Primarily a landscapist, Richardt also painted fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Here, he showcases his ability to render a variety of textures, including not only fruit, but marble, silver, and glass.
Born in Denmark, Richardt trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Art and became known for architectural and landscape views of castles and manor houses. The artist's first four-year American sojourn from 1855 to 1859 resulted in thirty-two large paintings of Niagara Falls. He traveled between Europe and the United States several times before immigrating permanently. He moved to San Francisco in 1875 and from there painted redwoods, the Yosemite Valley, and the Monterey Peninsula, as well as city views and still lifes.