Artwork
Still life: apples and jar
Still life: apples and jar is an oil painting by Samuel Peploe. It dates from 1912 and is held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1912, this oil painting by Scottish artist Samuel Peploe depicts a modest still‑life arrangement of fruit and vessels. The composition centers on a cluster of yellow‑green apples set upon a white linen, accompanied by a tall, narrow‑necked jar and a subdued blue bowl positioned behind it. The palette is restrained, lending the scene a tranquil, contemplative atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents everyday objects—a handful of apples, a simple jar, and a bowl—arranged to emphasize form and colour rather than narrative. By focusing on the quiet interaction of light on fruit and ceramic, Peploe invites viewers to consider the beauty of ordinary domestic items, suggesting a meditative appreciation of the mundane.
Technique & Style
Peploe employs the post‑impressionist language of the Scottish Colourists, using broad, confident brushstrokes and a harmonious yet muted colour scheme. The oil medium allows for subtle modelling of the apples’ surfaces and the reflective quality of the jar, while the overall handling remains loose, balancing realism with decorative flatness.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the painting has been part of the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. It entered the museum’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, joining a broader representation of Peploe’s still‑life oeuvre within the gallery’s European paintings department.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel John Peploe (pronounced PEP-low; 27 January 1871 – 11 October 1935) was a Scottish Post-Impressionist painter, noted for his still life works and for being one of the group of four painters that became known as the Scottish…
