Artwork
Fruit and Dead Game

Fruit and Dead Game is an oil painting by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Ladell. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Fruit and Dead Game is an oil painting by Edward Ladell, dated circa 1863, currently part of the National Gallery of Ireland's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a still life arrangement of fruit (including apples and pears) and dead game (comprising birds), spilling over a table's edge, exploring themes of abundance and mortality.
Technique & Style
Ladell employed oil paint with notable use of chiaroscuro, creating strong light-dark contrasts to achieve depth and volume. The work showcases meticulous attention to texture and color, lending a lifelike quality.
History & Provenance
Created in 1863, the painting is now held in the National Gallery of Ireland, with its acquisition history not detailed here.
Context
Reflective of 19th-century still-life traditions, the piece blends realism with artistic rendering of light and shadow, typical of the era's preoccupations.
Legacy
While specific influences or subsequent artistic impacts are not highlighted, the painting remains a representative example of mid-19th-century still-life oil painting.
Artist & collection











