Artwork
Boy holding an Apple and a Pear
Boy holding an Apple and a Pear is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Georg Raedel. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Georg Raedel’s oil painting, completed in 1843, portrays a young boy holding two pieces of fruit. The work is part of the collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it is displayed among the museum’s 19th‑century European paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is a blond‑haired child dressed in a green shirt with a white ruffled collar and a black belt. He holds an apple in his right hand and a pear in his left, his gaze directed downward, conveying a calm, introspective mood that invites contemplation of innocence and modesty.
Technique & Style
Raedel employs a restrained palette and careful modeling of light to give the boy’s features and the fruit a tangible presence. Subtle gradations of tone and a muted gray backdrop create a sense of depth, suggesting the artist’s use of chiaroscuro and layered glazing to achieve a soft, atmospheric effect.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed in the mid‑19th century, a period when portraiture often emphasized domestic virtue. It entered the Fitzwilliam Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it has remained a representative example of Raedel’s portrait work.
Artist & collection
