Six centuries of artistic creation
1630-1684 Portugal
One of the characteristics of Josefa’s painting is the thorough observation of the domestic universe, seeking inspiration in simple things of the earthly world of her daily life. This painting, made from a composition of her father’s, Baltazar Figueira, belongs to the theme of "fruit baskets", very much to the taste of the period. Josefa achieves a really distinctive harmony in the compositional and chromatic simplicity, the white of the cheeses contrasting with the roses and the red carnations, the white lily lying on the table and the yellow note of the flower on the plate. If these contrasts reflect aesthetic concerns, one cannot forget the meaning of these still lifes, as they recall the transience of human life whose cycle was symbolised by the beauty and frailty of flowers.
| Oil on canvas, 61 x 51 cm
| BEJA. Rainha D. Leonor (Queen Leonor) Regional Museum
