This painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, called “Still Life With Monkey, Fruits and Flowers” was painted in 1724. King Louis the 15^th admired Oudry’s skill at painting still lifes and animals. He asked him to create a work showing both of these subjects. When this painting was created, the monkey symbolized, “mischievous and lustful character” and the fruit was meant to show, “French Rococo taste for the sensual” through the ripe quality of the fruit and flowers.

This picture caught my eyes because it reminded me of where I used to live in Africa. At the center for adoption called All As one, they had a pet monkey, and the monkey would sometimes steal food from the kitchen. Sometimes we would peek into the kitchen hoping to find some extra food and we’d see a banana peel or an empty bag lying out and we knew the monkey had been in the kitchen. It was horrible because there was not enough food to begin with!

I don’t believe that this painting has a deeper meaning that you are supposed to see, however, it does remind me of the bible story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit. The way the monkey is stealing the grapes made me think of Adam taking the apple.

I feel that “Still Life With Monkey, Fruits and Flowers” is at The Art Institute because it is extremely beautiful and uses oil paint to create a realistic but exotic scene. The use of light in this painting is also incredible.