The lowly lemon in art

To set the scene we need to start with the genre of art known as 'still life or still-life', & ArtLex gives us a good definition to consider. Two more comments on still life painting ~~

"At once revered and underrated, the still life originated as an independent genre during the Renaissance and experienced its golden age in the 17th-century Netherlands (modern-day Belgium and Holland). Still lifes depict inanimate objects -- flowers, fruits, kitchen items -- with the artist's intention solely to explore color, form, texture, and composition." (Cleveland Museum of Art)

and

"[Still life] was considered the lowest form, & those who painted it were foot soldiers of the army of art, mean of spirit, who only painted things instead of people & events. And yet what hypocrisy, because everybody loved it, & we still love it." (Sister Wendy Beckett)

And what about the lemons you ask?

We will see lemons & other items in many of the still lifes we will view.

"Lemons are a seemingly ubiquitous feature of still lifes. The fruit was ascribed medicinal qualities in the 17th century: lemons were said to be an antidote to the poisons lurking in a variety of places, not the least the gold & silver of expensive serving dishes. Wine, meanwhile, was considered healthy & good for the digestion when eating melons, peaches & other fruits." (How to Read a Painting: Lessons from the Old Masters, Peter de Rynck, p. 334)

Our Gallery of lemons & other sundry items ~~

Still Life with Lemons, Oranges & a Pomegranate by Jacob van Hulsdonck

Still Life with Two Lemons by Pieter Claesz

Three Lemons by Julian Merrow-Smith

Still Life with Bowl of Lemons by Jeffrey Gold

Still Life with Lemons & Oranges by Luis Melendez

Still Life with Oranges & Walnuts by Luis Melendez

Still Life with Lemons, Oranges & Rose by Francisco de Zurbaran

Still Life with Lemons by David Welsh

Still Life: Blue Enamel Coffeepot, Earthenware & Fruit by Vincent Van Gogh

Still Life: Apples & Pears by Gustave Courbet

Still Life with Wine Glass by Raphaelle Peale

Still Life: Red Mullets by Claude Monet

Still Life with Green Melon by Paul Cezanne

Still Life, The White Bowl by Paul Gauguin

Banquet Still-Life with a Mouse by Abrahm Van Beyeren (Did you find the mouse & note the partially peeled lemon?)

Still Life with Oysters, Lemon & Silver Tazza by Willem Claesz Heda

To view many more wonderful still life paintings visit this site & scroll down to the Still Lifes listings. Go have a glass of lemonade & enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!