Noted for his genre scenes landscapes, and animal paintings, John Henry Dell exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and at he British Institution. In this charming small painting, he is working in the long European tradition of still fifes. Inspired by the great Dutch masters of the 17th century, Dell depicts a rich abundance of fruits, both exotic and familiar, set amid household objects of understated luxury. Though he captures the textures, shapes and muted colors of the scene with delicate skill, the painting is much more than a sensitive observation of nature: it is a celebration of life’s blessings.