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Apricots; Cherries

Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues

1568

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Early Baroque Italian Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Apricots; Cherries is a 1568 watercolor by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, a Early Baroque Italian work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues
When & what style?: 1568 · Early Baroque Italian
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolour painting depicts a sprig of apricots and cherries, with three apricots and two cherries attached to a stem. The fruit is rendered in shades of yellow, orange, and red, while the leaves are a deep green. The background of the painting is a light beige color. The level of detail in the painting is impressive, with the texture of the fruit and leaves visible. The artist has used a range of colors to create a sense of depth and dimensionality. The Victoria and Albert Museum is home to this beautiful example of Renaissance art.

The story of this work

Overview

The drawing consists of two botanical watercolors on a single sheet, with a branch of apricots on the front and a branch bearing five cherries on the back. Part of a 59-plate album acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1856, the work is attributed to Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues and likely dates from around 1575 in France. The album’s refined binding and bilingual inscriptions suggest it was produced for scholarly or collector use. The precise, naturalistic style reflects a growing sixteenth-century interest in plants for both scientific study and aesthetic appreciation.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues

Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues (French pronunciation: ; c. 1533–1588) was a French artist and member of Jean Ribault's expedition to the New World. His depictions of Native American life and culture, colonial life, and…

See the richer artist page