Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
The Fruit Man |
Artist |
Wightman, Thomas |
Medium |
oil |
Support |
canvas |
Dimensions |
31 x 26" (framed) |
Credit line |
Given in memory of Anne Roberta Miles Hussmann (1935-2001) |
Accession Number |
2004.015 |
Collection |
Painting |
Description |
Born in Charleston, Thomas Wightman studied under American artist Henry Inman and lived in New York from 1841 until the outbreak of the Civil War when he returned south. In addition to still life compositions he painted portraits. Bringing together both of his specialties, this work- entitled "The Fruitman" suggests the artist's own sense of experimentation and humor. Most likely, Wightman drew inspiration from sixteenth-century, Italian court painter, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, famous for his composite heads formed from inanimate objects that were intended as humorous allegories of imperial authority. Here, Wightman used his experience with still life painting to create a portrait-like image formed by a series of fruits and vegetables. The viewer sees a face-like object but is at once forced to deconstruct its unusual components to fully absorb the composition. |
Subjects |
Fruit man Figures Mustaches |
Image |
012\2004.015.jpg |