Chinese plate with artichokes, rose, and strawberry

Giovanna Garzoni was an Italian Baroque painter. She began her career painting religious, mythological, and allegorical subjects, but gained fame for her still-life botanical subjects painted in tempera and watercolor. Her works were praised for their precision and balance and for the exactitude of the objects depicted. She combined objects in very inventive ways, including Asian porcelain, exotic seashells, and botanical specimens.

In this painting, “Chinese plate” refers to the type of ceramic—Oriental porcelain, highly fashionable at the time—on which the vegetables and flowers are arranged, not to any culinary style of preparation. The combination of artichokes, rose, and strawberry is typical of Italian Baroque still-life painting, which often paired plant and floral elements for decorative and symbolic purposes and was frequently displayed on precious imported porcelain.

It looks so modern, even though it was painted nearly 400 years ago!

P.S. Another, stunning still life by Garzoni is featured in our Monthly Wall Calendar. Can you guess which one I'm talking about? No? Check out in the DailyArt Shop - last copies are now 20% off!  :)

P.P.S. Learn more about the art of the talented Giovanna Garzoni—a still-life expert!