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Pear; Grape vine

Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues

1568

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Early Baroque Italian Renaissance Renaissance Still Life Fruit

Dominant colour

Pear; Grape vine is a 1568 watercolor by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, a Early Baroque Italian work, depicting Fruit, 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 painting shows two pears. One is whole, hanging from a stem with leaves. The other is cut in half, showing its inside. Both pears are drawn in watercolor. The whole pear is brown and yellow, with a few spots. The cut pear is white inside, with a brown stem and seeds. The background of the painting is light beige. This painting is a still life from the Renaissance. You can find more paintings like this at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

The drawing consists of a botanical watercolor of a pear on one side and, on the reverse, two bunches of grapes—one pale and one dark—growing on a small vine. Part of a 59-drawing album acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1856, it is attributed to Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues and likely dates from around 1575 in France. The album reflects a period interest in plants both for their medicinal use and aesthetic qualities, with detailed, realistic depictions that combine scientific observation with artistic care.

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