Still Life with the Four Elements, Jacques Linard
The belief that all matter consists of four elements (fire, earth, air, water) is of classical origin.ÿ In the 17th century it was not uncommon to symbolize the elements by making reference to the natural world.ÿ In this painting, fire is symbolized by the brazier, earth by the flowers and fruit, air by the birds in the window, and water by the plate of oysters.
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