MARY JANE PEALE

A bountiful late summer harvest is laid out on a table in this small painting. The white, red, and black grapes are perfectly ripe, catching glimmers of light on their skin. Fresh, firm, and seemingly juicy, they cascade toward the edge of the table, tempting the viewer to reach out and taste one. Their curly vines playfully dance across the picture. On the right are two peaches—one with the stem and three leaves still attached, as if it has just been picked. The other is only a half, suggesting that someone has already enjoyed the rest.

Mary Jane Peale, granddaughter of the famous painter Charles Willson Peale, began studying art as a young woman. Although women faced significant barriers to pursuing an artistic career, Mary Jane benefited from her family connections in the art world. She trained with several well known artists and took classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. When she painted Grapes and Peaches she was living with her parents on a farm outside of Philadelphia. Her father, Rubens, devoted most of his life to museum work but was also a gifted gardener. At age 71, he took up painting. Mary Jane gave him instruction and helped him finish his works. The two artists inspired each other.