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Lot Essay
S.J. Peploe’s Roses and Fruit is a strong example of the artist’s investigation into the still life. Throughout his career, Peploe remained devoted to the genre, captivated by the endless possibilities of colour, form, and arrangement, as he expressed in a 1929 letter: ‘There is so much in mere objects, flowers, leaves, jugs, what not – colours, forms, relations – I can never see mystery coming to an end’ (the artist, quoted in in G. Peploe, S.J. Peploe, Farnham, 2012, pp. 112-113).
The bold application of colour and the dynamic interplay between compositional elements within Roses and Fruit, reflect the influence of French Post-Impressionism, particularly the structured brushwork and tonal planes of Paul Cézanne. Peploe’s depiction of the roses displays a masterful orchestration of shape and colour, the crimson lines capturing the structure of the fresh flowers. His use of white stands as a unifying element, typical of his earlier works, found in the highlights of the backdrop, undulations of the tablecloth, and the subtle accents within the roses. Peploe’s handling of paint in Roses and Fruit is particularly confident and expressive; the thick impasto of the roses, applied with assured, sweeping gestures, contrasts with the flatter, more structured treatment of the table and background, revealing Peploe’s skill in balancing expressive freedom with compositional control.
The artist was known for his meticulous approach to composition, carefully arranging and rearranging objects in his studio with what his grandson, Guy Peploe, described as ‘intense, sometimes pseudo-scientific investigation … with tireless, almost obsessive energy [he] tried to construct the significant out of the commonplace' (Ibid., p. 119). This rigorous pursuit of balance and harmony is evident in the present work, where the rounded forms of the fruit are juxtaposed with the structured presence of the vase and roses.
Still life was an enduring subject for Peploe, and in Roses and Fruit he demonstrates his mastery of the genre with a composition that is both deeply considered and vibrantly alive. This work stands as a testament to Peploe’s ability to transform ordinary objects into something timeless, demonstrating the profound beauty he saw in the simple arrangement of flowers, fruit, and fabric.
The bold application of colour and the dynamic interplay between compositional elements within Roses and Fruit, reflect the influence of French Post-Impressionism, particularly the structured brushwork and tonal planes of Paul Cézanne. Peploe’s depiction of the roses displays a masterful orchestration of shape and colour, the crimson lines capturing the structure of the fresh flowers. His use of white stands as a unifying element, typical of his earlier works, found in the highlights of the backdrop, undulations of the tablecloth, and the subtle accents within the roses. Peploe’s handling of paint in Roses and Fruit is particularly confident and expressive; the thick impasto of the roses, applied with assured, sweeping gestures, contrasts with the flatter, more structured treatment of the table and background, revealing Peploe’s skill in balancing expressive freedom with compositional control.
The artist was known for his meticulous approach to composition, carefully arranging and rearranging objects in his studio with what his grandson, Guy Peploe, described as ‘intense, sometimes pseudo-scientific investigation … with tireless, almost obsessive energy [he] tried to construct the significant out of the commonplace' (Ibid., p. 119). This rigorous pursuit of balance and harmony is evident in the present work, where the rounded forms of the fruit are juxtaposed with the structured presence of the vase and roses.
Still life was an enduring subject for Peploe, and in Roses and Fruit he demonstrates his mastery of the genre with a composition that is both deeply considered and vibrantly alive. This work stands as a testament to Peploe’s ability to transform ordinary objects into something timeless, demonstrating the profound beauty he saw in the simple arrangement of flowers, fruit, and fabric.