Flowers in a Silver Caster, Fruit in the Foreground 1710 - 1759

Jacques André Portail made this watercolor called "Flowers in a Silver Caster, Fruit in the Foreground," but we don't know when. It reflects a moment in French art history when the academy was the center of artistic life. The arrangement of the flowers and fruit in this piece reflect the period's emphasis on decorative art. Still life as a genre was seen as less important, since it didn’t depict historical or mythological scenes. Artists like Portail would have found themselves stuck in the minor genres if they couldn’t master the “grand manner”. This is because the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture controlled training, exhibitions, and commissions during the 17th and 18th centuries. To truly understand this painting, one must understand how the Academy created a hierarchy of artistic subjects. Researching the archives of the Academy and the careers of artists who found themselves outside it can help us better understand this painting today.