A wicker basket of apples and grapes, with plums, figs, strawberries and other fruit

Luca Forte was one of the foremost still-life painters active in Naples in the early 17th century. Although little is known about his life, records show that he served as a witness at the 1639 marriage of fellow Neapolitan painter Aniello Falcone. It is believed that Forte was trained in Falcone's studio. His compositions are typically abundant with fruit rather than flowers, and he played a key role in introducing Caravaggio's naturalism to the still-life genre. This painting is a fine example of Forte's masterful use of light and shadow, capturing with striking realism the cascading grapes alongside fallen figs, plums, and other fruits.

We are grateful to John T. Spike for endorsing the attribution on the basis of photographs (written communication, 6 November 2025).