Morston Constantine Ream (1840–1898) was a respected American painter, celebrated primarily for his meticulously rendered fruit and dessert still lifes. Born in Lancaster, Ohio, Ream began his artistic career as a daguerreotypist—a photographer using early photographic techniques—before shifting to painting around 1868 when he decided the chemicals involved in daguerreotype work were hazardous to his health. Influenced by the writings of John Ruskin and grounded by his photographic background, Ream approached his still-life compositions with striking realism and honesty. Although he produced occasional landscapes and genre scenes, his output focused on fruit studies, many of which were exhibited at leading institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Brooklyn Art Association, National Academy of Design, and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. His younger brother, Carducius Plantagenet Ream, also achieved prominence as a still-life painter. Today, Morston Ream’s elegantly composed canvases remain sought-after for their rich color, technical finesse, and enduring appeal among collectors of nineteenth-century American art. The piece is in what appears to be a custom frame designed specifically for this little jewel of a painting.