Luis Egidio Meléndez was born in Naples in 1716 into a Spanish family of artists. His father, Francisco Antonio Meléndez, was a miniaturist and participated in the creation of the Academy of San Fernando. Trained in Madrid with his family and then with Louis-Michel van Loo, the young painter revealed in his Self-portrait an ambitious mastery of portraiture. An academic conflict linked to his father, however, compromised his official career. After a stay in Italy, Meléndez returned to Spain and first worked as a miniaturist. After a stay in Italy, Meléndez returned to Spain and first worked as a miniaturist. His true greatness appeared in still life. After a stay in Italy, Meléndez returned to Spain and first worked as a miniaturist. His true greatness appeared in still life. After a stay in Italy, Meléndez returned to Spain and first worked as a miniaturist. His true greatness appeared in still life. After a stay in Italy, Meléndez returned to Spain and first worked as a miniaturist. His true greatness appeared in still life. After a stay in Italy, Meléndez returned to Spain and first worked natural products from Spain. Watermelons, figs, oranges, nuts, breads, fish, copper bottles and containers are arranged at eye level, very close to the edge. Firm light describes skin, crumb, scale, ceramic and metal with almost scientific precision, without sacrificing monumentality. Still life with salmon, lemon and containers contrasts wet, rough and shiny surfaces; figs and bread become volumes as noble as figures. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 1780. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 1780. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 1780. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 1780. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 1780. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 1780. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 1780. Despite this success, Meléndez experienced financial difficulties and died in Madrid in 17 Meléndez" notably compares Still Life with figs and bread and Still Life with oranges and nuts. Its reading favors the atmosphere.
Meléndez approaches food like monuments: their weight, their skin and their light silently tell the story of the matter of the world.
