Artwork
Asparagus, Tomatoes, and a Squash
Asparagus, Tomatoes, and a Squash is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Paul Lacroix. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: P. Lacroix, N.Y. 65
About this work
Technique & Style
As a still life classified as a painting, the piece utilizes traditional oil paint application on the woven fabric ground.
Created in 1865, Asparagus, Tomatoes, and a Squash is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 34.29 cm in height and 41.28 cm in width. As a still life classified as a painting, the piece utilizes traditional oil paint application on the woven fabric ground.
The artwork was acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 2018 as a gift, having previously been associated with collector William H. Gerdts and the estate of Edwin D. Morgan.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1865 by Paul Lacroix, this oil on canvas likely entered the collection of Edwin D. Morgan in New York shortly after its creation. Following Morgan's death, the work probably appeared in his estate sale at Chickering Hall in January 1886, listed as lot number 8. By 1965, the painting was in the possession of William H. Gerdts, evidenced by its inclusion in an exhibition organized by the American Federation of the Arts that year.
Gerdts retained ownership for over five decades before donating the piece to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 2018.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its accession number is not specified in the sources. It was exhibited at the American Federation of the Arts in New York in a show circa 1965, according to Gerdts' records. The work entered the National Gallery of Art's collection through a gift in 2018.
Overview
Paul Lacroix’s oil on canvas, dated 1865, presents a modest still‑life composition. The work depicts a collection of garden vegetables, asparagus, two tomatoes, a squash, and accompanying foliage, arranged on a tabletop. The painting’s muted palette of browns, greens and oranges emphasizes the natural qualities of the produce.
Subject & Meaning
The tableau focuses on everyday foodstuffs, reflecting a 19th‑century interest in depicting ordinary domestic scenes. By grouping the vegetables together, Lacroix highlights their varied textures and forms, inviting contemplation of the simple abundance of the kitchen garden.
Artist & collection
