Where can I see Two McLaughlin Pears?

Two McLaughlin Pears is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Two McLaughlin Pears?

Two McLaughlin Pears is associated with Realism.

Can I buy a print of Two McLaughlin Pears?

Museum-quality prints of Two McLaughlin Pears are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Two McLaughlin Pears

Jeremiah Pearson Hardy , 1844

Two McLaughlin Pears is an oil painting by the Realist artist Jeremiah Pearson Hardy. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on board, this painting presents a still-life composition featuring two pears.

Executed in oil on board, this painting presents a still-life composition featuring two pears. The work measures 21.59 cm in height and 26.67 cm in width. As a piece classified within the painting tradition of Jeremiah Pearson Hardy, the application of oil pigment to a rigid board support defines its material construction.

No specific details regarding the artist's handling, the current condition of the surface, or further stylistic analysis are provided in the available documentation.

History & Provenance

Two McLaughlin Pears was painted by Jeremiah Pearson Hardy and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where its dimensions are recorded as 21.59 cm in height and 26.67 cm in width. The work entered the National Gallery of Art in 2018 as a gift from William H. Gerdts, who had owned it since at least 1965. Prior to the gift, Gerdts lent the painting to a circa 1965 traveling exhibition organized by the American Federation of the Arts in New York, as documented in the Gallery’s curatorial files.

Context

Jeremiah Pearson Hardy's Two McLaughlin Pears, an 1844 oil on board painting, entered the National Gallery of Art collection through a 2018 gift, having previously been held by the art historian William H. Gerdts since at least 1965 and exhibited in New York circa 1965 through the American Federation of the Arts. The work is catalogued in the National Gallery of Art's holdings, its provenance tied to Gerdts. Its inclusion in mid-century exhibitions and subsequent acquisition by the National Gallery underscore its significance within Hardy's oeuvre and mid-century American art contexts.

Overview

Jeremiah Pearson Hardy, a 19th‑century portraitist based in Bangor, Maine, completed the oil‑on‑board work Two McLaughlin Pears in 1844. Though best known for likenesses, Hardy turned his meticulous observation to a still‑life that exemplifies the Realist concern for accurate representation of everyday objects.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a pair of pears placed side by side on a darkened surface. The left fruit displays a pale yellow skin and a modest stem, while the right fruit shows a blend of yellow and reddish hues. The simple arrangement invites contemplation of natural variation and the quiet dignity of ordinary produce.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jeremiah Pearson Hardy

Jeremiah Pearson Hardy (c. 1800–1888) was a painter who specialized in portraits.He spent most of his career in Bangor, Maine. He was also the central figure in a circle of 19th-century Bangor painters that included his…