife.

Mural painting from the 1^st century in Pompeii, Italy is an example where naturalism and softness dominate throughout artwork. I like soft but contrasting tones in which are pieces of fruit presented creating the visual dynamic by making individual pieces stand out. Glass bowl with fruit is dominant and creates good balance with slanted jar partly because of vividness and its straight position.

There is little known about life of Juan Sánchez Cotán, a Spanish painter of the 17^th century whose simple compositions were opposite to plentiful tables of famous western artists of that time. “Still Life with thistle and carrots” represents a masterpiece where objects have distinctive position and the whole atmosphere has note of something cosmic. Bright intense objects resemble celestial bodies (star and moon) accompanied with dark empty background that emphasizes the contrast among object.

Abraham van Beyeren was another unrewarded painter during his life in 17^th century but today his “Banquet Still Life” has a reputation of one of the greatest still life paintings. His work is rich and highly detailed portraying the extravaganza where details are intensified on deep dark background. Looking it from the distance  this masterpiece has some dark sense.

Below is shown “Still life with fruit basket (the kitchen table)”- Paul Cezanne. Considered as the greatest master of still life painting, this French artist laid the foundation for cubism, the future significant art movement in 20^th century. This unique masterpiece based on complex and rich composition, whose parts would have been strong even if they were isolated. The most intriguing part here is big basket with its odd position so we could say that Cezanne created some kind of optical illusion that inspired the subsequent generation of artists.

The afternoon meal – Luis Egidio Melendez. Although recognized as a greatest Spanish still life painter of the 18^th century, he received little acclaim during his life and eventually died in poverty. His almost magic ability to breathe life into mundane objects by depicting volume and textures made him a master of still life painting. Balancing the light and darkness he achieved such vividness and softness in his artworks that every object got whole new dimension in interesting and appealing way. “Still Life with Melon and Pears” and “Still Life with Salmon, Lemon and three Vessels” are perfect example of his magic and I don’t understand how people missed that during his lifetime. Unfortunately he is not the only artist with such a strong will and enthusiasm who ended tragically and didn’t get recognition he deserved.

Luis Egidio Melendez. Although recognized as a greatest Spanish still life painter of the 18^th century, he received little acclaim during his life and eventually died in poverty. His almost magic ability to breathe life into mundane objects by depicting volume and textures made him a master of still life painting. Balancing the light and darkness he achieved such vividness and softness in his artworks that every object got whole new dimension in interesting and appealing way. “Still Life with Melon and Pears” and “Still Life with Salmon, Lemon and three Vessels”” The afternoon meal” are perfect example of his magic and I don’t understand how people missed that during his lifetime. Unfortunately he is not the only artist with such a strong will and enthusiasm who ended tragically and didn’t get recognition he deserved.

Henry Fantin-Latour is another eminent figure when it comes to still life painting. This French artist is best known for his flower painting and portraits. After period of time which he spent doing portraiture he decided to focus more on flowers and still life which became his trade mark. His painting of cherry fruits proves his mastery when it comes to such a delicate details. Complementary colors of leaves and fruits make them so live, fresh and natural because of natural softness he managed to portray. The whole composition is even more accentuated with a light bright background.

Another beautiful masterpiece is Still life where he portrayed several elements including book, vase, fruits and porcelain cup on a desk. Different rich tones along with shadows and light make it look very live while additional balance is achieved using contrasting blue tones.

William Henry Hunt was one of the creators of English school of watercolor painting. Considered as one of the greatest figure when it comes to watercolor painting his artworks reflect his curious spirit and eager to constantly explore watercolor as medium by using different papers, scraping surface and using full range of tones; from purest transparent ones to bold opaque gouache. His innovative technique of mixing gum with a Chinese white and laying it as a hard priming enabled him to achieve bloom on peaches, grapes and plums.

Another important figure who enriched the world with his delicate style is English painter George Lance, known as a master of still life paintings. His work is highly supported by his almost obsessive study of natural world as he attended three courses of anatomical dissection which gave him a deep knowledge of fruit anatomy and horticulture.

These are his Summer and Autumn Gifts, painted in such delicate details with use of light shade that suggest the certain season. The bright fiery colors of Summer Gift are associated to hot summer while background of the Autumn Gift is cooler which is associated with colder weather. I am mesmerized by the aliveness and richness of the fruits and plants and the way this complex composition is so harmonized in one natural unity. The nest on the Autumn Gift is completely fascinating with all these details. It looks like it is photographed.

Autumn Gift – George Lance

Summer Gift – George Lance