Joachim Beuckelaer: Kitchen Scene with Christ at Emmaus (1560-1565)

(Mauritshuis, The Hague, The Netherlands)

A painting by the Flemish artist Joachim Beuckelaer (1533-1574). Market and kitchen scenes with elaborate displays of food and household equipment like this painting was a specialty of Beuckelaer. The painting shows a lavish meal with bread, cheese, carrots, onions, appels, pears, grapes, cherry's, flowers, poultry etc. The scene on the right is the 'Road to Emmaus appearance' (Luke 24:13-32). The story takes place after the crucifixion of Christ and tells that two disciples on the road to the town of Emmaus met a stranger whom they invited to a meal. During the course of the meal the stranger broke the bread and at that time " their (= the disciples) eyes were opened" and recognized the stranger as the resurrected Christ. The inclusion of this biblical scene to the kitchen scene links the "earthly abundance" (= the lavish meal) to a 'Higher truth". Painting from 1560-1565.