Food and Feasting in Art

A Guide to Imagery #5

by Sylvia Malaguzzi

Deliciously illustrated with masterpieces of western art, this latest volume in the Guide to Imagery series explores the rituals, customs, and symbolism of food and dining. 




The book describes the significance of food and feasts as told in scripture and in the lives of the saints; food and dining in Greek and Roman mythology and in later literature and history; and how artists through the ages have created allegories of gluttony and odes to the sense of taste, using, for example, artfully positioned fruits and vegetables in the golden age of the painted still life. 




Also discussed is the role of table settings in relation to such ceremonies as formal dinners and royal banquets. Lastly, a close-up look at the symbolic meanings of individual foods and drinks—from the artichoke, also known as “domestic thistle,” to champagne, from chili peppers to absinthe—reveals a figurative language well known to artists of the time but perhaps forgotten by contemporary diners.

Genres: Art, Food, Nonfiction, Art History, Reference, Italy

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2008

Reviews

[Redsteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. While it was more about the symbolism in these paintings, there is still a fair bit of food/dining history in each section and the actual paintings give you a lot of ideas about what was contemporary at the time they were painted - even if the artists were dealing with historical (for them) subjects - like Renaissance depictions of Biblical scenes.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love indexical shit like this, especially when the organization is funky. My favorite thing I've found so far: Belshazzar’s feast included a disembodied hand of god writing in an unknown language on the wall, and the seeking of the decipherment thereof.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skim read, lots of fun anecdotes

[Cheryl]

Looks absolutely wonderful. But painfully small font & images because it's trade paperback size and it needs to be coffee table size. I did look at lots but gosh, frustrating.

November 2025

[Christina Flood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've learned a lot about how food is used to illustrate a specific meaning in art. One thing that surprised me is that Ricotta Cheese was once seen as a bland and cheep food and was often shown in the company of people of the lower class. I would never consider it a cheep of un-flavorful cheese.

[Jen Dent]

caught this in the April issue of Saveur, can't wait to check it out in person.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am obsessed with symbolism in art and this is one of the great series published by J.Paul Getty Museum. Great illustrations, great presentation of information.