Artwork
Cherries
Cherries is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Lawrence Alma-Tadema. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1873, *Cherries* is an oil painting by Sir Lawrence Alma‑Tadema, a Dutch‑born artist who established his career in London after moving there in 1870.
Created in 1873, *Cherries* is an oil painting by Sir Lawrence Alma‑Tadema, a Dutch‑born artist who established his career in London after moving there in 1870. While the painter is chiefly associated with opulent classical scenes, this work presents a more intimate still‑life composition, focusing on a solitary figure and fruit. The piece belongs to the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas shows a woman reclining on a couch, her head supported by her left arm. She wears a floral dress, a flower‑adorned headband, and holds a handful of cherries in her right hand, while a few more lie scattered on the floor. Her calm gaze meets the viewer, suggesting a quiet, contemplative moment that elevates the ordinary act of fruit‑eating to a modest genre scene.
Technique & Style
Alma‑Tadema employs a warm, earthy palette that harmonizes the woman's attire, the tiger‑skin covering the couch, and the surrounding space. Subtle chiaroscuro models the forms, giving depth to the figure and the fruit and guiding the eye toward the central gesture. The brushwork remains precise, reflecting the artist’s academic training, yet the composition’s intimacy hints at the broader Impressionist interest in everyday subjects.
History & Provenance
Trained at the Royal Academy of Antwerp, Alma‑Tadema settled in the United Kingdom in 1873, the same year he completed *Cherries*. The painting entered the holdings of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it remains on display, offering insight into a lesser‑known facet of the artist’s oeuvre beyond his celebrated classical narratives.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema ( AL-mə TAD-ay-mə; born Lourens Alma Tadema, Dutch: ; 8 January 1836 – 25 June 1912) was a Dutch painter who later settled in the United Kingdom, becoming the last officially recognised denizen in 1873.
