Day 4 - Pears to Paint and Eat

Parallax  

Another little watercolour painting featuring one of my favorite subjects, pears. 

Wondering what more I could write, I decided to find out something about pears. Did you know that this delicious and lovely shaped little fruit has a long history? Apparently the cultivation of pears can be traced back 3000 years in western Asia. Homer called them a "gift of the gods" in his epic, The Odyssey, and they were a luxury item at the court of Louis XIV. Early colonists brought pears to America, and they were introduced into California and Mexico by missionaries who planted them in their mission gardens.

Interestingly, they did not have the soft juicy flesh that we enjoy today until the 18th century. It was during this time that a lot of attention was given to the cultivation and breeding of pears, and many varieties were developed that featured pears' distinctive buttery texture and sweet taste. And they are really good for you too!

I think a pear dessert is required this week. One that disappears quickly in my house is a tarte aux poires, a French-styled pie with a buttery pastry crust, sliced pears and chocolate drizzled over the top. Sounds good doesn't it.  Maybe I could paint it before we eat it. Enjoy your day.