Artwork
Basket of Fruit with Flowers
Basket of Fruit with Flowers is an oil painting. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Basket of Fruit with Flowers is an oil-on-wood painting created in 1830 by an American artist of the 19th Century.
Basket of Fruit with Flowers is an oil-on-wood painting created in 1830 by an American artist of the 19th Century. The work is executed on a wooden panel support, measuring 35.1 cm in height and 45.5 cm in width. As a still-life composition, the piece depicts a basket arrangement featuring flowers.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., having been acquired through bequest in 1980.
History & Provenance
Basket of Fruit with Flowers is an oil on wood painting dated 1830 by an American 19th‑century artist. The work originated in New Jersey and was first listed in the inventory of Hartert Galleries, where it was sold in 1961 to collectors Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. Their bequest to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., transferred ownership in 1980, and the painting remains in the museum’s collection.
Executed on a panel measuring 35.1 cm in height and 45.5 cm in width, the still‑life depicts a bouquet of flowers. Its provenance is documented from the gallery sale through the Garbisch acquisition to the museum’s bequest.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection in 1980 as a bequest from Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. Its accession number is 1980.1.3. The work was previously with Hartert Galleries, which sold it to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch in 1961. Dimensions are 35.1 × 45.5 cm, oil on panel.
Overview
This oil painting on wood, titled "Basket of Fruit with Flowers," presents a vibrant still life composition. It features a woven basket overflowing with an assortment of ripe fruits and freshly gathered blossoms. The artist's meticulous rendering captures the individual characteristics of each element, from the varied textures of the fruit skins to the delicate forms of the petals. This genre was widely appreciated during the period of its creation.
Subject & Meaning
The arrangement within the painting conveys a sense of natural abundance and immediacy. Flowers appear as if recently plucked, their organic placement suggesting a spontaneous collection rather than a formal bouquet. Similarly, the fruits are positioned to imply a generous bounty, almost to the point of spilling from their container. This dynamic composition imbues the traditional still life with vitality.
Context
Still life painting, as exemplified by "Basket of Fruit with Flowers," held significant appeal during the era in which this work was created. Artists often used this genre to showcase their technical prowess in rendering diverse textures and light effects, while also exploring themes of nature's bounty or the transience of life. This particular work highlights the beauty found in everyday objects and natural forms.
Artist & collection
