Nature morte aux pommes et aux poires

On September 2, 1871, Gustave Courbet was condemned to six months in Sainte Pélagie prison in Paris for his involvement with the Paris Commune and devising a plot to disassemble the Vêndome column and re-erect it in the Hôtel des Invalides. During his incarceration, he continued to paint, mainly concentrating on still lifes, characterized by destitution and sorrow. The objects for these still lifes were provided by his sister Zoé in an effort to lift her brother's spirits. As she explained, 'I bring him flowers, fruits for his models. I encourage him to paint them, even inside his room; it will distract him' (D. de Font-Réulx et.al., Gustave Courbet exh. cat. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008, p. 417). Bruised and sullen, these fruits are a moving testament to an artist who, overcome by the events in his daily life, found refuge in his art.

We are grateful to Sarah Faunce for confirming the authenticity of this painting. The authenticity of this painting has also been confirmed by Jean-Jacques Fernier, in a letter dated 28 August 2006.