Who painted Still Life with Cake?

Still Life with Cake was painted by Raphaelle Peale in 1822.

Where can I see Still Life with Cake?

Still Life with Cake is held by Brooklyn Museum.

What movement is Still Life with Cake?

Still Life with Cake is associated with American Folk Art.

Can I buy a print of Still Life with Cake?

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

Artwork

Still Life with Cake

Raphaelle Peale , 1822

Still Life with Cake is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Raphaelle Peale. It dates from 1822 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

The composition presents a modest arrangement of fruit and confectionery on a muted tabletop, set against a dark backdrop.

Created in 1822 by Raphaelle Peale, *Still Life with Cake* is an oil painting that exemplifies early American folk art. The composition presents a modest arrangement of fruit and confectionery on a muted tabletop, set against a dark backdrop. The work is part of the Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection, illustrating Peale’s role in establishing still‑life painting as a professional pursuit in the United States.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas centers on a yellow apple with a green leaf, a darker fruit, and a small cake topped with white frosting and green decorative accents. The objects are placed in a seemingly spontaneous manner, suggesting a momentary glimpse of a domestic setting. The juxtaposition of fresh fruit and baked goods hints at themes of abundance and everyday nourishment within an early 19th‑century American household.

Technique & Style

Peale employs a restrained palette of earth tones and muted colors, allowing the bright apple and the cake’s frosting to become focal points. The oil medium is applied with modest brushwork, characteristic of folk‑art aesthetics that favor clarity over elaborate detail. Light falls softly across the table, creating subtle highlights that give the objects a modest three‑dimensional presence without dramatic chiaroscuro.

History & Provenance

Raphaelle Peale, recognized as the first professional American still‑life painter, produced this work during a period when domestic genre scenes were gaining popularity. After changing hands among private collectors, the painting entered the Brooklyn Museum’s collection, where it remains on view as a representative example of early American folk painting and Peale’s pioneering contributions to the genre.