Melons and Grapes
mid 19th century
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall (including painted frame): 51.5 x 60.7 cm (20 1/4 x 23 7/8 in.) framed: 51.4 x 60.6 x 2.5 cm (20 1/4 x 23 7/8 x 1 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CAB
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch
Accession Number
1957.11.5
Art Historical Context
"Melons and Grapes" is a delightful still life painted by Chipman in the mid-19th century, rendered in oil on canvas. This intimate work, measuring 51.5 x 60.7 cm including its painted frame, captures the lush textures and vibrant colors of ripe melons and clusters of grapes, inviting viewers to savor their freshness. Belonging to the National Gallery of Art's collection (gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch), it exemplifies the era's fascination with everyday abundance, a common theme in American still life painting. Oil on canvas was the premier medium for such compositions, ...