Fruit

In the tradition of American still life painting, Ord occupies a position between Raphaelle Peale in the 1820s and 30s, and the abundance that artists such as Severin Roesen brought to the genre in the 1850s and 60s. From Peale, Ord learned careful geometry, specifically the use of strong diagonals, and the use of a pristine light source. This painting, like many of his compositions, reveals an artist who revels in variety of objects and textures. The still life includes yellow and red apples, green and red grapes, and walnuts arranged on a green tabletop. Some of the fruit is placed in a porcelain compote. There is evidence of eating: a single grape and walnuts, the shells of which have been cracked open, appear in the painting’s lower left. The fruit is arranged around a small cask, which is positioned on its side in the center of the composition.