Artwork
Still Life with Apples
Still Life with Apples is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Charles Ethan Porter. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
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- Inscribed:lower right: C E Porter
About this work
Technique & Style
As a still life, the piece demonstrates the artist's handling of oil paint to depict fruit arrangements on a two-dimensional support.
Charles Ethan Porter's Still Life with Apples, executed in 1886, is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 34.29 cm in height and 53.34 cm in width. As a still life, the piece demonstrates the artist's handling of oil paint to depict fruit arrangements on a two-dimensional support.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., having entered the institution's holdings as a gift in 2013.
History & Provenance
Charles Ethan Porter's Still Life with Apples is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The work entered the museum's holdings in 2013 as a gift from Lisa Baskin of Leeds, Massachusetts, who was previously known as Mrs. Leonard Baskin. The painting, created in 1886, is an oil on canvas measuring 34.29 cm in height and 53.34 cm in width. The provided sources do not list specific accession numbers or a record of past exhibitions for this piece.
Overview
Charles Ethan Porter's Still Life with Apples, an oil on canvas from 1886, offers a direct portrayal of a common subject. This painting exemplifies the artist's engagement with the still life genre, a popular choice for artists of his period. It showcases a focused arrangement of fruit, highlighting the artist's skill in rendering everyday objects with clarity and precision.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork centers on a simple grouping of apples placed on a table, making the fruit the undisputed focal point. By isolating these familiar objects, Porter encourages viewers to observe their individual qualities, their rounded shapes, varied colors, and subtle textures. This concentrated attention elevates the ordinary, inviting an appreciation for the inherent beauty found in the natural world.
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