Plate of Figs
Dublin Core
Title
Plate of Figs
Description
"Plate of Figs" is painted with bodycolor (gouache) on vellum on a 25 x 32.5 cm board. The miniature was created as a part of Garzoni's series "Twenty Small Paintings on Vellum" for Ferdinando II, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Each painting in the series focuses on a specific fruit or vegetable as its focus. Miniatures from the series are presently on display at the Palazzo Pitti [1].
Garzoni demonstrates mastery of her medium with the dynamic lighting and blending she uses to bring vibrancy to still life. Nicknamed the "illustrious miniaturist" for her technique with tempera on vellum [2], her layering and precise brush strokes create a luminous style. The illustration-style leaves mirror the scientific quality in her botanical images. Utilizing a limited pallet, Garzoni creates a clear focus on the figs compared to other still life pieces of the era. Depicting imperfections like the withering parts of the leaves and the cracks in the figs add an aura of realism and dimension to a misleadingly monotonous subject. The matte finish of gouache adds to the naturalism of the piece: as a water-based medium, gouache inherently carries more natural qualities compared to the more theatrical richness of oil paint.
[1] “Giovanna Garzoni (Italian, 1600-1670), a Plate of Figs.” Arader Galleries. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://aradergalleries.com/products/giovanna-garzoni-italian-1600-1670-a-plate-of-figs.
[2] Kren, Emil, and Daniel Marx. Plate of figs by Garzoni, Giovanna. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/g/garzoni/figs2.html.
Garzoni demonstrates mastery of her medium with the dynamic lighting and blending she uses to bring vibrancy to still life. Nicknamed the "illustrious miniaturist" for her technique with tempera on vellum [2], her layering and precise brush strokes create a luminous style. The illustration-style leaves mirror the scientific quality in her botanical images. Utilizing a limited pallet, Garzoni creates a clear focus on the figs compared to other still life pieces of the era. Depicting imperfections like the withering parts of the leaves and the cracks in the figs add an aura of realism and dimension to a misleadingly monotonous subject. The matte finish of gouache adds to the naturalism of the piece: as a water-based medium, gouache inherently carries more natural qualities compared to the more theatrical richness of oil paint.
[1] “Giovanna Garzoni (Italian, 1600-1670), a Plate of Figs.” Arader Galleries. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://aradergalleries.com/products/giovanna-garzoni-italian-1600-1670-a-plate-of-figs.
[2] Kren, Emil, and Daniel Marx. Plate of figs by Garzoni, Giovanna. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/g/garzoni/figs2.html.
Creator
Giovanna Garzoni
Source
Giovanna Garzoni. c. 1651-62. Plate of Figs. painting. Place: Galleria Palatina. https://library-artstor-org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/asset/SCALA_ARCHIVES_1039613648.
“Giovanna Garzoni (Italian, 1600-1670), a Plate of Figs.” Arader Galleries. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://aradergalleries.com/products/giovanna-garzoni-italian-1600-1670-a-plate-of-figs.
Kren, Emil, and Daniel Marx. Plate of figs by Garzoni, Giovanna. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/g/garzoni/figs2.html.
“Giovanna Garzoni (Italian, 1600-1670), a Plate of Figs.” Arader Galleries. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://aradergalleries.com/products/giovanna-garzoni-italian-1600-1670-a-plate-of-figs.
Kren, Emil, and Daniel Marx. Plate of figs by Garzoni, Giovanna. Web Gallery of Art. Accessed October 14, 2021. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/g/garzoni/figs2.html.
Publisher
Image and original data provided by SCALA, Florence/ART RESOURCE, N.Y.
Date
1661-1662
Contributor
Meena Gudapati
Rights
(c) 2006, SCALA, Florence/ART RESOURCE, N.Y.
Format
Bodycolor on vellum, 24 x 25 cm
Type
Painting
Coverage
Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy
Files
Citation
Giovanna Garzoni, “Plate of Figs,” ARTHIST 256 - Italian Baroque Art - Fall 2021, accessed October 22, 2026, https://baroque.dahvc.org/fall-2021/items/show/257.