In the Golden Age and before the parrot in art has a symbolic function. In appereance with the Virgin Mary the parrot refers to Mary (because the parrot greets its owners with: “Ave Caesar”). But the parrot is also linked to Eve. In revers Ave says Eva (Eve). In this context I painted the apples in this painting.
Left: Ave Eva, Iris van Zanten, Mixed media, 2018
Right: Virgin and Child with Canon van der Paele, Jan van Eyck, 1434-36