# Fruit on a Tray

**Unknown artist**  
c. 1840  
watercolor on velveteen (theorem painting)  
overall: 42.6 x 54 cm (16 3/4 x 21 1/4 in.) framed: 49.5 x 60.6 x 2.8 cm (19 1/2 x 23 7/8 x 1 1/8 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1953.5.104. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.42507.html).

## About this work

An unrecorded American artist painted this in about 1840. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

The image shows a large cut watermelon in a woven basket surrounded by various fruits including grapes, peaches, and small round red fruits. The color palette includes greens, blues, oranges, and browns. The basket takes up most of the space and is filled with fruits, with grape clusters hanging above it.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Watercolour.** Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.

## Facts

- Type: Painting
- Culture: American
- Real size: about 17 × 21 in (43 × 54 cm). The 16 × 20 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 19th century
- Movement: [Romanticism](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/romanticism)
- Subjects: still life, Fruit
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1505.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1505/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/fruit-on-a-tray-nga-42507).