Pyrus communis Winter Bartlett
1913
Ellen Isham Schutt created this meticulous study of a 'Winter Bartlett' pear in 1913, likely for the USDA's pomological collection to help farmers identify crops. Notice the brown, rough patches on the skin—that's called russeting, and for pear lovers, it often indicates a richer, sweeter flavor than smooth skin. The handwritten notes at the bottom tell a story of agricultural bureaucracy: the specimen came from Fresno, California, in 1899, and Schutt based her 1913 version on an earlier painting by 'Miss Heiges' (Deborah Griscom Heiges, another legendary fruit illustrator). These weren't just pretty pictures; they were vital scientific records preserving the look of American fruit varieties for posterity.
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- Watercolor
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