From Still Life Painting to Fall Tablescape

I was at a museum recently and sought out the Northern Renaissance room to look at the still lifes. I took an art history class a gazillion years ago and these paintings from this period left an impression on me. It was the masterful way these painters captured light, especially when so many of them used such dark backgrounds. I also loved how they were able to replicate the intricate folds of fabric that sometimes draped across the table. So when I was thinking about creating a table setting for fall, I thought back to that art history class. This time of year, stores are chock full of the red, gold and orange color palate with plenty of plaid, pumpkins and stalks of wheat on everything. And I love plaid and the fall colors a lot! But I wanted to do riff on a completely different inspirational starting point for my table. So here we are.

I chose a dark grey tablecloth to mimic the dark backgrounds found in so many of these paintings. I created a centerpiece with fruits and vegetables to mimic the subject matter of the paintings. And I chose brass candlesticks to catch and reflect the light that the artists always used.

Below is the video on how I did it. I’d love to see your own interpretation of a still life painting turned into a tablescape!