Artwork
Peaches on a Plate
Peaches on a Plate is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It dates from 1904 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left with atelier stamp: Renoir
About this work
Technique & Style
It depicts a modest arrangement of peaches on a plate, a subject typical of Renoir’s still-life genre.
Peaches on a Plate is an oil painting on canvas created in 1902 (WPI Ref. No. PRWDRH) and measures approximately 22.2 cm by 35.6 cm (National Gallery of Art dimensions). The work is classified as a still-life and was executed using oil paint applied to a canvas support.
It depicts a modest arrangement of peaches on a plate, a subject typical of Renoir’s still-life genre. The painting is part of the National Gallery of Art collection in Washington, D.C.
History & Provenance
The work titled Peaches on a Plate is an oil on canvas painting by Auguste Renoir created circa 1902 (per inception). It entered the market via Ambroise Vollard who acquired it directly from the artist before 1919. Later sold by Sam Salz Inc. to Ailsa Mellon Bruce on 6 November 1958, invoice).
Upon Bruce's death, the painting was bequeathed to the National Gallery of Art in 1970. It remains in the NGA collection today.
The painting Peaches on a Plate (1902) is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it is listed in the museum’s collection and displayed in the permanent galleries【2†source】. Its provenance traces back to an acquisition from the dealer Ambroise Vollard before 1919, followed by a sale to Ailsa Mellon Bruce in 1958 and a subsequent bequest that transferred ownership to the National Gallery of Art in 1970【1†source】. The work remains part of the museum’s inventory and is documented in the Renoir Catalogue Raisonné project.
Overview
Auguste Renoir's Peaches on a Plate, an oil painting from 1904, exemplifies the artist's late-career engagement with still life. This work presents a simple arrangement of fruit, rendered with a characteristic warmth and immediacy. Created during a period when Renoir contended with severe arthritis, the painting reflects his enduring commitment to capturing the beauty of everyday objects through the expressive qualities of paint. It is a testament to his persistent artistic vision.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a white plate, slightly angled, holding several pink peaches. These fruits are depicted with subtle red blushes, suggesting ripeness and a delicate texture. Beside the plate, a pale napkin is loosely folded, adding a soft, domestic element to the scene.
The arrangement is intimate and unpretentious, inviting contemplation of the simple beauty found in common household items, a recurring theme in still life painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style.
