'In the garden of Eden'

oil on canvas 50x66.6cm framed
by Cameron Morton
 
'The Garden of Eden' is painted in the tradition of Juan Sánchez Cotán, the 17th-century Spanish master known for his suspended produce and dramatic still-life arrangements. In this composition, apples hang in mid-air, symbolising the Tree of Life. A single head of broccoli stands in for the Tree of Knowledge. A leek divides into four, representing the four rivers described in the biblical Garden of Eden. Nestled within this structured arrangement are miniature figures of Adam and Eve, their presence quietly grounding the symbolic elements in the narrative of origin, temptation, and humanity’s first story. The painting merges classical still-life restraint with layered allegory, offering a contemplative reinterpretation of an ancient tale.