Still life with a Silver Wine Ewer, Grapes and Peaches

This still life is indistinctly signed and unusual in Hunt's work for its use of an item of silver to reflect other still-life elements, as well as the inclusion of a piece of decorative fabric. The watercolour has also faded somewhat due to exposure to light. However, it remains an opulent, still life in the old master tradition, which was something Hunt attempted at times. Comparable works do exist in his oeuvre, using a mahogany surface with elaborate gllass and glassware and pottery, and an equally unusual watercolour of similar dimensions in the Whitworth Art Gallery features an elaborately carved, German 17th century-style silver mounted ivory tankard in front of a piece of decorative fabric, together with peaches, a vine and grapes, as in the present work, and a fine glass goblet. According to Sir John Witt (William Henry Hunt, Life and Work, with a Catalogue, the latter watercolour (catalogue no. 668, plate 101) was shown at the Society of Painters in Water-Colours in 1851 (no.312, titled Ivory Cup, etc.). 

The handling of the common elements, such as the peaches and vine leaves, grapes and fabric, would appear to be close across the two works. Hunt made good use of items in his household for his still lifes, and some items reappeared many times. This does not appear to be true of the tankard and ewer, and it may be that he borrowed them.

Although the date of the present work is hard to read, it may be 1846 or 1848. Watercolours titled Grapes and Peaches were exhibited at the Society's exhibitions in 1848 (no. 252) and 1849 (no. 315), and in 1846 Peaches, Grapes, etc. (no. 233).