Eating Art

Presenter Oliver Peyton travels across Europe and North America on the trail of history’s most prolific food artists, investigating why and where they chose their subject matter. Why did Matisse paint oranges? What lay behind Dali’s obsession with bread? What was Rembrandt trying to say with an Ox carcass? Did Da Vinci accurately depict what Jesus ate at the Last Supper?

“Eating Art” also explores artists’ relationship with food and drink. What compelled both Monet and Toulouse-Lautrec to write cookbooks? How did Picasso’s culinary background influence his work? Throughout history, why have certain artists congregated in certain bars and restaurants?

Looking at the visual clues in paintings, Peyton explores the symbolism and significance of the foods that artists chose to depict; goes to where the artists lived and where the featured ingredients were produced; and discovers how the produce was eaten at the time. Then in the kitchens of some of the best restaurants on the planet, the world’s greatest chefs bring the artworks to life, taking inspiration from the paintings to create a dish or meal that evokes the work.

This series will be witty, enlightening, entertaining and above all, a sumptuous feast for the eyes, elegantly shot on progressive HDCam. Playing to the strengths of high definition, and the inherent beauty of its subject, “Eating Art” promises to be a sensual experience for a wide audience.