Pear /
The pear has a multiplicity of meanings and has been used in art as a symbol as far back as the Romans on the walls of Pompeii. Gothic and Early Renaissance painters used the pear to represent marital faith but it also symbolized inner peace.
In some cultures the pear symbolizes affection. In christian contexts it symbolizes the Virgin and Child, probably because of it’s sweetness. It also bestows wisdom and health, the Chinese considered the pear as a symbol of immortality.
I have a fascination with pears, I grow a couple of different varietys in my garden – I also have a poached pear with my porridge and a handful of blueberries every morning. In ancient Greece, pears were used as a natural remedy for nausea. Homer, in the Odyssey, referred to pears as “a gift of the gods.”
Interestingly, before tobacco gained popularity in Europe, pear leaves were commonly smoked.
The pear in contemporary art can have different meanings, i.e. transitory and momentary. Consuming seasonal pears has benefits for your health, the environment and sustainable development, because the pear is grown in the UK then there are no air miles.
Below are the original digital images.
