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A Meat Stall with the Holy Family Giving Alms
Painting by Pieter Aertsen / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Meat Stall with the Holy Family Giving Alms is a painting by the Netherlandish artist Pieter Aertsen (1508–1575).[3] It was completed in 1551.[4] A large painting, it depicts a peasant market scene, with an abundance of meats[5] and other foods. In the background, it shows a scene from the biblical theme of the flight into Egypt,[6] where the Virgin Mary is seen stopped on the road, giving alms to the poor.[3] Thus, although the painting seems to be at first sight an ordinary still life concentrating on foodstuffs, it is rich with symbolism; it in fact hides a symbolic religious meaning, and embodies a visual metaphor encouraging spiritual life. Aertsen made a name for himself during the 1550s painting scenes from everyday life in a naturalistic manner.[7][4]
A Meat Stall with the Holy Family Giving Alms | |
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Artist | Pieter Aertsen |
Year | 1551 |
Medium | Oil on panel[1][2] |
Dimensions | 115.6 cm × 165 cm (3' 10" × 5' 5" ) |
Location | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, North Carolina, US |