Artwork
Still Life with Grapes
Still Life with Grapes is an oil painting by the Realist artist Carducius Plantagenet Ream. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Carducius Plantagenet Ream’s 1877 oil painting Still Life with Grapes presents a modest arrangement of ripe grapes rendered in a traditional still‑life format.
Carducius Plantagenet Ream’s 1877 oil painting Still Life with Grapes presents a modest arrangement of ripe grapes rendered in a traditional still‑life format. The composition isolates the fruit against a plain background, emphasizing texture and color through careful brushwork. As a work classified within the still‑life genre, it exemplifies the 19th‑century interest in everyday subjects drawn from nature.
The depicted grapes serve as the primary visual subject, reflecting the genre’s focus on objects of natural abundance. The painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing collection.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on canvas, a standard support for 19th‑century American still‑life painting. The painting measures 35.6 cm by 24.4 cm, as recorded in the museum’s catalog. Visible brushwork and layered application of pigment create a luminous surface that emphasizes the translucency of the grapes and the subtle play of light across the fruit’s skin.
The composition arranges the grapes in a loose, naturalistic grouping, reflecting the genre’s focus on everyday abundance. No specific handling or conservation details are documented in the available records, and the current condition is not explicitly stated.
History & Provenance
Created by Carducius Plantagenet Ream, Still Life with Grapes was executed in 1877. The work is an oil painting on canvas, measuring 35.6 cm in height and 24.4 cm in width. It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically within its American Wing.
The painting depicts a still life arrangement featuring grapes. No specific details regarding the original commission, the initial purchaser, or the chronological chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are provided in the available records. The work's creation date is consistently cited as 1877.
Still Life with Grapes is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is part of the museum's permanent collection in The American Wing. The work is catalogued under the museum's inventory as a painting by Carducius Plantagenet Ream, created in 1877. It has been displayed in The American Wing galleries as part of the museum's ongoing exhibition of American art, allowing visitors to view the piece within its designated collection space.
Overview
Cadurcis Plantagenet Ream, an American painter active from 1838 to 1917, created Still Life with Grapes in 1877. This oil on canvas exemplifies his dedication to still-life subjects, particularly fruit. The painting is a characteristic example of the Realism movement, presenting a focused and unadorned depiction of its subject. It is housed within the American Wing collection, reflecting its origin and artistic tradition.
Context
Still-life painting, especially of fruit, was a significant genre in American art during the late 19th century. Ream specialized in this field, contributing to a tradition that valued detailed observation and naturalistic representation. The choice of a simple, uncluttered background, as seen in Still Life with Grapes, was a prevalent convention, designed to highlight the subject's form and texture without competing visual elements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cadurcis Plantagenet Ream, also referred to as Carducius Plantagenet Ream (May 8, 1838, Sugar Grove, Ohio - 20 June 1917, Chicago), was an American still-life painter who specialized in fruit.
