Who painted Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit?

Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit was painted by George Lance in 1850.

Where can I see Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit?

Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit?

Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit is associated with Biedermeier.

Artwork

Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit

George Lance , 1850

Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit is a watercolor work on paper by the Biedermeier artist George Lance. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Still life with melons, grapes and other fruit is a watercolour painting created by George Lance in 1850, featuring an arrangement of fruit and metal dishes set against a landscape backdrop with a classical building.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a casually composed still life of everyday fruit—melons, grapes, plums, and a pear—accompanied by a few metal dishes, juxtaposed with a distant, serene classical building, reflecting the Realist focus on mundane subjects within a subtly elevated context.

Technique & Style

Lance employed loose, expressive brushstrokes to convey the freshness and imperfection of the fruit, combining soft, earthy tones with accents of red in the grapes, and capturing a subtle play of light on the melon and grapes against a darker, blurred sky.

History & Provenance

Cataloged as P.31-1954, the work was exhibited at the Moot Hall Exhibition in Colchester in July 1951, with its current location implied to be associated with this catalog number, though not explicitly stated.

Context

Created during the mid-19th century, the piece aligns with the Realist movement's emphasis on depicting ordinary life and objects, yet the inclusion of a classical backdrop introduces a touch of traditionalism.

Legacy

While specific influences or direct artistic lineage are not detailed, the work contributes to the broader tradition of Realist still-life painting, emphasizing the beauty in everyday subjects.