Food in Painting : From the Renaissance to the Present

Annotation From the hearty meals being devoured by peasants on a Bruegel canvas to the lush and lifelike fruits of a trompe l'oeil , food has enjoyed a central place in painting for centuries. These two great sensory pleasures come together in the sumptuously illustrated Food in Painting . Here Kenneth Bendiner journeys from the Renaissance to the present day—through the works of artists from Rembrandt to Manet to Warhol—to make the case that, though understudied, paintings of food are so important that they should be considered a separate classification of art, a genre unto themselves. Bendiner outlines the history of these paintings, charting changes in both meaning and presentation since the early Renaissance. The sixteenth century saw great innovations in food subjects, but, as Bendiner reveals, it was Dutch food painting of the seventeenth century that created the visual vocabulary still operative today. Alongside paintings that feature food as the central subject, he also considers topics ranging from Renaissance menus to aphrodisiacs to bottled water to the portrayal of dogs at the table—always with an eye towards how the meaning of food imagery is determined by such factors as myth, religion, and social privilege. Bendiner also treats purely symbolic portrayals of food, both as marginal elements in allegorical paintings and as multi-layered sexual references in Surrealist works. Packed full of images of markets, kitchens, pantries, picnics, and tables groaning under the weight of glorious feasts, Food in Painting serves up a delicious helping of luxuriously painted meals certain to win a spot on the shelves of art lovers and gastronomes alike. In this sumptuous exploration of food images in European and American painting from the early Renaissance to the present, Kenneth Bendiner sees food painting as a separate classification of art with its own history. He reconsiders famous works by the likes of Brueghel, Rembrandt, Chardin, Manet and Warhol, and intriguing paintings by lesser-known artists, such as Adriaen Coorte and Peter Blume. The book underlines the central importance of 16th-century innovations in food subjects, and the great influence of 17th-century Dutch food paintings in the development of food imagery. Kenneth Bendiner shows how myth, religion, medical theories and traditional social privileges can determine the meaning of food imagery. He covers aphrodisiacs, bottled water, menus, antisocial eating scenes, dogs in the dining room and many other visual representations relating to food. He also deals with images of food that are purely symbolic, the sexual references of surrealist food art and food as a marginal element in allegories. He illustrates the optimistic, human-centered, Renaissance spirit of food, and the way abundance, success and fulfillment pervade this art. Drawing together two pleasurable and engrossing subjects-eating and handsome paintings-Bendiner offers up a tempting and irresistible feast of facts and images. Those who want to learn about the history of food, as recorded in images, will find the book rewarding. And those who wonder what Brueghel's peasants are eating or why Chardin decorated a brioche with an orange blossom will find their understanding of art history enriched. Kenneth Bendiner is professor of art history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is the author of An Introduction to Victorian Painting (1985) and The Art of Ford Madox Brown (1998). In This Exploration Of Food Images In European And American Painting Since The Early Renaissance, [the Author] Sees Food Painting As A Separate Classification Of Art With Its Own History. He Reconsiders Famous Works By The Likes Of Bruegel, Rembrandt, Chardin, Manet, Warhol And Others. The Text Underlines The Central Importance Of Sixteenth-century Innovations In Food Subjects, And The Great Influence Of Seventeenth-century Dutch Art In The Development Of Food Imagry. In Its Examinations Of Foods And Consumption Past And Present, This Book Explores Still-lifes, Aphrodisiacs, Hunting Pictures, Bottled Water, Market Stalls, Menus, Pets, Dining-rooms, Diners As Well As How Images Of Food Work That Are Purely Symbolic, The Sexual References Of Surrealist Food Art, Food As A Marginal Element In Allegories, Etc.--jacket. The Market -- Preparing The Meal -- Meals -- Decorative And Symbolic Food. Kenneth Bendiner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 231-233) And Index.