Still-Life with Cherries

still-life

Flegel painted this still-life with the virtuoso precision of a goldsmith or copperplate engraver. If the elements of the composition are first and foremost objects of painterly interest, they also symbolize victory over the earthly life through faith. The bread and wine can be interpreted as Eucharistic symbols of the Body and Blood of Christ, red currants are a familiar symbol of the Passion, and cherries were considered heavenly fruits of Paradise.

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About the Artist

Georg Flegel

1566 – 1638

German painter. He acquired citizen's rights in Frankfurt in 1597 and stayed there until he died. He worked a lot together with the Fleming Lucas van Valckenborch. Flegel is considered to be the most important representative of early modern German still-lifes. He specialized in so-called meals, banquet, breakfast and flower still-lifes.

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