Painting of the Month

Beuckelaer, 'The Four Elements: Fire', 1570
Special Feature: Something's Cooking!

A feast is being prepared in a busy kitchen where food is abundant. Great haunches of meat hang from the ceiling, baskets of bread decorate the tables and worktops, and an assortment of pots and pans are set before the fire, ready for use.

This huge painting is one of a set of four symbolising the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Each depicts a different element by showing a spectacular array of food: a fruit and vegetable market for Earth, a poultry market for Air and a fish market for Water. Here, Fire is represented by a kitchen scene suggesting the use of fire for cooking.

Within each picture is a small scene from a related Bible story. If we look closely at the picture, beyond the kitchen in the distance we can see another group of figures through the open doorway. In this case, Beuckelaer has chosen to show a scene from a New Testament story in which Jesus had supper in the house of his friends Martha and Mary.

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