Peeled Lemon Still Life Mini Master | Original Oil Painting | 6 x 6 inches with optional frame

This painting features a peeled lemon and is from a detail of an old Dutch still life from the 1650s.

Oil paint on gallery wrap primed stretched cotton canvas. The artwork continues onto the edges of the painting so it can be displayed with or without a frame. It is finished with a clear satin varnish to protect the work for years of enjoyment. The final work is signed on the back. I have selected an optional black and gold frame to go with the artwork.

Size: 6 x 6 inches (15 x 15 cm) unframed of if you opt for the frame, it measures 4.3cm.

I became interested in Dutch still life painting when I was studying History of Art and visited the Ashmolean. I recreated this detail from Jan Davidsz. de Heem's Herring and Onions, with a Glass of Beer, Lemon, Grapes and Orange, painted in the 1650s. I wanted to practise painting lemons and chose this as an example. It is part of my Mini Master series. You can view de Heem's original painting here.

The Process:

I used the traditional Flemish method of starting with a monochrome underpainting on the primed canvas and glazing colours in layers over the top. This is very time consuming as you have to leave the paint to dry in between each layer. The finished effect is very satisfying though and gives an extra depth. I love the dark backgrounds to these still life artworks as they add extra drama to the subject. Apparently one of the reasons for this was that the artists were painting by candlelight. It's interesting to view this Mini Master by candlelight too. 

 Care Instructions

To keep your artwork in best condition, please avoid exposing to extreme heat, extreme cold or extreme humidity and avoid direct sunlight if possible.