Contemplative still life with 18th Century Granada bowl, pomegranates, dried seed heads, thistles and branches.
The name of the pomegranate species, granatum derives from the Latin meaning 'abundant grains'. It is an ancient species, grenades have been found in Egyptian tombs, linked with the idea of ressurection. During the middle ages because of this myth, it became the symbol of ressurection in the hand of the Child Jesus. It expresses the concept of unity within diversity, uniting people and cultures.
In Islam the pomegranate is a sacred tree. In the Koran it is one of the conserved species in the the promised blessed shady gardens of Paradise. Indeed, the City of Grandada, where the Andalusians lived until 1492 bears the name of the fruit.
Granada is famed for it's ceramic production, The production of such beautiful glazed terracotta ‘Lebrillo’ bowls known as Fajalauza, date back to early 16th Century Granada, and were created particularly in the Albayzín, a district of Granada. These traditional and humble banal forms have become an emblem of the city. Created for domestic use, they are a simple non-noble objects connected to everyday life and were a recognised part of all Granada households, each home owning one or more depending on its’ size.
Mixed media and oil on paper in glazed modern slim gold frame 70 w x 50 h cm unframed (71 w x 51 h cm framed)