Food in a Bath House

I recently had a book called Food in Art by Gillian Riley out from the library and it inspired me to post about a number of artworks featuring food.

This pic is a bit racy – sorry but I found the subject matter fascinating.  The picture was created in 1470 – a time when I am fairly certain that it was not common for men and women to be unclothed in each other's presence even in a bath house.  Here they seem to be eating a meal on separate sides of the table while the couple at the end are being very racy.

The couple on the left are in front of a bed.  I am left wondering whether this was not just a bath house but a house of ill repute.  What do you think.

There is a musician and a dog as well!

According to my research this is supposed to depict the discovery by the king of the debauchery of Hannibal's troops.  The bath house is not Roman – more likely an excuse for getting away with a racy picture…