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Oranges on a Branch

Winslow Homer American
1885
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
Many of Homer’s images of the Bahamas evoke the idea of the islands as a paradise created especially for tourists. Enjoying local fruits was perceived as a fundamental luxury of the visitor experience, as one contemporary guidebook noted: "Oranges to daily break our fast in the morning, and delightfully crown our afternoon meal, are felt to be a necessity. Without them the most elaborate feast fails to satisfy." This vibrant watercolor, a rare still life by the artist, offers a complete sensory experience—ripe citrus, bright green leaves, and fragrant blossoms are bathed in warm sunlight.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Oranges on a Branch
  • Artist: Winslow Homer (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1836–1910 Prouts Neck, Maine)
  • Date: 1885
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Watercolor on paper
  • Dimensions: 14 x 19 5/8 in. (35.6 x 49.8 cm)
  • Credit Line: Erving and Joyce Wolf Collection
  • Rights and Reproduction: Erving and Joyce Wolf Collection
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing