Artwork
A Dessert
A Dessert is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Raphaelle Peale. It dates from 1814 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: Raphaelle Peale Aug:-5th 1814 / Philad:; reverse: Fullerton
About this work
History & Provenance
A Dessert is an oil on wood painting by Raphaelle Peale that was created in 1814, as documented by the artist’s date and the work’s inscription.
A Dessert is an oil on wood painting by Raphaelle Peale that was created in 1814, as documented by the artist’s date and the work’s inscription. Its early ownership placed it with James Fullerton in Boston, who held the piece from at least 1818 through 1828. The painting subsequently entered the collection of Oswald J. Arnold in Chicago and Minneapolis, then passed by inheritance to his sister Charlotte A. Arnold and her nephew with his wife.
In 1975 it was acquired by Terry Delapp in Los Angeles, and the following year Jo Ann and Julian Ganz, Jr. purchased it. The work was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1999, with the transfer completed in 2008.
The painting A Dessert by Raphaelle Peale is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It was acquired as a partial and promised gift from Jo Ann and Julian Ganz, Jr., in 1999, with the gift completed in 2008. Prior to its arrival at the National Gallery, the work was lent by James Fullerton to the Boston Athenaeum's annual exhibition in 1828. The painting subsequently passed through the collection of Oswald J. Arnold and his family before being purchased by the Ganzes in 1976.
Legacy
A Dessert remained in private hands after its 1814 completion, but its early public exposure came when James Fullerton lent it to the Boston Athenaeum’s annual exhibition in 1828. Subsequent owners included Oswald J. Arnold, the Ganz family, and Terry Delapp before Jo Ann and Julian Ganz, Jr. promised a partial gift to the National Gallery of Art in 1999, which was fulfilled in 2008. Its entry into the NGA’s collection has secured the painting’s status as a recognized example of early American still‑life painting and contributed to its lasting scholarly and museum reputation.
Overview
Painted in 1814, A Dessert is a quintessential still life by Raphaelle Peale, the eldest son of Charles Willson Peale and a pioneer of American still-life painting. The work depicts a simple arrangement of fruit and nuts on a wooden table against a dark, neutral background. A white ceramic bowl holds oranges, a pear, and a lemon, while walnuts and hazelnuts are scattered around the base.
To the right, a glass containing a pale liquid and a clear bottle with a stopper complete the composition. Peale employs a restrained palette and precise brushwork to render the varied textures of the fruit skins, nut shells, and glass with scientific accuracy. This painting exemplifies the artist's mature style, characterized by the reduction of objects to their essential forms and the use of dramatic lighting to create volume and focus.
A Dessert reflects the early 19th-century American interest in domestic subjects and the moral implications of abundance and moderation. As one of Peale's most celebrated works, it demonstrates his mastery of the genre and his role in establishing still life as a respected form of American art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a white dish prominently displaying oranges, a pear, and a lemon, encircled by walnuts and hazelnuts. To the right, a glass containing a pale liquid stands beside a clear, stoppered bottle positioned behind the central bowl. The dark, unadorned background serves to emphasize the vibrant hues of the fruit and the subtle details of the other objects, drawing the viewer's attention to the arrangement.
Technique & Style
Peale employed distinct contrasts of light and shadow to render the objects with a remarkable sense of realism and depth. The strategic application of light creates a palpable three-dimensional quality, particularly noticeable in the way it illuminates the fruit and the reflective surfaces of the glass, giving them a lifelike sheen and making them appear almost tangible.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Raphaelle Peale (sometimes spelled Raphael Peale; February 17, 1774 – March 4, 1825) is considered the first professional American painter of still-life.
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