Henri Fantin-Latour | Cherries, 1883

Henri Fantin-Latour | Cherries, 1883 | Victoria and Albert Museum

"Cherries" is a fine example of Fantin-Latour's paintings of flower, a category in which he progressively specialised executing up to 500 floral compositions.

This painting shows a cherry branch with cherries and leaves whose bright red and green contrast against the plain white background.

This effect of light and colour are characteristic of the new naturalism developed in French art in the second half of the 19th century, which anticipate the Impressionists' new experimentations.

"Cherries" was probably painted in Paris in Fantin-Latour's studio.

It shows a branch of cherry tree with cherries and leaves, the motif being cut off on the edges.

It is one of the three paintings the South Kensington School of Design, now Victoria and Albert Museum, acquired as a model for its students.

They all share the characteristic of presenting a single plant rather than a bouquet, depicted without a vase or table, on a plain background.

Here the artist focused his attention on the contrast between the brilliant colours of the cherries and the almost white background, pervading the picture with a strong luminosity.