The USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection: A Unique Blend of Art, Science, and Rotting Fruit
Imagine stepping into a world where art and science collide, a world where ripe, luscious fruits share the spotlight with rotting, shriveled ones. That’s exactly what you get with the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection—a stunning archive of fruit art dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This collection, housed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), showcases more than 7,500 watercolors, lithographs, and drawings of fruit. Some fruits are flawless, ready to be picked, while others are well past their prime, showing signs of decay. Together, they tell a story not just of agriculture, but of life itself.
But how did this collection come to be, and why does it matter so much today? Let’s explore the origins of this unique archive, the talented artists behind the paintings, and why even the rotting fruits deserve a place in this celebration of horticultural history.
The Birth of a Collection: When Art Met Agriculture
It’s the late 1800s, and American agriculture is booming. Farmers across the country are growing new varieties of fruit, from shiny apples to sweet peaches. The USDA, established in 1862, plays a key role in supporting these farmers. But there’s a problem—how do you keep track of all these new fruit varieties, and how do you help farmers recognize them? Describing a fruit in words alone wasn’t enough. People needed to see it.
That’s where the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection comes in. The USDA hired artists to create detailed, lifelike paintings of different fruits. These illustrations were more than just pretty pictures; they served as visual records for farmers, scientists, and horticulturists to identify and study different fruit varieties. Imagine being a farmer in 1890, flipping through a USDA report filled with vivid, detailed watercolors of apples, pears, and plums. It was like having a high-definition photograph before cameras were even a thing!
Elsie E. Lower (1910)
Meet the Artists: The Creative Minds Behind the Collection
The artists responsible for bringing the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection to life were a talented and diverse group, including many women—something that was pretty unusual for the time. Three standout artists in particular—Deborah Griscom Passmore, Amanda Almira Newton, and Royal Charles Steadman—made huge contributions to the collection.
Deborah Griscom Passmore was one of the most prolific artists in the collection, painting over 1,500 watercolors. Her work was known for its delicate precision and attention to detail. She had a remarkable ability to make the fruit look so real that you could almost taste it. Every apple, peach, and grape she painted was a masterpiece of realism.
Amanda Almira Newton took a slightly different approach. While she also captured the beauty of fruit, she wasn’t afraid to show the less-than-perfect side of things. Newton created about 1,200 pieces, many of which featured fruits with bruises, blemishes, or signs of decay. Her work was honest, capturing not just the ideal image of fruit but the reality of its imperfections.
Royal Charles Steadman was another key figure in the collection. His approach was almost scientific—every wrinkle, spot, and imperfection on the fruit was meticulously recorded. His paintings weren’t just beautiful; they were valuable tools for scientists and farmers who relied on them to understand the health of their crops.
James Marion Shull (1912)
The Role of Rotten Fruits: More Than Just Spoiled Produce
While the majority of the collection focuses on perfect, blemish-free fruit, a surprising number of paintings depict fruit in various stages of decay. At first, this might seem odd. Why would anyone want to paint a rotten apple or a moldy pear? But these decayed fruits had an important role to play. They weren’t just examples of what happens when you leave fruit out too long—they were educational tools.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, farmers didn’t have access to modern technology to help them diagnose problems with their crops. They couldn’t just hop online and search “apple rot causes.” Instead, they turned to resources like the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection. The detailed illustrations of decayed fruits showed the symptoms of diseases like black rot and fire blight, helping farmers recognize these issues early and take action before their entire harvest was ruined.
Take black rot, for example. Some of the paintings in the collection show apples with small, dark spots that grow larger and spread as the disease progresses. By studying these paintings, farmers could identify the early signs of black rot in their own orchards and take steps to protect their crops.
Other paintings show insect damage, like the kind caused by the codling moth. This pesky insect lays its eggs inside apples, and when the larvae hatch, they eat their way out, leaving the fruit riddled with holes. The USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection didn’t just show pretty pictures of perfect apples; it showed the real-life struggles that farmers faced, from disease to pests to environmental damage.
A Closer Look at the Artists' Work: The Art of Decay
There’s something strangely beautiful about a painting of a rotting fruit. The artists in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection didn’t shy away from decay—they embraced it, turning what could have been an ugly subject into a work of art.
In many of these paintings, there’s a striking contrast between the vibrant, healthy part of the fruit and the dark, decayed areas creeping in. It’s almost like a tug-of-war between life and death, a visual reminder that even the most beautiful things eventually fade.
Take, for instance, Deborah Griscom Passmore’s painting of a ‘Rambo’ apple. At first glance, the apple looks ripe and ready to eat, with its glossy red skin. But then you notice the patches of rot slowly taking over. The combination of beauty and decay makes for a compelling image, one that’s both visually stunning and educational.
Similarly, Amanda Almira Newton’s painting of a ‘Kieffer’ pear affected by fire blight is a haunting depiction of the disease. The once-smooth pear is now blackened and shriveled, its surface marred by the blight’s destructive effects. Newton’s attention to detail transforms the pear from a simple fruit into a powerful symbol of struggle and loss.
Then there’s Royal Charles Steadman’s painting of a ‘Concord’ grape cluster suffering from black rot. The grapes, once plump and purple, are now shriveled and spotted with decay. Steadman’s precise brushstrokes capture the rot in its various stages, making the painting both a scientific resource and a work of art.
The Legacy of the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
So, why does this collection of fruit paintings matter today? After all, we live in a world where we can take high-definition photos of our food with a quick tap on our phones. But the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection is more than just a bunch of pretty pictures. It’s a valuable historical record of the fruits grown in America during a time of agricultural expansion. The illustrations provide a snapshot of the diversity of fruit varieties that existed back then—many of which no longer exist today.
The collection also serves as an important resource for scientists and horticulturists studying the history of agriculture, plant diseases, and pomology (the science of fruit). By examining the paintings, researchers can gain insights into the challenges faced by farmers more than a century ago and apply that knowledge to modern agricultural practices.
But the collection’s impact isn’t limited to the world of science. It’s also a testament to the skill and dedication of the artists who created it. Their work reminds us of the beauty that can be found in even the most unexpected places, like a bruised apple or a shriveled pear. These paintings continue to inspire artists, historians, and fruit enthusiasts alike.
James Marion Shull (1912)
James Marion Shull (1919)
Pomelo (bottom) James Marion Shull (1918)
From Physical Paintings to Digital Archives
In recent years, the USDA has taken steps to ensure that the legacy of the Pomological Watercolor Collection will live on. The collection has been digitized, making it accessible to people all over the world. Now, anyone with an internet connection can explore these incredible watercolors, from the perfectly ripe peaches to the rotting apples.
This digitization effort not only preserves the collection for future generations but also opens up new possibilities for research and education. Whether you’re a scientist studying plant diseases or an art lover admiring the brushstrokes, the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection has something to offer.
Lemon James Marion Shull (1912)
A Celebration of Life and Decay
At its core, the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection is a celebration of life in all its forms—ripe, overripe, and even decayed. The artists behind these paintings captured the beauty and the reality of fruit, showing us that both perfection and imperfection have value. As we look at these watercolors today, we’re reminded of the cycles of life and nature, and how even the most ordinary things, like an apple or a pear, can tell an extraordinary story.
