Thomas Hill
American
British-born Thomas Hill immigrated to Massachusetts with his family when he was young. He later found himself drawn west, eventually settling in San Francisco, where he made the grandeur of California the subject of many paintings. Even while traveling on the East Coast and in Europe, he continued to paint California scenes. He made annual sketching trips to Yosemite, Mount Shasta, and the White Mountains, and he kept a studio at Yosemite’s Wawona Hotel (now Big Trees Lodge) in his final years.
Born
1826
Died
1908
What makes this still life American?
A celebration of spring’s rich abundance of colors and tastes, this tour de force still life demonstrates Hill’s technical skills. It is a trophy painting, in both the effort of the painter and the affluence of the patron’s table. While the virtuosity of Hill’s painting evokes the 17th-century Dutch still-life tradition, this feast for the senses glorifies hearty and diverse American foodstuffs: asparagus, cabbage, radishes, carrots, lettuces, and onions.
Medium
Oil on canvas
Credit
Gift of A. H. Brawner to the California Palace of the Legion of Honor
Item ID
1956.92
Dimensions
26 5/8 x 32 7/8 in. (67.6 x 83.5 cm)
Date
ca. 1882
Country
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Artist name
Thomas Hill
Artwork location