Artwork
Still Life with Silver Cake Basket
Still Life with Silver Cake Basket is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist John F. Francis. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. John F.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: J.F. Francis / 1866
About this work
Technique & Style
As a still life, the piece utilizes the medium of oil paint to render its subject matter on a fabric support.
Executed in 1866, this work is an oil painting on canvas. The composition measures 48.9 cm in height and 59.69 cm in width. As a still life, the piece utilizes the medium of oil paint to render its subject matter on a fabric support.
The specific handling of the brushwork, surface condition, and detailed stylistic qualities regarding the depiction of the silver basket are not described in the available records.
History & Provenance
Still Life with Silver Cake Basket is an oil on canvas painting by John F. Francis completed in 1866. The work entered the market through The Old Print Shop in New York and was purchased in February 1957 by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It remained in the Corcoran collection until 2014, when it was acquired by the National Gallery of Art, where it is now displayed in Washington, D.C. The painting’s dimensions measure 48.9 cm by 59.69 cm, and its creation is documented as having begun in 1866.
Still Life with Silver Cake Basket is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It entered the collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, also in Washington, in February 1957, having been purchased from The Old Print Shop in New York. The Corcoran's holdings were acquired by the National Gallery of Art in 2014, transferring the painting into its present institutional custody. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
The work is recorded on Wikidata as belonging to both the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the National Gallery of Art, with the National Gallery of Art listed as its current location.
Overview
John F. Francis created Still Life with Silver Cake Basket in 1866, an oil on canvas painting. This work presents a detailed arrangement of desserts and beverages, centered around a reflective silver basket. The composition offers a glimpse into domestic abundance, rendered with careful attention to light and texture, characteristic of the artist's still life practice.
Subject & Meaning
The painting's central focus is a silver cake basket, generously filled with various confections, including a slice of pie, a cake, and cookies. This array of sweets rests on a white tablecloth, accompanied by two glasses containing an amber liquid and a bottle distinctly labeled "Old Cherry." A window in the background reveals a natural landscape, offering a subtle contrast to the interior scene.
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