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Still Life with Grapes and Flowers
Mélanie de Comoléra (French, 1789-1854)
c. 1827
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Classification
- Painting
- Dimensions
- 40.7 × 32.7 cm (16 1/16 × 12 7/8 in.); Framed: 52.4 × 45.1 × 8.3 cm (20 5/8 × 17 3/4 × 3 1/4 in.)
- Culture
- France
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago, Painting and Sculpture of Europe
- Credit line
- Through prior purchase with funds provided by Eugene and Helen Huang in memory of Ada and Wilfred Polkinghorne, Justin K. Thannhauser, A. A. Munger Collection, bequest of Celia Schmidt Estate
- Rights
- Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Little Ones profiles and older: it shows gentle subjects for the very young. How works are placed
View at the Art Institute of Chicago
About this work
In this exquisite still life, Mélanie de Comoléra skillfully depicted a variety of flowers, fruits, and other luxury objects. On a marble ledge sits a wide bowl, overflowing with grapes and plums. Behind it, a glass pitcher holds a mix of colorful flowers. In the foreground, key limes and jalapeño peppers, botanical species that are not indigenous to Europe, evoke themes of colonialism and global trade.
Mélanie de Comoléra studied and worked in France before moving to London, where she made this painting. The artist established a successful career there and became the official painter to the Duchess of Clarence (later Queen Adelaide) and Queen Victoria.
Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0
