Still Life with Fan and Roses
1874
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase
Accession Number
1979.149
Tags
About this artwork
Thomas Hovenden painted a few still lifes in addition to his better-known genre scenes. Here, a seemingly casual arrangement of objects masks the care that Hovenden took to create a balanced composition. The arc of blooms in the lower right echoes the details of the graceful Japanese fan that anchors the painting. Clear light, luminous shadows, and a mix of humble and exotic objects evoke the golden age of Dutch still-life painting, a tradition Hovenden likely knew from his Paris teachers and hi...
Art Historical Context
Thomas Hovenden's *Still Life with Fan and Roses* (1874) offers a serene glimpse into the artist's lesser-known foray into still-life painting, diverging from his renowned genre scenes of everyday American life. Trained in Paris and steeped in European museum traditions, Hovenden crafted this oil painting during a pivotal moment in his career, blending meticulous observation with subtle artistry. Acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum a museum purchase, it exemplifies 19th-century American painters' engagement with Old World influences amid a growing national identity. At first glanc...
About the Artist
Thomas Hovenden
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