Arthur B. Carles, Still Life with Copper Kettle

Carles made this painting while a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Carles excelled there, training under William Merritt Chase and Cecilia Beaux.

Here Carles gathers assorted household items into an intimate still life. The copper kettle, blue and white porcelain, red drapery, yellow lemons, and other objects offer a pleasing array of shapes, sizes and materials. The contrasting warm and cool colors enrich one another. He was likely inspired by still life paintings by Chase such as Still Life with Brass Coffee Pot, Bowl, Celery and Red Peppers, also in Woodmere's collection.