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1 of 253523 objects
Pummelo: whole and half-fruit c. 1640
Watercolour and bodycolour over black chalk | 34.4 x 20.5 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 919333
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A drawing of a large orange-coloured pummelo hanging from the end of a twig with a small green fruitlet to one side, and a large orbicular leaf, with a broadly winged petiole, on the other. Below is a section with a thick rind, partly brownish mesocarp and 13 segments. This drawing comes from a group of over a hundred studies of citrus fruits in the 'paper museum'. Cassiano had them engraved to illustrate a treatise on the cultivation of citrus fruit, written by his friend Giovanni Battista Ferrari, who enthused about the size of the pummelo, one of the largest citrus fruits. However, as the cross-section below shows, much of the fruit’s bulk is made up of a thick pith.
Provenance
Commissioned by Cassiano dal Pozzo; from whose heirs purchased by Pope Clement XI, 1703; his nephew, Cardinal Alessandro Albani, 1721; from whom bought by George III, 1762 and thence by descent to King George V (dispersed from Royal Library between the two World Wars); London art market (most via dealer Jacob Mendelson); by Sir Rex Nan Kivell (partner of the Redfern Galleries on Cork Street); presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1976-77
As part of ongoing provenance research, this work has been identified as having uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933–45. Royal Collection Trust welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era. -
Creator(s)
Acquirer(s)
Commissioner(s)
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Medium and techniques
Watercolour and bodycolour over black chalk
Measurements
34.4 x 20.5 cm (sheet of paper)
Other number(s)
RL 19333Alternative title(s)
Pummelo, Citrus grandis (L.) Osb.: whole and half-fruit
