Late Victorian Still-Life Painting of Grapes and Plums, by Oliver Clare

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This beautiful 1889 piece is an original Victorian-era oil painting by the renowned British still life artist Oliver Clare (1853–1927).

… Read more This beautiful 1889 piece is an original Victorian-era oil painting by the renowned British still life artist Oliver Clare (1853–1927).

ARTWORK: The piece is a classic fruit still life showcasing a dense cluster of translucent white grapes as the centerpiece. Resting on a textured ground at the base are two dark, velvety plums, a small bundle of pale green gooseberries, and a single ripe red raspberry on the right. Large, detailed grape leaves frame the composition in a dark background. The painting features Clare's signature in his characteristic red script, "OLIVER CLARE / 89" clearly visible in the lower right-hand corner.

PRESENTATION: The work is housed in an elaborate, period-accurate giltwood pierced frame with an integrated gold velvet inner mat board. A small metallic title placard at the bottom reads "Oliver Clare 1889". The backing features protective brown craft paper with "OLIVER CLARE 1889" handwritten in graphite twice near the top edge, confirming its inventory identity and date.

ARTIST TECHNIQUE: Oliver Clare was celebrated for his incredible stippling technique and fine, invisible brushwork. He built up translucent glazes over multiple layers to create an uncanny sense of realism. A signature characteristic of Clare's work is the hyper-realistic inclusion of glistening water droplets on the surfaces of the plums and grapes. This technique was designed to make the fruit look fresh-picked and mouth-watering. Further, he utilizes a dramatic, high-contrast light source coming from the upper left, making the center grapes look lit from within against a dark, moody background.

BACKGROUND: Born into a prolific Birmingham family of artists, Oliver Clare was trained primarily by his father, George Clare, and painted alongside his brother, Vincent Clare. While academic art of the time favored grand landscapes and historical scenes, the Clare family spearheaded a popular 19th-century renaissance in highly finished fruit and floral still lifes. Oliver Clare exhibited widely throughout his lifetime, including at the Royal Academy in London and the Royal Society of Artists in Birmingham. Today, his pieces remain highly collectible examples of British Victorian naturalism.
Note: There may be a framed match to this piece still available.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Bottom right (photo #5). Unframed dimensions: 11.5 inches high x 8.5 inches wide. See less