Fruit Piece - Richard Earlom

A detailed 1776 mezzotint by Richard Earlom, depicting a bountiful still life of fruit after a painting by Michelangelo Pace.

This mezzotint, titled Fruit Piece, is a masterful reproduction by the British engraver Richard Earlom. Published in 1776, the work translates an original painting by the Italian artist Michelangelo Pace, known as Campidoglio. The print was commissioned as part of the ambitious project to document the collection of Sir Robert Walpole at Houghton Hall, a task overseen by the publisher John Boydell.

Earlom demonstrates his technical command of the mezzotint process through the subtle modulation of light and shadow. The composition features a bountiful arrangement of grapes, melons, and other seasonal produce resting upon a stone ledge. A woven basket serves as the central container for the fruit, while a small lizard rests on the surface in the foreground, adding a touch of naturalistic detail common to the still life tradition. The background includes a gnarled tree trunk and architectural elements, which provide a sense of depth and contrast to the soft, rounded forms of the fruit.

The print captures the textures of the produce with precision, from the translucent skins of the grapes to the rough surfaces of the melons. By employing a tonal range that moves from deep, velvety blacks to bright highlights, Earlom creates a sense of volume and physical presence. This work reflects the eighteenth-century interest in the grand collections of the British aristocracy and the role of the printmaker in disseminating these images to a wider audience. The inclusion of the coat of arms and the descriptive text at the base of the print aligns with the conventions of high-quality reproductive engraving of the period.