Four Apples
Oil on linen 59 x 67cm 23 x 26in
POA
Apples are surely one of the most painted fruit and, as a subject, their shape and glorious colours are a delight to work with. In this painting there is a different quality because the background is a pale damask curtain. Whereas dark backgrounds are typical of the Classical Realism giving a dramatic impact, by using a light background the work has some qualities of a landscape, just see how the light bounces from one object to another!
Initially the carved wooden moulding was not part of the arrangement but as I worked there seemed to be little feeling of depth to the painting. The acanthus leaf frieze brought the required, extra dimension and adds a fascinating richness to the composition.