Antique French Still Life Oil Painting Fruit & Citrus

Early French still life oil painting, depicting an arrangement of fruit and a vessel upon a simple tabletop. The composition includes oranges, citrus segments and other fruit, with a dark, partially obscured vessel or basket behind, set against a subdued grey blue background. The painting is executed in oil on canvas, with a restrained, earthy palette of warm ochres, browns, muted greens and soft flesh tones. The loose, painterly handling and subdued lighting give the work an appealing early 20th C. continental character, with particular attention to the modelling of the fruit and the contrast between the darker background and lighter foreground objects. The canvas is housed within a substantial oak frame, having a broad, moulded construction with mitred corners and an inner gilt slip, which provides an attractive contrast to the darker wood. The frame has acquired a pleasing aged patina consistent with its period. Overall condition is consistent with age, including surface wear, craquelure and some areas of paint loss/abrasion visible particularly within the darker background, one small area as shown on the last photo but not vizable when displayed. The frame also shows various marks, knocks and signs of age. Back of the canvas is bearing a handwritten signature, sadly hard to read. Frame 54cm by 45cm Canvas 40cm by 32cm A particularly attractive decorative continental still life, suitable for an antiques collection or as an atmospheric piece of traditional interior decoration. ♻️ we care about our little planet and use recycled boxes ♻