Luis Egidio Meléndez (1716–1780)

• Was a Spanish painter.
• Meléndez is recognized as the greatest Spanish still-life painter of the 18th century.
• He entered the workshop of Louis Michel van Loo, a Frenchman who had been made royal painter of Philip V. Between 1737 and 1742.
• His mastery of composition and light, and remarkable ability to convey the volume and texture of individual objects enabled him to transform the most mundane of kitchen fare into powerful images.
• Between 1759 and 1772, he created at least 44 still lifes for the private museum of natural history belonging to the Prince of Asturias, who later became King Charles IV of Spain.
• Of these paintings thirty nine are today in the Museo del Prado, and it is rare to find his work outside of Spain.
• The Displayed painting is a crop from: Still Life with Melon and Pears, c. 1772.
• Next

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Lemons and Oranges, 1760s

Original, The National Gallery, London. Visited in 2018-19.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Lemons and Oranges, 1760s

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Oranges and Walnuts, 1772

Original, The National Gallery - London. Visited in 2018-19.

Still Life with Bread, Ham, Cheese, and Vegetables, c.(1772)

Original, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Visited in 2018.

Still Life with Bread, Ham, Cheese, and Vegetables, c.(1772)

Still Life with Bread, Still Life with Melon and Pears, c. 1772

Original, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Visited in 2018.

Still Life with Bread, Still Life with Melon and Pears, c. 1772

Still Life with Bread, Still Life of Artichokes and Tomatoes in a Landscape, 1770s

Original, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Visited in 2017-2021.

Still Life of Artichokes and Tomatoes in a Landscape (1770s)

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Figs and Bread, c. 1716-1770

Original, NGA-DC. Visited in 2017-18.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Figs and Bread, c. 1716-1770

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Oranges, Nuts, Spices, Boxes of Sweetmeats, a Jug and a Cask on a Table, about 1760-1770s

Original, The J. Paul Getty Museum. Visited in 2018.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Oranges, Nuts, Spices, Boxes of Sweetmeats, a Jug and a Cask on a Table, about 1760-1770s

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Bodegón con besugos, naranjas, ajo, condimentos y utensilios de cocina, 1772

Original, El Prado. Visited in 2018.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Bodegón dos perdices, cebollas, ajos y vasijas

Original, El Prado. Visited in 2018.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Bodegón chorizos, jamón y cacharros, 1771

Original, El Prado. Visited in 2018.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Pigeons, Onions, Bread, and Kitchen Utensils, c. 1772

Original, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art - Hartford. Visited in 2019.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Pigeons, Onions, Bread, and Kitchen Utensils, c. 1772

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Oranges, Jars, and Boxes of Sweets, c. 1760-65

Original, Kimbell Art Museum, TX. Visited in 2020

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Oranges, Jars, and Boxes of Sweets, c. 1760-65

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Melons, Quinces and Plums, ca. 1765-71

Original, The Pinakotheken, Munich. Visited in 2019.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Melons, Quinces and Plums, ca. 1765-71

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Figs, around 1760-1770

Original, Louvre Museum, Paris. Visited in 2021.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Still Life with Figs, around 1760-1770

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Portrait of the artist holding a drawing of a male academy, 1746

Original, Louvre Museum, Paris. Visited in 2021.

Luis Egidio Meléndez, Portrait of the artist holding a drawing of a male academy, 1746