Description of the painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio “Fruit Basket”

Description of the painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio Fruit Basket

In the XVI century, such a genre of painting art as still life was considered simple, not deserving the attention of real masters of art. The Italian Caravaggio did not agree with the views of his contemporaries. He wrote a still life in its purest form – “Painting with Fruit”. It was his early work, done in 1596. Later, in other canvases, the artist includes a still life in extensive compositions and plots.

“Painting with Fruit” – still life without impurities. Nothing distracts the viewer’s gaze from the contemplation of multi-colored bunches of grapes, fig tree fruit, peach, apple and a pair of pears. A monochromatic neutral sandy background and a thin strip of a wooden table serve as an excellent stage and support for a theatrical composition of fruits. With the naked eye it is noticeable how much attention the painter paid to writing out the details: masterfully woven on a canvas

the rods of a basket of grapevine.

Special admiration deserves realistic images. Fruits are picked and placed in a basket together with leaves, while both the leaves and the fruit are not retouched, they show signs of slight wilt and black insects from eating by insects.

The skillfully depicted volume of the elements of a still life, the natural ratio of light and shade brings even closer to the viewer. One of the branches with leaves of grapes is written overflowing drawing. It seems that if you stretch your hand, you will take a favorite ripe fruit, – so naturally, without falsehood, Caravaggio creates.

Still life can be considered as a philosophical vision of life and death: some of the leaves on the canvas are still green, while others are dehydrated and almost dead. Nature turned out to be supportive of the painter, allowing him to create such a valuable work of art.

Drama, truthfulness, originality – these are epithets for, undoubtedly, the masterpiece of Caravaggio.


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Description of the painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio “Fruit Basket”