"Still Life of Mushrooms in Undergrowth"
French circa 1830's-1840's
Oil on canvas
Illegibly initialed lower right
17 3/4 x 13 1/4 (25 1/2 x 21 frame) inches

This deftly painted depiction of mushrooms is a fairly uncommon subject matter. The painting is confidently executed and the undergrowth surrounding the fungi create a moody atmosphere. The addition of the nearly absinthe-like green gives the painting a mystical, dreamy quality.

Spiritually, if you see a mushroom in real life it could be a symbol of any of these popular meanings including good luck, longevity, energy, safety, prosperity, rebirth, good or bad transformation, and enlightenment.

Mushrooms are found in places of transformation and where the Ancestors may roam. They are related to rebirth and the recycling of the things that have died, passed on and can be reborn. They are associated with wombs and caves. Mushroom worshipping cults can be found in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

The interior frame is original, dating from the 1830's to 1840's.