Artwork
Basket of Plums

Basket of Plums is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Anne Vallayer-Coster. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Basket of Plums is a painting depicting a still life arrangement on a dark table.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a basket of ripe plums, a glass of water, and two small cakes, showcasing the artist's ability to render color and texture, a challenge particularly relevant for women artists at the time.
Technique & Style
The painting employs chiaroscuro, with vivid reds and violets emerging from deep shadows, and detailed renderings of textures such as the dusty skins of the plums and the sparkling glass of water.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anne Vallayer-Coster (21 December 1744 – 28 February 1818) was a French painter best known for still lifes.

















