Apples (1921)

Royal Charles Steadman, born on July 23, 1875, in Portland, Maine, was a skilled botanical illustrator and wax fruit modeler for the United States Department of Agriculture. He studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Cowles Art School in Boston, and jewelry design at the Rhode Island School of Design. Joining the USDA in 1915, Steadman painted meticulously detailed watercolors of a wide range of fruits and vegetables. He also developed a patented method in 1932 for strengthening wax fruit models with plaster on the interior, enhancing their realism and durability. His work, marked by precision and an eye for detail, contributed significantly to botanical art and scientific records.