Squirled watermelons
17th century, Italy
This detail from a 17th century
painting by Giovanni Stanchi depicts a watermelon that looks
strikingly different from modern melons. A cross-section of the one
in the painting, which was made between 1645 and 1672, appears to
have swirly shapes embedded in six triangular pie-shaped pieces.
Over time, humans have bred watermelons to have a red, fleshy interior, which is actually the placenta of the fruit. Some people think the watermelon in Stanchi's painting may just be unripe or unwatered, but the black seeds in the painting suggest that it was, in fact, ripe.
Over time, humans have bred watermelons to have a red, fleshy interior, which is actually the placenta of the fruit. Some people think the watermelon in Stanchi's painting may just be unripe or unwatered, but the black seeds in the painting suggest that it was, in fact, ripe.