Artwork
Pear; Grape vine
Pear; Grape vine is a watercolor work on paper by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour artwork features a dual composition: one side depicts a whole and a halved pear with stem and leaves, while the reverse shows two bunches of grapes on a vine. Executed in watercolour, the piece showcases detailed, realistic renderings of the subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork highlights two common fruits of the Renaissance period, emphasizing both their aesthetic appeal and potential for scientific or medicinal study, reflecting 16th-century interests in botany and naturalism.
Technique & Style
Characterized by meticulous, realistic depictions, the watercolour technique blends scientific observation with artistic finesse, typical of the period's botanical illustrations. The colour palette is subdued, with earthy tones dominating the pears and a light beige background.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, the work is dated circa 1575, originating from France. It is part of a 59-drawing album acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1856.
Context
Created during the Renaissance, the piece aligns with the era's renewed interest in natural history and the intersection of art and science. Similar works can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum's collections.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues (French pronunciation: ; c. 1533–1588) was a French artist and member of Jean Ribault's expedition to the New World. His depictions of Native American life and culture, colonial life, and…
Three Pears and an Apple
Traité des arbres fruitiers: Royal d'hiver
Pomona Britannica: No. 82 - Pears
Collection des fleurs et des fruits: Branches de rousselet, pêche, prune et raisin
Twelve Months of Fruit: July
Fruit Arrangement: Peaches and Plumbs on a Slab of Marble
Twelve Months of Fruit: February
Studie af pærer
Apple with Leaf and Fruit Blossom