Who painted Still Life with Melons and Grapes?

Still Life with Melons and Grapes was painted by O.D. Ottesen in 1851.

Where can I see Still Life with Melons and Grapes?

Still Life with Melons and Grapes is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Still Life with Melons and Grapes?

Still Life with Melons and Grapes is associated with Realism.

Can I buy a print of Still Life with Melons and Grapes?

Museum-quality prints of Still Life with Melons and Grapes are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Still Life with Melons and Grapes

O.D. Ottesen , 1851

Still Life with Melons and Grapes is an oil painting by the Realist artist O.D. Ottesen. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1851, this oil painting presents a carefully arranged still life of assorted fruit.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1851, this oil painting presents a carefully arranged still life of assorted fruit. The composition features melons, grapes, apples and pears placed upon a tabletop, some sliced to expose their interiors. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted greens, yellows and reds, giving the work a subdued, naturalistic tone.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on the visual and tactile qualities of fruit, emphasizing their varied forms and textures. By cutting open select pieces, the artist invites the viewer to consider both the exterior appearance and the hidden flesh, suggesting a contemplation of abundance and the fleeting nature of freshness.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting demonstrates a realistic approach with meticulous attention to surface detail. Light falls across the fruit, rendering flesh, skin and seeds with convincing three‑dimensionality. The subtle modeling and careful brushwork convey texture, while the overall composition maintains a balanced, orderly arrangement.

History & Provenance

The piece was produced by Danish painter O.D. Ottesen in the mid‑nineteenth century and is now part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Its acquisition history is limited to this institutional holding, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of 19th‑century still‑life painting.