Object Details
Artist
Severin Roesen, born Cologne, Germany 1815-died after 1872
Gallery Label
Severin Roesen's still life celebrates an American harvest and the promise of more to come. The split pomegranate and half-eaten melon carry the seeds of next year's planting, while the glass of champagne invites a quiet moment of appreciation. Roesen was among many Germans who fled their country's political troubles of 1848. They brought with them a level of craftsmanship that found a ready market among Americans whose prosperity matched the natural abundance the artist captured here. These new Americans, whose dreams of democratic reform in Europe had been crushed, also brought to this country a liberal social conscience that played a significant role in the abolition of slavery.Exhibition Label, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2006
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Maria Alice Murphy in memory of her brother Colonel Edward J. Murphy, Jr. and museum purchase through the Director's Discretionary Fund
Date
1852
Object number
1981.114
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Painting
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
34 x 43 7/8 in. (86.5 x 111.5 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Still life\fruit\apple
Still life\fruit\pineapple
Still life\fruit\grape
Still life\fruit\lemon
Still life\fruit\berry
Still life\fruit\watermelon
Still life\other\dish
Still life\other\container
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1981.114