Artwork
Three Peaches on a Plate
Three Peaches on a Plate is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Henri Fantin-Latour's 1868 painting, Three Peaches on a Plate, is a still life executed in oil on paper, subsequently mounted on canvas. This work exemplifies the artist's dedication to depicting everyday subjects with careful observation. It features three ripe peaches resting on a white plate, set against a dark background, showcasing his characteristic approach to form and color.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents three distinct peaches, rendered in shades of red, yellow, and orange, positioned on a plain white plate.
The painting presents three distinct peaches, rendered in shades of red, yellow, and orange, positioned on a plain white plate. Fantin-Latour meticulously captures the subtle variations in their surfaces, suggesting their ripeness and texture. The arrangement is straightforward, reflecting the Realist emphasis on unidealized subjects and a direct engagement with the visual world, elevating a simple domestic scene.
Technique & Style
Fantin-Latour created this still life using oil paint applied to paper, which was then affixed to canvas. This method allowed for a particular handling of the paint, contributing to the work's delicate yet precise rendering. The artist's style aligns with both Realism and early Impressionist tendencies, characterized by a focus on accurate visual perception and the portrayal of ordinary objects from daily life, rather than grand historical or mythological themes.
Context
While Henri Fantin-Latour is widely recognized for his detailed flower paintings and his group portraits of prominent Parisian artists and writers, his still life works like Three Peaches on a Plate demonstrate another facet of his practice. These pieces underscore his commitment to the Realist movement's principles, which valued objective representation and a close study of nature, contributing to the broader artistic shifts of the mid-19th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation: ; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
