American

Rubens Peale

U.S. 1784-1865
Watermelon and Peaches 84.0010

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This still life is one of dozens of fruit pieces Rubens Peale produced in the last decade of his life. The still life was considered a lesser genre than history or portraiture, however, the Peales frequently included still-life groupings in their portraits. Only later when the demand for portraiture began to decline (about 1810) did Rubens' brother Raphaelle (the Peale most well-known for his still-life painting) begin to paint still-lifes exclusively. Rubens was drawn to still-life because of his interest in botany and horticulture. He based his compositions upon his brother, Raphaelle's formula-a horizontal arrangement against a neutral background, indirectly illuminated. Rubens, the son of artist and museum founder, Charles Willson Peale, was a member of a very large family of artists. Because of defective eyesight, he did not learn to paint along with his siblings. Rubens instead took charge of his father's museum in Philadelphia from 1810 to 1822 at which time he took over directorship of his brother Rembrandt Peale's museum in Baltimore. His intense absorption in nature manifested itself in an interest in botany, taxidermy, and natural curiosities. His belated emergence as a painter at the age of 71 came about as a result of his daughter's instruction and encouragement.

 

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