This Renaissance Painting of Fruit Holds a Modern-Day Science Lesson

[MULTIZ321]

This Renaissance Painting of Fruit Holds a Modern-Day Science Lesson - by Helen Thompson/ SmartNews: Keeping You Current/ SmithsonianMag.com

"Paintings can be a window to more than the outmoded dress and strange customs of the past — sometimes, they have modern-day science lessons to impart, too. That's the case with Giovanni Stanchi’s 17th century still life of fruit, as Phil Edwards points out for Vox — just look for the watermelons.

Stanchi’s work, painted between 1645 and 1672 (and now up for auction at Christie’s), includes strange watermelons that look so foreign they could be from outer space in the bottom right corner. If watermelons looked like that in the Renaissance, then why do they look so different today? To delve into that question, Edwards spoke to James Neihuis, a horticulturist at the University of Wisconsin..."

Giovanni Stanchi (Rome c. 1645-1672). Oil on canvas, 38 5/8 x 52½ in. (Christie's Images Ltd.)


Richard

 

[glypnirsgirl]

I don't think those are watermelons --- They look much more like pomegranates.

 

[Patri]

Are pomegranates that big compared to the peaches?

 

[pedro47]

I don't think those are watermelons --- They look much more like pomegranates.

Those are some huge/large pomegranates. Are they genetic pomegranates (a painting in to the future) ?

 

[wackymother]

It looks like a watermelon to me. Green rind, pink flesh, black seeds. I've never seen a pomegranate with any of those things.

 

[Ironwood]

This Renaissance Painting of Fruit Holds a Modern-Day Science Lesson - by Helen Thompson/ SmartNews: Keeping You Current/ SmithsonianMag.com

"Paintings can be a window to more than the outmoded dress and strange customs of the past — sometimes, they have modern-day science lessons to impart, too. That's the case with Giovanni Stanchi’s 17th century still life of fruit, as Phil Edwards points out for Vox — just look for the watermelons.

Stanchi’s work, painted between 1645 and 1672 (and now up for auction at Christie’s), includes strange watermelons that look so foreign they could be from outer space in the bottom right corner. If watermelons looked like that in the Renaissance, then why do they look so different today? To delve into that question, Edwards spoke to James Neihuis, a horticulturist at the University of Wisconsin..."

Giovanni Stanchi (Rome c. 1645-1672). Oil on canvas, 38 5/8 x 52½ in. (Christie's Images Ltd.)


Richard

MULTIZ321.....you are a fountain of information! Where do you come up with all this stuff.....from bandwith to renaissance watermelons!

 

[MULTIZ321]

MULTIZ321.....you are a fountain of information! Where do you come up with all this stuff.....from bandwith to renaissance watermelons!

Hi Ironwood,

Thanks. As you can tell, I'm an eclectic reader. I love Smithsonian Magazine. I learn a lot from their articles.


Best regards,


Richard

 

[Ironwood]

Hi Ironwood,

Thanks. As you can tell, I'm an eclectic reader. I love Smithsonian Magazine. I learn a lot from their articles.


Best regards,


Richard

Richard... keep challenging us. I'm always up for something new or a new twist on what I thought I knew.
Bill.