Spanish School, late 19th century.

Spanish School, late 19th century.
“Still Life with Fruit,” 1899.
Oil on canvas.
Signed with initials and dated in the lower right corner.
Relined.
Shows repainting, restoration, and missing areas. The frame is damaged.
Measurements: 35 × 45 cm; 47.5 × 57 × 3.5 cm (frame).

This still life revives a deeply rooted tradition in Spanish painting, linked to the Baroque interest in the meticulous observation of food, the variety of its textures, and its striking material presence. The bunch of grapes anchors the visual weight of the composition, accompanied by pumpkins, apples, pears, and plums arranged in a compact, tiered structure.

Selective lighting makes the fruits stand out against a background of greens, ochres, and earth tones, evoking the luminous hallmarks of Baroque still lifes while maintaining a style characteristic of the late 19th century. The brushwork alternates between a more precise rendering of the grapes and shiny surfaces and a broad, textural treatment of the foliage and surroundings. Small touches of light shape the volumes and highlight the diversity of skins, flesh, and reflections, adding pictorial richness to a sober and balanced composition.