Artwork
Various Fruits, including Melon and Grapes
Various Fruits, including Melon and Grapes is an oil painting by the Realist artist Johan Laurentz Jensen. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1852, this oil painting by Danish artist Johan Laurentz Jensen presents a modest still‑life composition of assorted fruit. A basket holds a ripe melon and clusters of grapes, some of which have slipped onto a wooden tabletop. The overall palette leans toward subdued greens, browns and yellows, giving the scene a restrained, naturalistic tone.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on everyday produce, emphasizing the quiet beauty of ordinary objects. By arranging the fruit in a casual spill, Jensen invites contemplation of abundance and the fleeting nature of freshness, a common theme in 19th‑century still‑life traditions.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a restrained realist approach, with careful attention to surface texture. Light falls on the grapes, revealing their translucence, while chiaroscuro modeling creates depth between the basket, fruit and table. The brushwork remains fine and controlled, reinforcing the work’s naturalistic intent.
History & Provenance
Johan Laurentz Jensen, noted for his flower paintings, produced this piece during his mature period. It entered the collection of Denmark’s national gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century Danish art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johan Laurentz Jensen, often referred to as J. L. Jensen (8 March 1800 – 26 March 1856), was a Danish artist who specialized in flower painting.
