Six centuries of artistic creation
1630-1684 Portugal
Josefa de Ayala very probably painted this basket of Easter breads from a model created by her father, the painter Baltazar Gomes Figueira. The various elements, cakes, breads and flowers, are carefully observed, the distribution of light and shadow brings out the consistency and texture of the wicker, shapes the tactile aspect of the cloth, and underlines the fluffy, appetising appearance of the Easter breads. Josefa signs as "Obidos", the name of the village where she spent almost her entire life and with which she found an affinity as a painter. Despite having pursued her art in isolation, far from the major artistic centres, she managed to integrate, feel and interpret the baroque spirit and aesthetics in her work, creating her very own visual language that makes her painting unmistakable.
| Oil on canvas, 61 x 51 cm
| ÓBIDOS. Municipal Museum of Óbidos
