Though he started his career as a portrait painter, Philadelphia born artist John Francis is primarily known for the still life paintings of his later career.
These, mostly of fruit and desserts, varied from complex formal arrangements, sometimes against the backdrop of a partial landscape, to simple compositions of only a few objects.
Francis was largely self-taught, and though he was undoubtedly influenced by the other Philadelphia still life artists of the time, such as Raphaelle Peale, Francis developed a more immediate and painterly approach, unusual for the period. His palette was also lighter and leaned more toward bright yellows and oranges than those of his contemporaries.
[Via Still Life In Oils blog]
