Based on Dutch still life painting of the 17th century, Preyer was able to help this art to a new blossom in a new guise. This fruit still life with blue and white grapes, vine leaves, apricot, peach, greengae, pear and hazelnuts arranged on a white marble plate, offers the viewer a rich sensation. The lateral light incidence and the contrasting gentle color transitions subtly emphasize the volume of the fruits and leaves. The fly in foreground additionally suggests the freshness of the depicted fruit landscape. The images of Preyer's pictures, which celebrated the eating and drinking culture of the affluent bourgeoise, were very well-received by the public in those days. From 1850 on the demand for still lifes by the master became so strong that he began to make only commission works: "Johann Wilhelm Preyer's flower and fruit depictions were in line with contemporary tastes and the general liking for a true natural depictions and harmony in terms of scale, shape and color, plasticity and spatiality. Owing to their masterly exeuction and great craftmanship, his works were widely acknowledged. However, influenced by contemporary aesthetic ideas, his artistic achievement was also effected by contemporary taste" (Catalog raisonné Weiß 2009, p. 30). [FS]