A Book of Mediterranean Food: Difference between revisions

Lehmann commissioned a coloured dust-jacket painting and black and white internal illustrations from his friend the artist [[John Minton (artist)|John Minton]]. Writers including [[Cyril Ray]] and [[John Arlott]] commented that Minton's drawings added to the attractions of the book.<ref>"Cookery", ''[[The Times Literary Supplement]]'', 9 June 1950, p. 362; Arlott, John. "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/150405235/ From Time to Time]", ''[[The Guardian]]'', 18 July 1986, p. 15; and "[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/150405062/ First Bites]", ''The Guardian'', 15 March 1994, p. B5</ref> David, a woman of strong opinions,<ref name=Norrington-Davies>{{cite web|last1=Norrington-Davies|first1=Tom|title=You can smell the sea or touch the olive branch...|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/3323687/You-can-smell-the-sea-or-touch-the-olive-branch....html|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=19 April 2015|date=5 January 2006}}</ref> thought good illustration important.<ref name=c144/> Minton provided 15 decorations to give a feeling of the Mediterranean, rather than simple illustrations of dishes from David's recipes. For example, his port scene shows a sailor{{efn|The sailor resembles Minton himself.}} drinking and conversing with a young woman beside a table laden with food; in the background is a street restaurant and boats in a harbour. Although David did not like Minton's black and white drawings, she described his jacket design as "stunning".<ref name=c144/> She was especially taken with "his beautiful Mediterranean bay, his tables spread with white cloths and bright fruit" and the way that "pitchers and jugs and bottles of wine could be seen far down the street."<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|2000|p=152}}</ref>