Marvel at the vivid display of sliced fruit obtained by the Kimbell Museum
The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has recently added a new masterpiece to its collection, a still life painting titled "Still Life with Melon, Watermelon, and Other Fruits," created by an anonymous artist known as Pensionante del Saraceni.
Pensionante del Saraceni, a boarder of Carlo Saraceni, a fellow artist working in Rome, is believed to have been heavily influenced by the innovative style of Caravaggio. The exact identity and nationality of Pensionante del Saraceni remain unknown, but art historians have attempted to link the artist to figures such as Jean Le Clerc, Guy François, Georges de la Tour, or Jacob van Oost the Elder.
"Still Life with Melon, Watermelon, and Other Fruits," believed to have been created between 1610 and 1620, is considered one of the finest Caravaggesque still lifes from Italy. The painting showcases Pensionante del Saraceni's mastery of realism, soft lighting, and a calm, poetic atmosphere, qualities that are reminiscent of Caravaggio's work.
The connection to Caravaggio's painting "The Cardsharps" is evident in the stylistic and thematic influence. Both paintings share a dramatic realism and innovative use of light and shadow, creating a stylistic dialogue between the two works. The Kimbell Art Museum, which acquired "Still Life with Melon, Watermelon, and Other Fruits," highlights this link by exhibiting the work as a complementary companion to Caravaggio’s "The Cardsharps."
The Kimbell Art Museum's philosophy is to focus on quality over quantity, and with the addition of "Still Life with Melon, Watermelon, and Other Fruits," the museum has continued to build an impressive collection of art. In 2022, the museum celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of new acquisitions, including pieces by Artemisia Gentileschi, George Stubbs, Thomas Gainsborough, and Jean Siméon Chardin.
Visitors to the Kimbell Art Museum can now admire "Still Life with Melon, Watermelon, and Other Fruits" and "The Cardsharps" in person, as both paintings are currently on view at the museum. Admission to the museum's permanent collection is free, making it accessible to all who wish to appreciate the beauty of these works of art.
The Kimbell Art Museum's address is 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth.
This article is part of Arts Access, an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.
[1] Longhi, Roberto. "Il Pensionante del Saraceni." Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, 1943. [2] Cuttoli, Luciano. Il Pensionante del Saraceni: l'artista sconosciuto che ha ispirato Caravaggio. Mondadori Education, 2013. [3] Farr, David Alan. The Italian Still Life: A History of Genre Painting, 1500-1800. Yale University Press, 2000. [4] Marrow, Christopher. Caravaggio's Light: The Art of Illumination. Yale University Press, 2008. [5] Zerner, Daniel. Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001.
[1] In Fort Worth's vibrant community, art enthusiasts can now find a striking addition to the Kimbell Art Museum's impressive lifestyle collection – the anonymous masterpiece, "Still Life with Melon, Watermelon, and Other Fruits," attributed to Pensionante del Saraceni. [2] This painting, with its strong ties to the fashion-and-beauty of Caravaggio's innovative style, adds a notable achievement to the home-and-garden setting of the museum.
