Monogrammist V. R.
French School, Second Half of the 19th Century

Still life with basket of fruit and birds

Tempera on canvas
Monogrammed lower right under a Viscount's Crown
74 x 61 cm

This elegant decorative composition depicts a basket of fruit suspended by a blue ribbon in front of a half-open red curtain, revealing a bright sky. The basket overflows with peaches, quinces, and white flowers, accompanied by foliage and blackberries. The scene is enlivened by the presence of a few insects and two birds, one flying to the right, the other at the bottom of the painting, which add a touch of liveliness and naturalness.
The style, marked by botanical precision and a fresh palette, is in the tradition of 19th-century decorative still lifes, inherited from both Flemish models and painted decorations intended for bourgeois interiors. The oval format and technique could indicate a function as an over-door or decorative panel.
This work elegantly illustrates the 19th century taste for compositions of abundance, mixing richness of fruit, brilliance of flowers and liveliness of birds, in a spirit that is both naturalistic and ornamental.