Robert Spear Dunning
Robert Spear Dunning (1829–1905)
An Arrangement of Fruit, 1901
Oil on canvas, 11 x 14 in.
Signed and dated lower right: R. S. Dunning 1901
Inscribed on verso: R. S. Dunning / 1901
Provenance: gift from the artist to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Richardson, Hull, Massachusetts, 1901; William and Linda Vitale, Gloucester, Massachusetts, 1965-2005
An Arrangement of Fruit is a fine example of Dunning’s consummate skill in capturing the appearance of lush, ripe fruit. The artist’s ability to distinguish textures evokes a tactile as well as a visual sense of this rich bounty. Simultaneously, the gentle play of light and curves that echo across the picture and the concentration on elegant surfaces imbue the image with balance, clarity, and unity.