Fruits dans une coupe d'albâtre

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a restrained palette and meticulous brushwork to capture the varied surfaces of the fruit and the smooth translucency of the cup. Careful modulation of light creates a sense of three‑dimensionality, while fine detailing of skin, peel and foliage demonstrates the artist’s precise handling of form and texture.

The work was produced by Antoine Berjon, a Lyon‑born painter who initially studied under sculptor Antoine‑Michel Perrache before establishing a reputation for refined still‑life paintings in early‑19th‑century France. After changing hands through private collections, the piece entered the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, where it remains on display.

Berjon’s still lifes reflect the broader French interest in botanical accuracy and decorative elegance during the post‑Revolutionary period. By integrating a sculptural element—a cup of alabaster—into a painted tableau, the artist bridges his training in sculpture with his mature painting practice, aligning his work with contemporary tastes for refined domestic subjects.