The fine art of food

The Psycho director may have hated them, but for those who aren’t as easily shell-shocked, eggs can crack open a whole new world

Picasso was the possessor of a hearty appetite and depictions of alcohol and excess are also central to his work

A textural triumph and a sensual delight, this distinctly ’80s ice cream is as pleasing to look at as it is to consume

Picasso, Lichtenstein, Emin and others have all designed plates, but treating them only as art objects ruins the fun

The language we use to describe the sweet course at the end of a meal is more revealing than we think

Modern creations may offer a riot of flavours but in form they’re no match for the fantastical shapes of the past

Comparing the spreads on offer in scenes by Manet and Monet suggests that eating outdoors offered the artists a very particular kind of freedom

Paying hundreds of pounds for a dessert may seem excessive, but we wouldn’t think it an unreasonable price for a work of art

A rustic painting by Annibale Carracci highlights how the act of eating in art has long been tied to class and status

The painter’s desire for food and drink can be traced throughout a collection of obsessive shopping lists dotted with drawings

What constitutes a delicacy has changed over the centuries, but dining on camel is still a rare luxury

The festive bird has often been served up by artists and writers including J.M.W. Turner and Charles Dickens

Poster art has become a crucial part of the experience provided by more creative eateries

The painter’s atmospheric restaurant interiors and precise still lifes put him at the top table