This charming early 20th-century still life by English artist Oliver Clare (1853-1927) depicts an arrangement of soft fruit including plums, gooseberries, strawberries and an apple. Oliver Clare was an artist of renown hailing from, and working predominantly in, Birmingham.
A quintessentially British leafy ensemble rests upon a mossy bank, evoking reminisces of brisk country strolls amid the crisp song of a lofty blackbird. It’s rendered with aplomb by a master of still life.
Along with his father, George Clare (1830-1900), and his brother, Vincent Clare (1855-1925), Oliver Clare formed part of a trinity of painters who found an affinity for the often-overlooked subject of still-life painting. Declared, in academic eyes, as a lesser subject than figurative or landscape painting, still life was going through a renaissance in the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. As the domineering rule of the academies and ‘high art’ waned, artists increasingly turned to the subject, as did their patrons.
In his early career, Clare found success when exhibiting at both the Royal Society of British Artists and the Royal Academy in London. However, whilst the growing appreciation for still life was certainly a positive, it also meant the British market became flooded with works, making it very competitive. Clare tried his luck in the USA, travelling to New York. He returned, however, after four years, settling down in his hometown of Birmingham. He would exhibit frequently in the northern galleries for many years.
Many testimonies remain of Clare’s artistic and personal character. He was said to have offered up teaching lessons as well as gifting paintings in return of a favour. He was also known to paint on unusual supports, such as cigar box lids, and give these to friends and family.
It seems a passion for nature fuelled his desire to paint - the artist often drawing inspiration from the country hedgerows and their myriad of foliage and vegetation. Many recalled seeing him regularly, sketching in the British countryside. Alongside him were his loyal dogs, of whom he was particularly fond. They would apparently fetch fruit from the greengrocers to bring to his studio for him to paint.
Despite there being some challenging times, Clare’s works have nonetheless stood the test of time. Well after his death, they have remained incredibly popular, impeccable examples of British still life painting. He's represented in numerous public collections including Birmingham City Art Gallery and Russell-Cotes Art Gallery.
Signed in the lower right and held within a later frame.
Learn more about Oliver Clare in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 21” x 25½” / 54cm x 65cm
Year of creation: c. 1900
Labels & Inscriptions: Gallery label on reverse.
Provenance: Art dealership, Cotswolds, England / Private collection, UK.
Condition: Cleaned. Areas of fine and settled craquelure, as you would expect. The paint layer is stable. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £12,080 for ‘Plums, Strawberries, Grapes on a Mossy Bank/Flowers and Bird's Nest’, Oil on canvas, Christie’s, 19th Century European Paintings Drawings and Watercolors, New York, 1994 (lot 266).
Our reference: BRV2040
