The anatomy of a masterpiece

THE Peploe canvas is more than a simple still life, it combines purpose, a sense of style and clues to its cultural influences, open to expert interpretation. The following points can be made:

The coffee pot: Christie's Andre Zlattinger explains: "It's well-represented but loosely painted in a way that shows the influence of the Impressionists."

Black objects on white ground: This provides a clever contrasting device that draws the viewer's eye into the composition.

Coffee pot, wine glass: Typical of objects, along with bottles, Peploe used in his sophisticated early still lifes. The strong black and white contrast shows the inspiration of Edouard Manet, in paintings such as his 1864 Branch of White Peonies, with Pruning Shears, which Peploe could have seen in Paris.

Still life composition: The Colourists were among the first artists to really paint still life in Scotland, establishing a tradition that continued with artists such as Anne Redpath and Alberto Morrocco. The picture has been exhibited numerous times including at the National Galleries of Scotland and the Royal Academy.

Coffee pot handle: The painting demonstrates "alla prima" technique, says art dealer and Peploe's grandson Guy Peploe, where the paint is swept across the canvas in a fluid application in a single brushstroke. Probably bought in a junk shop, the pot is still in the possession of the Peploe family.