Arnoud Wydeveld

This still life features a heavy, glossy bunch of grapes hanging from a string; a compositional hallmark for which Arnoud Wydeveld (1823–1888) is renowned. Wydeveld spent much of his life working in New York, where he gained acclaim for his exceptionally refined fruit still lifes and atmospheric, intimate interiors.

In this work his command of chiaroscuro and texture is demonstrated sublimely. The subtle interplay of light reflecting off the translucent skin of the individual blue and red grapes lends the composition remarkable depth and tangibility. Through the natural ageing of the resin varnish, the painting has acquired a warm, deep tonality that further underlines its historical character.