Still Lifes

Still Lifes — page 3
Startof The Still life a painting of a vase of flowers or a bowl of fruit may be viewed today as simply a beautiful demonstration of artistic skill a pretty picture to hang on a wall has stood the test of time and retains its treasured status today The art of still life painting dates to ancient times The Egyptians used still lifes to adorn the tombs in which they But historically still lifes have been created buried their pharaohs or kings Egyptians not merely as decoration but as a means believed that the food objects pottery and of conveying moral or religious messages other items they depicted in paint would Centuries ago still life functioned largely become real for the deceased ruler in the as background detail in larger paintings afterlife Still lifes have also been found in Over time renderings of inanimate excavations of the ancient Roman cities of objects became prized as art in and of Pompeii and Herculaneum which were themselves not to mention as a means buried during the volcanic eruption of of visually recording plant and animal Mount Vesuvius in a d 79 One Pompeii specimens Around the 16th century the painting depicts vases and a glass bowl genre of still lifes began to blossom into filled with fruit Roman painters loved a legitimate form of art a form that demonstrating their technical skill and 4