Artwork
Still Life with a Basket of Fruit and a Bunch of Asparagus
Still Life with a Basket of Fruit and a Bunch of Asparagus is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Louise Moillon. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting, titled Still Life with a Basket of Fruit and a Bunch of Asparagus, depicts a table arrangement that includes a basket filled with assorted fruit and a bunch of asparagus, together with other items such as gooseberries, cherries, peaches, apricots, grapes, currants, green peas and leaves. Rendered in oil on wood around 1630, the work exemplifies the French still‑life genre of the period, using a carefully balanced composition to showcase a variety of produce. This subject matter reflects contemporary interests in domestic abundance and the seasonal availability of food, serving as a visual record of 17th‑century French bourgeois tastes.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1630, this still life by Louise Moillon is an oil painting applied to a wood panel support.
Executed in 1630, this still life by Louise Moillon is an oil painting applied to a wood panel support. The work measures 53.3 by 71.3 centimeters and displays the artist's characteristic precision in rendering diverse textures. The composition features a carefully arranged assortment of produce, including a basket of fruit such as peaches, apricots, grapes, currants, cherries, and gooseberries, alongside a distinct bunch of asparagus and green peas resting on a table surface.
The handling of the medium emphasizes the tangible qualities of the organic forms, from the smooth skins of the stone fruits to the fibrous nature of the asparagus, demonstrating a meticulous approach to botanical detail typical of the genre.
History & Provenance
The work titled Still Life with a Basket of Fruit and a Bunch of Asparagus was painted by Louise Moillon in 1630 as an oil on wood panel, a technique documented in the artist’s oeuvre. Its creation is recorded in contemporary sources as part of the French Baroque still‑life tradition, employing precise botanical detail. The painting entered the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it has been displayed since its acquisition, establishing its modern ownership chain.
No records indicate a specific commission; instead, it likely originated from Moillon’s workshop practice. Technical analysis confirms the dimensions of 53.3 cm × 71.3 cm, matching the documented size of the work.
Overview
Louise Moillon's Still Life with a Basket of Fruit and a Bunch of Asparagus, created around 1630, is a painting on wood. This work showcases the French Baroque artist's skill in depicting everyday objects with precision and a sense of refined composition. It features a meticulously arranged collection of produce, reflecting the growing interest in still life painting during the 17th century. The piece is currently part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Context
Active during the Baroque era, Louise Moillon distinguished herself as a prominent still life painter. Her refined compositions, which merged northern European realism with a French sense of order, were highly sought after by aristocratic patrons and art collectors of her time. This particular work exemplifies the sophisticated still life tradition that flourished, drawing parallels with the detailed genre paintings popular in the Dutch Golden Age.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Louise Moillon (c. 1610–1696) was a French still life painter in the Baroque era. It is recorded that she became known as one of the best still life painters of her time, as her work was purchased by King Charles I of…
Still Life with a Basket of Fruit and a Bunch of Asparagus
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