Artist:
James Peale
(American, 1749 - 1831)
Still Life with Fruit on a Tabletop
Medium: Oil on wood panel
Date: ca. 1825
Dimensions:
18 × 26 1/2 in. (45.7 × 67.3 cm)
Accession number: 2004.15
Label Copy:
One of the founders of the still-life painting tradition in America, James Peale was born in Chestertown, Maryland. The youngest of five children, he worked as a saddle maker and cabinetmaker before studying art with his brother, Charles Willson Peale. While serving as an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, James Peale painted two portraits of George Washington. After the war, he settled in Philadelphia and became known for making watercolor portrait miniatures on ivory. Eventually, he developed problems with his eyesight from working on such a small scale and switched to painting still lifes. His work was shown at his brother's Peale Museum in Baltimore and in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
One of the founders of the still-life painting tradition in America, James Peale was born in Chestertown, Maryland. The youngest of five children, he worked as a saddle maker and cabinetmaker before studying art with his brother, Charles Willson Peale. While serving as an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, James Peale painted two portraits of George Washington. After the war, he settled in Philadelphia and became known for making watercolor portrait miniatures on ivory. Eventually, he developed problems with his eyesight from working on such a small scale and switched to painting still lifes. His work was shown at his brother's Peale Museum in Baltimore and in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Curatorial RemarksOne of the founders of the still life painting tradition in America, James Peale was born in Chestertown, Maryland. The youngest of five children, he worked as a saddle maker and cabinetmaker before studying art with his brother, Charles Willson Peale. While serving as an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, James Peale painted two portraits of George Washington. After the war, he settled in Philadelphia and became known for making watercolor portrait miniatures on ivory. Eventually, he developed problems with his eyesight from working on such a small scale and switched to painting still lifes. His work was shown at his brother's Peale Museum in Baltimore, and in Philadelphia at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
"Still Life with Fruit on a Tabletop" demonstrates Peale's characteristic style, with fruit spilling out of a bowl and even over the edge of the table. Imperfections on the fruit and subtle gradations of color among the grapes show the artist's attention to detail.
"Still Life with Fruit on a Tabletop" demonstrates Peale's characteristic style, with fruit spilling out of a bowl and even over the edge of the table. Imperfections on the fruit and subtle gradations of color among the grapes show the artist's attention to detail.
On view