Raisins and Pomegranates after Chardin

This still life, executed with great finesse in the classical tradition, draws inspiration from the masters of the genre. It features a rich accumulation of fruits and art objects carefully arranged on a dark wooden table. The composition is centred around a magnificent white ceramic jug, adorned with delicate floral patterns (greens and pinks) and topped with a lid surmounted by a patinated brass element. To the left, an open pomegranate reveals its heart bursting with ruby-red, juicy seeds, spilling over the surface, while a second whole pomegranate, in warm orange hues, accompanies it. In the foreground, a profusion of grape clusters creates a striking play of contrasts: the black grapes, in deep purple, gracefully intertwine with the white grapes, whose translucent berries seem filled with sunlight. A ripe pear, with golden reflections, is placed beside them. To the right, a pair of elegant stemmed glasses, filled with an amber liquid (wine or liqueur), adds a note of refinement, enhanced by the presence of a few hazelnuts and a small knife with a light handle. The lighting, subtle and dramatic, sculpts the volumes, highlights the transparency of the grapes and the velvety skins of the fruits, against a warm, uniform brown shadow that gives the whole scene a timeless and profound atmosphere. The work bears a discreet handwritten inscription in the lower left corner, "After 'Grapes and Pomegranates' by Chardin." It is a copy executed by the artist Catherine Huiban, attesting to the homage paid to the original work of Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin. This painting is a celebration of the simple beauty and abundance of nature, rendered with remarkable technical mastery.