An offshoot of still life paintings of food, it was never very popular, and most of these are decidedly odd. From Jan Brueghel the elder to
Murillo
From the Adoration of the Shepherds to the Corydon Shepherd of Virgil’s Eclogues, they all had their crooks.
The popular parable from the Gospel of Luke, told in paintings from the 17th century, including Rubens, Rembrandt, and Murillo.
Classical expectations are reinforced in the Bible, but clearly fade by New Testament times, when Jesus uses attitudes towards Samaritans in his teaching. By the 19th century, hospitality has been lost.
Paintings of women covering their faces in embarrassment by Murillo, Gérôme, Corinth, and others.
Ever noticed how stern everyone looks in paintings? Here are some exceptions from Frans Hals, Murillo, Vermeer and others.
Raphael’s legacy, including assimilation of styles, figures so lifelike they’re ‘almost breathing’, and a large workshop.
Myrrh makes its appearance as one of the 3 gifts of the Magi, then as an attribute of Mary Magdalene. A history in paintings by Bosch and others.
Painting dreams relies on a compositional convention to show both the viewer’s image of the dream, and that of the dreamer.
Tintoretto to a friend, Antonello’s cartellini, Alma-Tadema’s dedication of a wedding present in some graffiti, and some mysterious Venetians.
