Still Life With Oranges By Philippe Rousseau (1816-1887)

A minimalist still life by the painter Philippe Rousseau depicts three oranges placed on a tabletop that blends into a dark background. On the left are two undisturbed, dimly lit oranges, and on the right, a peeled orange with its segments ready to be eaten. Their white zest forms a strong contrast with the dark tones and the rounded shape of the open oranges. This is a beautiful study of the fruit and its essence, far removed from the often overloaded still lifes of the Napoleon III era, and in this sense, modern. The oil on wood panel is in excellent condition, as is its original giltwood fluted frame. Philippe Rousseau, born in Paris in 1816 and died in Acquigny in 1887, was a student of Antoine-Jean Gros and Jean-Victor Bertin at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He began as a landscape painter, then painted still lifes and animal subjects. He exhibited several times at the Salon from 1834 onwards and obtained a first-class medal 10 years later. His works are represented in numerous French museums, notably the Musée d'Orsay.