The Baroque period was an era of sumptuous aesthetics. Pompous buildings, gold and stucco came into fashion, people loved it lavish and opulent. This also applied to the visual arts. Although religious motifs continued to take centre stage for most artists, the style became more expansive. The church commissioned numerous large Baroque works, partly to counter the ever-growing Reformation movement.rnbr/br/rnJuan Sánchez Cotán, who was born in Orgaz, near the Spanish city of Toledo, in 1560, was also characterised throughout his life by the strong influence of the Catholic Church in his country. He began painting at a young age and mainly devoted himself to creating history paintings and portraits for various clients. From the turn of the century in 1600, however, his art underwent a transformation and he discovered the art of still life for himself.rnbr/br/rn"Still Life with Game, Vegetables and Fruit" was painted by Cotán in 1602 and is Spain's first surviving still life. The Spaniard's art is characterised by a sharp and precisely observed gaze as well as clear and striking contrasts that nevertheless form a harmonious picture. In many of his paintings, seemingly randomly selected raw foods stand side by side and stand out against dark backgrounds with clear light and intense colours. His still lifes were ahead of their time, as they display a particular realism with a level of detail that was rare at the time. With a fine eye for detail, some of his works appear almost photorealistic.rnbr/br/rnJuan Sánchez Cotán's life took him from Toledo to Granada in Andalusia, where he decided to enter a monastery and become a monk. Despite leading a secluded life in the Cartuja de Granada monastery among other monks, he continued to paint throughout his life and influenced numerous other artists. Sánchez Cotán became particularly well known in Spain, but his works were also recognised in other parts of Europe. His style characterised Spanish still life painting for a long time and was also decisive for the spread of the "Bodegón" art style. Bodegón means "wine bar" in German. Artists dedicated to this style depict everyday scenes from kitchens and restaurants in their works, with food taking centre stage.rnbr/br/rnJuan Sánchez Cotán died in Granada in 1627, 15 years after coming to the city on the Sierra Nevada to become a monk. His artistic legacy still characterises the world of still lifes today. Cotán's style and technique are used and imitated worldwide as a source of inspiration. The interplay between light and shadow in the painter's works was decisive for new ways of looking at things.