Food is essential to our survival and can be one of our greatest pleasures. Since the earliest cave paintings of hunting scenes, some 43,000 years ago, artists have depicted our relationship with food. They explore how it shapes daily routines, livelihoods and landscapes.
Food: a feast for the eyes displays works from Exeter's fine art collection. They record how food has transformed the countryside, influenced the development of towns and played a central role in genres such as still life and botanical art.
High-quality prints of some of these works are available to buy from the Art UK shop: https://shop.artuk.org/prints.html?sellers.
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An ever changing landscape
Cader Idris 1918Drawn to the south-west of England by the wildness of the moors, rolling hills and dramatic skies, artists have found inspiration in its landscape for centuries.
Devon is renowned for its verdant pastures scattered with grazing cattle, many of which make a twice-daily journey to the parlour for milking. Some artists have chosen to portray farmyard scenes as an idyllic way of life, while others record in detail the hard labour behind the food on our plate.
Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/cader-idris-95693.html
Herbert Edwin Pelham Hughes-Stanton (1870–1937)
Oil on canvas
H 41.2 x W 54.9 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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An ever changing landscape
Clayhidon, Devon 1913Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/clayhidon-devon-95618.html
Charles Ginner (1878–1952)
Oil on canvas
H 38.4 x W 63.9 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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An ever changing landscape
Apple Blossom, Riversbridge Farm, Blackpool, Devon 1921
Lucien Pissarro (1863–1944)
Oil on canvas
H 53.3 x W 64.8 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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An ever changing landscape
The Mill at Berry Pomeroy, DevonBuy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/the-mill-at-berry-pomeroy-devon-95718.html
James Leakey (1775–1865)
Oil & pencil on canvas
H 44.5 x W 69.5 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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An ever changing landscape
Coastline 1998
Wilfred Avery (1926–2016)
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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An ever changing landscape
Dartmouth, Devon c.1921Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/dartmouth-devon-95719.html
James Bolivar Manson (1879–1945)
Oil on panel
H 34.5 x W 44.9 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Capturing moments in time
Still LifeIn modern life, photographs of food are everywhere including cookery books, advertising and social media feeds. Sharing carefully composed images of homemade food, restaurant meals and allotment produce has become an integral part of the dining experience. Long before we take the first bite our expectations are influenced by its visual appeal.
This was also true some 400 years ago when the genre of still life painting was still in its infancy. Dutch and Flemish painters depicted precisely arranged fruit and flowers with incredible vibrancy. They used still life paintings to showcase their technical skill.
Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/still-life-95633.html
Edward Ladell (1821–1886)
Oil on canvas
H 46.1 x W 35.9 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Capturing moments in time
Still Life c.1848Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/still-life-561062.html
James Bruce Birkmyer (1834–1899)
H 20 x W 23.9 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Capturing moments in time
MorningBuy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/morning-95698.html
Isabel Codrington (1874–1943)
Oil on canvas
H 87 x W 112.5 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Capturing moments in time
Study of Convolvulus and Green Wheat 1867Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/study-of-convolvulus-and-green-wheat-561056.html
Helen Cordelia Angell (1847–1884)
H 18.3 x W 30.2 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Within the city
Exeter 1829–1867Artists have been inspired by the rich landscapes and coastal waters of the Southwest where crops, meat and fish are produced. They have also responded creatively to the towns and cities where the food was bought and sold.
We can still see these buildings around us in Exeter, though none are used for food trading in the same way today.
Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) (after)
H 40.5 x W 42.3 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Within the city
The Old Fish and Potatoe Market Exeter 1820
George H. May (active 1820)
Watercolour & gouache on paper
H 27.8 x W 41.8 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Boscastle, Cornwall 1874
Fishing boats are iconic symbols of our enduring connection with the sea. Busy harbours, rough oceans, and colourful boats are attractive subjects for artists allowing them to capture the atmosphere and routine of daily coastal life.
With hundreds of miles of coastline, the sea has been a vital source of sustenance for people in the Southwest for thousands of years.
Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/boscastle-cornwall-636529.html
William Henry Pike (1846–1908)
Watercolour on paper
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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At sea
Fishing Boats: A Breeze c.1845Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/fishing-boats-a-breeze-561060.html
David Cox the elder (1783–1859)
H 41.5 x W 52.9 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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At sea
Harbour SceneBuy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/harbour-scene-95805.html
Nicholas Matthew Condy (1816–1851)
Oil on panel
H 30.5 x W 25.5 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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At sea
A View of the River Teign, Looking up River from Teignmouth towards Dartmoor, Devon c.1831Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/a-view-of-the-river-teign-looking-up-river-from-teignmouth-towards-dartmoor-devon-95875.html
Thomas Luny (1759–1837)
Oil on canvas
H 60.5 x W 85.7 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Custard Apple c.1830–1850Between 1750 and 1850 exploration around the globe led to a wealth of discoveries for Western science. This, combined with improvements in printing and engraving, allowed botanical illustration to break new boundaries within botanical art.
Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/custard-apple-557576.html
unknown artist
Watercolour & pencil on paper
H 32.3 x W 41.6 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Nymphaea Lotus Linn c.1780–1810Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/nymphaea-lotus-linn-557553.html
unknown artist
Watercolour on paper
H 55 x W 39 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Ginger (Alpinia allughas Rose) c.1780–1810Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/ginger-alpinia-allughas-rose-557555.html
unknown artist
Watercolour on paper
H 55 x W 39 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Star fruit (Averrhoa Carambola Linn) c.1780–1810Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/star-fruit-averrhoa-carambola-linn-557572.html
unknown artist
Watercolour on paper
H 55 x W 39 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Jackfruit 1850Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/jackfruit-637840.html
Southeast Asian School
Watercolour & pencil on paper
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) c.1780–1810Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/sacred-lotus-nelumbo-nucifera-560922.html
unknown artist
Watercolour on paper
H 55.5 x W 39 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Horseradish Tree (Moringa oleifera) 1780–1810Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/horseradish-tree-moringa-oleifera-561520.html
unknown artist
H 55.5 x W 39 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Ceylon caper (Capparis zeylanica) 1780–1810Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/ceylon-caper-capparis-zeylanica-561519.html
unknown artist
H 53.5 x W 38 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Mangosteen 1830–1850
unknown artist
H 32.2 x W 41.4 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Pineapple 1830–1850Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/pineapple-561536.html
unknown artist
H 33.3 x W 41.4 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Botanical drawing, taro, dasheen or eddoe 1780 to 1810
Indian School
Watercolour on paper
H 55.5 x W 39 cm
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Cloves 1850Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/cloves-637838.html
Southeast Asian School
Watercolour and pencil on paper
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Coffee 1850Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/coffee-637836.html
Southeast Asian School
Watercolour and pencil on blue tinted paper
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
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Art, science and trade
Nutmeg 1850Buy a print here:
https://shop.artuk.org/nutmeg-637839.html
Southeast Asian School
Watercolour and pencil on paper
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery
Explore artists in this Curation
View all 19-
Indian School
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James Leakey (1775–1865)
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Helen Cordelia Angell (1847–1884)
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Thomas Luny (1759–1837)
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Edward Ladell (1821–1886)
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Southeast Asian School
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Isabel Codrington (1874–1943)
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Nicholas Matthew Condy (1816–1851)
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Lucien Pissarro (1863–1944)
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William Henry Pike (1846–1908)
- View all 19