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Wine, Cheese, and Fruit

A work made of oil on canvas.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of oil on canvas.

Date:

1857

Artist:

John F. Francis
American, 1808–1886

About this artwork

Succulent grapes, crumbling cheese, sparkling wine in elegant glasses, and cognac in tumblers are depicted in this opulent dessert picture by John Francis. Originally an itinerant portrait painter, Francis turned to still life in the mid-19th century when the availability of daguerreotype portraits rendered his trade obsolete. The penchant for household embellishment among the Victorian middle class created a lively market for still-life paintings, which were often hung in dining rooms. While spirits are featured prominently in this painting, the glasses that are less than half full and the presence of the water indicate balance and restraint, referring to the mid-century growth of the temperance movement, which promoted the ideals of moderation and self-control.

Status

On View, Gallery 173

Department

Arts of the Americas

Artist

John F. Francis

Title

Wine, Cheese, and Fruit

Place

Pennsylvania (Place depicted)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1857

Medium

Oil on canvas

Inscriptions

Signed, lower right: "J. F. Francis/ Pt. 1857"

Dimensions

63.5 × 76.2 cm (25 × 30 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by Charles C. Haffner III and Mrs. Herbert Alexander Vance; Wesley M. Dixon Jr., Fund

Reference Number

1994.239

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/131407/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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