Saturday 4 November 2017

North and South and Grapes

NORTH AND SOUTH AND GRAPES

Painting Grapes Culture and Climate and Light.


This first image is by a 17th century female painter Rachel Ruysch


Note the tonal contrast and the preference we also see in other 17th century paintings for dark backgrounds. But is it a cultural preference or simply the result of Northern light being different?
 Was the scene lit by candlelight or sunlight filtered through a glass window? Given the lack of refrigeration this was probably painted in late summer or autumn when the grapes and peaches were freshly harvested. So that's another lighting factor?

Now an image I showed you last time. Bear in mind the painter is a 19th century Italian and also that Italy is further south and gets more sun. 


Is it culture or climate that is shaping how light is described and rendered ?




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