Early Grapes

There is a long tradition in Western and European art of rendering vines and grapes in a variety of media, mosaic, fresco, oils, and carving or moulding. Here is one of the earliest examples of fresco.

Its Roman and we don't know if it was an original work or a copy as a fresco of a wax encaustic work but consider this the pattern of cracking suggests the wet plaster and then the paint was applied in one session ... yes one session and yet the degree of detail ... shadows highlights stems handles ... a still life masterpiece.