Artichoke
The artichoke was regarded as an aristocrat of the Italian Renaissance kitchen. During this period it was much prized and enjoyed, even being considered to have aphrodisiac properties. Although as a painting subject the artichoke does not have the allure of a shiny surface, there are small patches of light reflected on the globe of the plant which contrast beautifully with the glaucous blue/greens of the leaves and stalk. Rather than anchoring the artichoke, it was decided to give the subject a slightly surreal and ethereal composition by floating it upon the paper, thus elevating it from its ordinary thistle cousins.
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