Artwork
Bowl of Fruit
Bowl of Fruit 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
The medium of oil paint allowed for the layered handling typical of the period, though specific brushwork details are not documented in the available records.
Bowl of Fruit is an oil painting executed on canvas, a traditional support for nineteenth-century American still life. The work measures 78.5 by 98.8 centimeters, giving it a horizontal orientation suited to its compositional subject.
Stylistically, the painting belongs to the still life genre, depicting fruit arranged in a bowl. The medium of oil paint allowed for the layered handling typical of the period, though specific brushwork details are not documented in the available records. No information is provided regarding the painting's current condition or any conservation history.
History & Provenance
Created in 1830, this oil-on-canvas still life is attributed to an American artist of the 19th century. The work's early history places its origin in Pennsylvania. It was once in the possession of Robert Carlen of Philadelphia before being sold in 1951 to the collectors Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
The painting subsequently entered the public trust when it was bequeathed to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1980.
The work is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection as a bequest from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch in 1980.
Its current inventory number at the Gallery is not specified in the cited sources.
Overview
The work depicts a still‑life arrangement centered on a brown, two‑handled bowl filled with an assortment of fruit, including melons and grapes. The bowl rests on a wooden tabletop accompanied by two plates and knives, while a window framed by blue curtains and decorative tassels forms the background.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the abundance and variety of fruit, a traditional still‑life motif that invites contemplation of nature’s bounty and the passage of time. The inclusion of domestic objects such as plates and knives situates the scene within a familiar interior, emphasizing everyday luxury.
Context
Romantic artists often turned to still‑life subjects to explore emotional resonance through ordinary objects, using light and color to evoke mood rather than strict realism. This work aligns with that approach, using the intimate setting of a kitchen or dining area to convey a sense of quiet reflection.
Artist & collection
