In Brushstrokes of a Gadfly, E.A. Bucchianeri declares that ‘food is not simply an organic fuel to keep body and soul together, it is a perishable art that must be savoured at the peak of perfection’.

And while the world’s best chefs certainly do elevate cuisine to a transitory art form, the flipside is that many of history’s greatest artists have chosen to preserve food for posterity in their iconic paintings.

So since variety is the spice of life, if you’re struggling for diet inspiration, here’s how to make a meal of five famous paintings.

1. Campbell’s Soup Cans – Andy Warhol, 1962
Andy Warhol’s pop art classic consists of synthetic polymer paint on 32 canvases and it’s 97” high by 163” wide, with 3” between each soup can panel – check it out at the MoMA Online Collection.

You’ll get a few of your daily dietary requirements from this modern masterpiece, because it features a range of flavours including onion, scotch broth, tomato, cream of mushroom and chili beef.

Find the food – locate your nearest soup supplier on food firm Campbell’s website.

2. Reversible Head with Basket of Fruit – Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1590
Tip this still life featuring multiple apples, pears and grapes upside down and you’ll see that Renaissance trickster Arcimboldo has cleverly crafted it to covert to a fruity human face.

But because we’re focusing on dietary dynamism, this piece should prompt you to eat your mandatory five fruits and veggies per day.

Find the food– ethical grocer sites like realfoods.co.uk can keep you topped up with fresh fruit.

3. Freedom from Want – Norman Rockwell, 1943
This famous 45.75” by 35.5” painting can be found in the Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge , Massachusetts and depicts a stereotypical American family about to tuck into a turkey dinner.

Inspired by a wartime State of the Union address by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, it defended traditional US values at a time when the nation was fighting enemies on several fronts.

Find the food – order organic turkeys from artisan cuisine outlet Copas.

4. Cakes – Wayne Thiebaud, 1963
This tasty 1963 painting graces the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and it’s a colourful shape-based display where each charming confection is delightfully different in design.

Thiebaud championed the beauty in everyday ceremonies, so treating yourself to some tea and cake is an appropriate tribute to his genius.
Find the food – if you’re in London, Ottolenghi’s Spitalfields outlet has some sublime cakes on offer.

5. Still Life with Coconuts, Francisco Oller, 1893
Puerto Rican perfectionist Oller drew on the Caribbean for inspiration for this exotic piece and if you’re lucky enough it view in in the Brooklyn Museum, you’ll be astounded at the subtle details that make it so mouth watering – there’s even a fresh machete-sliced sliver of coconut practically begging to be eaten in the foreground.
Find the food – snap up superb coconut oil at organic superstore Kijani Living.