Jules Ferdinand Medard (1855 - 1925) - Wicker Basket with Fruits and Flower

Oil on canvas. 46 x 55 cm. Signed lower right.

This refined still life by Jules Ferdinand Médard (1855–1925) beautifully combines fruit and flowers with remarkable precision. Set on a stone ledge, a woven basket overflows with peaches in delicate pink tones and clusters of golden-tinged white grapes. Around the basket, vibrant roses — two white and two red — are elegantly arranged, accompanied by small wildflowers and finely rendered leaves. The whole composition is bathed in soft light that enhances the textures and volumes.

In the background, a softly rendered, wooded landscape bathed in golden light provides a bucolic setting. Treated with more delicacy than the foreground, it creates depth and reinforces the naturalistic effect. The viewer’s gaze is gently led from the richness of detail in the foreground to a more contemplative, serene atmosphere.

The composition is carefully balanced. The basket forms the visual centerpiece, while the flowers in the foreground offer a counterpoint that adds dynamism to the scene. The palette — dominated by ochres, greens, whites, and reds — is harmonious and subtle, demonstrating Médard’s refined sense of color.

Médard displays a true observational talent: the velvety skin of the fruit, the translucency of the grapes, the veins of the leaves, and the petals of the roses are all depicted with near-photographic precision. Yet this accuracy is never cold — it is imbued with poetic sensitivity and a gentle affection for the natural world.

This painting belongs to the great tradition of 19th-century still life, standing at the crossroads of academicism and naturalism. It recalls the legacy of artists such as Fantin-Latour, or Lyonnais painters like François Rivoire. Far from being a mere decorative exercise, the work celebrates the simple pleasures and fragile beauty of nature. Through the lush but controlled composition, it expresses a sense of quietude and timeless elegance.

Médard reveals here not only his technical mastery but also his emotional insight — a painting that captures reality while suggesting a peaceful, silent atmosphere, as if time itself had paused.

Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon under Jean-Marie Reignier, Jules Ferdinand Médard quickly established himself as a master of still life. From 1878 onwards, he exhibited at the Paris Salon, where he met with great success. Highly sought after during his lifetime, he captivated collectors with the finesse of his brushwork, the richness of his compositions, and his eye for detail.