Artwork
Still Life—Flowers and Fruit in White and Pink Bowl
Still Life—Flowers and Fruit in White and Pink Bowl is an oil painting. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Still Life, Flowers and Fruit in White and Pink Bowl presents a vibrant arrangement centered on a white-and-pink bowl.
About this work
Technique & Style
Stylistically, the work falls within the still life genre, formally organizing its botanical and edible subjects alongside a depicted butterfly.
Created in 1850, this anonymous still life employs a distinctive combination of oil paint and tinsel applied to a glass support. Measuring 40.3 by 50.8 centimeters, the artwork depicts an arrangement of flowers and fruit in a white and pink bowl. The unconventional use of glass as a support, paired with the inclusion of tinsel, imparts a unique material quality to the composition, distinguishing it from traditional canvas or panel paintings.
Stylistically, the work falls within the still life genre, formally organizing its botanical and edible subjects alongside a depicted butterfly. These specific material choices and compositional elements define the visual and tactile character of the piece.
History & Provenance
The painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it belongs to the American Wing's still-life collection. Its accession is listed under the museum's internal classification for works in that department, though a specific accession number is not supplied in the documentation. The work is dated to 1850 and is executed in oil on glass with tinsel. No exhibition history is recorded in the available sources for this piece.
Overview
Still Life, Flowers and Fruit in White and Pink Bowl presents a vibrant arrangement centered on a white-and-pink bowl. Peaches, grapes, and roses are piled high, with several butterflies depicted in flight around the produce. The composition is set against a dark background, drawing focus to the luminous central elements. This artwork is distinguished by its unusual choice of materials, contributing to its unique visual character.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork features a classic still life composition, presenting a lavish display of natural elements. A white-and-pink bowl holds an abundance of ripe peaches, lush grapes, and blooming roses. The inclusion of delicate butterflies, hovering near the fruit, introduces a dynamic element to the scene. Such arrangements frequently allude to themes of natural beauty, harvest, and the ephemeral quality of existence.
Artist & collection
Flori
Gilet décor scène de bergers, projets de broderies de gilet, XVIIIème siècle
Blumenstillleben
Bowl of Fruit
Flowers
Spring flowers in a basket
En kurv med blomster, en kakadue og en frugtranke
Painting Ten from Illustrated Book of Flowers and Butterflies
Untitled
Vase i græsk stil med blomster, stående på en træstub
Hollyhocks, Roses, Etc- Still Life: Flowers and Fruit
