Persephone's Pomegranate

This is an oil on wood painting inspired by the mythological goddess Persephone. Once trapped in the underworld with Hades, Persephone wasn’t bound to him unless she accepted his offerings of food. As the goddess of spring, the lifeless chambers exhausted her but she came to see Hades as a good person who got stuck doing a poor job. After eating just three pomegranate seeds she became the queen of the underworld. Here I created what I would expect Hades' offer to look like. I begin still lifes with lists of objects that represent the subject matter. This piece unintentionally became a clear expression similar to the Dutch vanitas paintings, especially Pieter Claesz. He was a master at creating compelling compositions of objects receding into space. This period of painting was symbolic of passing time, the inevitability of death, and the presence of vanity. These motifs are clearly shown with my use of the human skull, candles, and fruits. I placed the dagger hanging just over the edge of the table to create a dramatic pull into the space and pointed directly to the ill-fated pomegranate. The choice of lace and intricate candlesticks are a part of my interpretation of the innocent goddess and her new life.