Artwork
Boy with a Basket of Fruit
Boy with a Basket of Fruit is an oil painting. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition adheres to the formal conventions of the period's portraiture, utilizing the traditional oil-on-canvas technique to depict the subject.
The work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a standard medium for portraiture of the late eighteenth century. Measuring 57 cm in height and 43.9 cm in width, the painting presents a portrait genre classification. While specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, handling of the paint surface, or current physical condition are not provided in the available records, the piece is identified as an American creation from 1790.
The composition adheres to the formal conventions of the period's portraiture, utilizing the traditional oil-on-canvas technique to depict the subject.
History & Provenance
The painting is attributed to an American artist of the eighteenth century and is dated to 1790. Executed in oil on canvas, it is classified as a portrait and measures 57 by 43.9 centimetres. It was acquired in England in 1947 by Childs Gallery in Boston, sold the following year to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, and gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1971, where it remains in Washington, D.C.
Boy with a Basket of Fruit entered the National Gallery of Art in 1971 as a gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, becoming part of the institution's permanent collection. Its provenance traces to acquisition in England in 1947 by Childs Gallery, Boston, followed by a 1948 sale to the Garbisches, who later donated the work. No specific exhibition history is recorded in the cited documentation.
Overview
"Boy with a Basket of Fruit" is an oil on canvas painting depicting a young individual. The artwork presents a boy holding a basket filled with various fruits, his attire modest and his expression serene. The artist rendered the subject with a quiet attention to detail, particularly in the boy's features and the textures of the produce, reflecting a focus on unembellished, daily existence.
Subject & Meaning
The painting centers on a youthful figure, whose simple clothing and composed demeanor suggest a scene drawn from ordinary life. His gentle gaze and the carefully rendered basket of fruit contribute to an overall sense of quiet observation. This portrayal elevates a common subject, emphasizing the inherent dignity and understated beauty found within everyday moments and the natural world.
Artist & collection
