Walnuts and Oranges Old Masters and Their Fascination.

Old Masters and Their Fascination

with Walnuts and Oranges

The Old Masters are true artists and art lovers adore their work. They are also creators and architects of
symbolism in still-life paintings, particularly regarding food. What might appear as a simple or arbitrary
arrangement of food items and dishes is, in fact, a profound and intricate system of meaning.

For example, the use of walnuts and oranges in art is about more than their visual appeal, potential taste,
and texture; it is about the moral, political, and religious themes they represent. These ideas receive
conveyance through color, space, and food. Many Old Masters used biblical references to shape their
compositions. With this blog, let’s dive into the symbolic meaning of food in art.

“Old Masters” are prominent European artists or painters from the 13th to the 18th century. Their time
frame spreads from the European Renaissance to the Romantic era. Many Old Masters were Protestant
and Catholic. Their works delivers hidden messages to society, government and church leaders.

Floris Claesz (Oranges and Walnuts)

Floris Claesz, a Dutch artist also known as Floris van Dijck, was a still-life painter during the Dutch Golden Age. His painting “Still Life With Fruit and Olives,” dated 1600, illustrates an upper-class table. One can notice this through the importation of olives, oranges, and lemons. Art Curator Stanton Thomas gives about his views on the van Dijck piece in Tampa Bay Times article “What the different foods in the
Museum of Fine Arts’ still lifes really mean.” He believes the wheels of cheese represent a form of gold
to the Dutch. Additionally, Thomas says using red fruit—strawberries, cherries, and currants—represent
the sweetness of eternal life. The lemons and oranges are connected to purity, chastity, virtue as well as
Jesus Christ of the Virigin Mary. Thomas believes the half-eaten apple, cracked walnuts, and hazelnuts
are the passage of time.

Jan van Eyck (Oranges)

Jan van Eyck creates a food message with art in “The Marriage Contract, The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait,” which is dated 1434. The artwork is a painting of a wealthy Italian merchant-class couple standing barefoot and holding hands. In the article “When An Orange is More Than an Orange: Reading
Food in Art,” Noah Charney draws attention to the meaning of oranges subtly on the window ledge. He
states that the oranges symbolise prosperity in Northern Renaissance paintings. Oranges were very
expensive and had to be part of importation into Flanders from Spain, where this couple works and resides, and the fruit was only consumable by wealthier classes who could afford them.

Domenico Ghirlandaio (Walnuts)

Domenico Ghirlandaio painted a fresco called the “Last Supper of Jesus,” dated 1480, which features in
the refectory of the Covent of the Ognissanti. The painting is full of religious symbols—one being
walnuts. When this artwork was created, walnuts were a highly favoured symbol of the Trinity (Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost). Walnuts comprise three parts: the kernel, husk, and inner nut. These are also a
symbol of fertility. According to the article “I wonder about Walnuts” on the blog, Beyond the Yalla Dog,
they were given as gifts to newlywed couples. Walnuts were also representing strong matrimonial union.

Why is paint food?

As mentioned earlier, great masters paint food as art as a form of expression. Food was painted partly
because it was accessible and probably sold well. One’s social status was reflective in the food one ate
and what was found at home. Water and food are crucial to the survival of humankind. These items keep
people alive and have many cultural metaphors associated with them.

Food is a reference to sexuality, chastity, morality, gluttony, politics, and other religious perspective. Food is enjoyable to nearly every culture and society worldwide. In modern society, the continuity of cultural traditions is evident in the use of ancient and old symbolism to understand food in today’s world. Creatives still use fruit as art through photography, drawing, sculpture, music, and painting.

Hungry yet? This writer is ready to go raid the refrigerator and pantry. Looking at food art can make one
peckish.

Walnuts and oranges are foods readily accessible. Finding high-quality items in the United Kingdom or
other parts of Europe isn’t as difficult as it used to be. These items can be found at any local grocer.

Online retailers like Amazon, Nuts in Bulk, Trolley, HBS Natural Choice, Walnut Tree, and Grape Tree also have high-quality dried oranges and walnuts sourced from some of the best places.

Next time, when visiting these retailers in-person or online, ask about their sourcing and sustainability policies. This simple act can empower one with knowledge about their practices and make one a more informed consumer. It is surprising what one can learn! Whole foods like oranges and walnuts are good for all humans.

Eating more can’t hurt.

About Walnut Tree- the finest edible gifts

Great Taste Awards

With Great Taste Awards for nougat, dried fruit, marron glacé, glacé fruit and pate de fruit. You’ll always be purchasing quality products from Walnut Tree.

Who we supply

Supplied under own brand or white label to prestigious stores, palaces, castles, stately homes, garden centres, delicatessens, farm shops, hamper companies, department stores and gift shops.

Why buy from us?

You’re buying directly from the source and will get excellent value for money. If you’re not happy with your purchase, we’ll refund or replace it. The website is open 24/7, orders despatched within 48 hours.

Our charitable contributions

Walnut Tree supports Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity with dried fruit for their care packages. www.futuredreams.org.uk

Local areas to our factory

Old Masters and Their Fascination with Walnuts and Oranges