Fruit has appeared in visual art for thousands of years, admired not just for its beauty but for its layered symbolism. From tomb walls in ancient Egypt to opulent still lifes in 17th-century Dutch homes, fruit has been used by artists to quietly communicate power, privilege, and even spiritual messages. This blog explores the earliest depictions of fruit in art and how its presence evolved into a coded marker of social class.
Painting on wood dates back to Ancient Egypt, with the Fayum Mummy Portraits (1st century BCE–3rd century CE) being some of the earliest examples. The Byzantine era (5th–15th century) saw the rise of religious icons painted with egg tempera on wood, a tradition continued in Gothic altarpieces across Europe.
Did you know the first flower ever painted might have been the lotus?
Ancient Egyptians adored the lotus flower, decorating amulets, ceramics, and papyrus with its image. To them, it symbolized the sun and rebirth. Even King Tut was buried with floral necklaces made of blue lotuses, sunflowers, and poppies!
