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Passionate Customer Service Museum Quality Art Prints Customization Options AvailableThis is how I imagine a Spanish bullfighter at the end of the 19th century. Dressed up, dainty, proud, with arrogant-racial look. In fact, the insignia, brush and cardboard with body study reveal that it is the self-portrait of a painter, 31-year-old Luis Egidio Meléndez. He is a master of the bodegón, still lifes that depict mainly food. Aren't still lifes of "inanimate objects," with artfully arranged lemons, bitten apples or game, a 17th-century Dutch specialty? True, but the southern Netherlands belonged to the Spanish Empire at the time. Baroque Spanish and Dutch still lifes, however, were virtually haunted by symbols, such as skulls (for transience) or fish (for Christ). This was different in Meléndez's late 18th-century Spanish bodegones: dishes and food took center stage and simply stood on their own.
The Meléndez family of artists was well known, but always in a more or less desolate economic situation. Meléndez's father Francisco sought a better living in Italy from 1699 than in his native Spain - in vain. Luis Egidio was trained by him and the French high-society painter Louis Michel van Loo and was to become the most famous of the Meléndezes. His self-portrait hangs in the Louvre, more than 40 of his small oil paintings are part of the collection of the Prado in Madrid, including the most famous, only 42 by 62 centimeters "A piece of salmon, a lemon and three vessels." The title already a poem. Meléndez continued the tradition of the great Spanish still life painters of the Siglo de oro, the Golden Age, Juan Sánchez Cotán and Francisco de Zurbarán. Characteristics of Meléndez's bodegones are the rigor of the composition, the accurate, naturalistic rendering of the light, texture and color of the food, fruit and vessels made of copper, clay or glass. He also brings the objects to the forefront, close to the viewer. The food, the everyday utensils are the subject, not any moral or religious implications - how modern! An anecdote on the side: naturalists had assumed that the San José scale insect, which attacks fruit trees and is still subject to registration in Germany, only raged in Spain from the 19th century onwards. Meléndez imaged the fruit with such an obsession for detail that the tiny traces of the San José scale insect were visible on them - and scientists had to correct their records.
Until 1748, Luis Egidio worked as an assistant to Louis Michel van Loo, but got nowhere with his own career. For four years he tried his luck in Italy, like his father, until the latter called him back to Madrid in 1752: a fire had destroyed the royal choir library a few years earlier. Miniature painters like Luis Egidio were in demand for the restoration of the precious illustrated books. For the crown prince's natural history cabinet, Meléndez created 44 still lifes depicting Spanish vegetables and fruits (and traces of the San José scale insect), most of which now belong to the Prado. His bodegones, however, were nothing but natural history illustrations for science at the time: in 1760 his application to be appointed chamber painter to the court was rejected. He died in 1780 - unrecognized and in poverty.
This is how I imagine a Spanish bullfighter at the end of the 19th century. Dressed up, dainty, proud, with arrogant-racial look. In fact, the insignia, brush and cardboard with body study reveal that it is the self-portrait of a painter, 31-year-old Luis Egidio Meléndez. He is a master of the bodegón, still lifes that depict mainly food. Aren't still lifes of "inanimate objects," with artfully arranged lemons, bitten apples or game, a 17th-century Dutch specialty? True, but the southern Netherlands belonged to the Spanish Empire at the time. Baroque Spanish and Dutch still lifes, however, were virtually haunted by symbols, such as skulls (for transience) or fish (for Christ). This was different in Meléndez's late 18th-century Spanish bodegones: dishes and food took center stage and simply stood on their own.
The Meléndez family of artists was well known, but always in a more or less desolate economic situation. Meléndez's father Francisco sought a better living in Italy from 1699 than in his native Spain - in vain. Luis Egidio was trained by him and the French high-society painter Louis Michel van Loo and was to become the most famous of the Meléndezes. His self-portrait hangs in the Louvre, more than 40 of his small oil paintings are part of the collection of the Prado in Madrid, including the most famous, only 42 by 62 centimeters "A piece of salmon, a lemon and three vessels." The title already a poem. Meléndez continued the tradition of the great Spanish still life painters of the Siglo de oro, the Golden Age, Juan Sánchez Cotán and Francisco de Zurbarán. Characteristics of Meléndez's bodegones are the rigor of the composition, the accurate, naturalistic rendering of the light, texture and color of the food, fruit and vessels made of copper, clay or glass. He also brings the objects to the forefront, close to the viewer. The food, the everyday utensils are the subject, not any moral or religious implications - how modern! An anecdote on the side: naturalists had assumed that the San José scale insect, which attacks fruit trees and is still subject to registration in Germany, only raged in Spain from the 19th century onwards. Meléndez imaged the fruit with such an obsession for detail that the tiny traces of the San José scale insect were visible on them - and scientists had to correct their records.
Until 1748, Luis Egidio worked as an assistant to Louis Michel van Loo, but got nowhere with his own career. For four years he tried his luck in Italy, like his father, until the latter called him back to Madrid in 1752: a fire had destroyed the royal choir library a few years earlier. Miniature painters like Luis Egidio were in demand for the restoration of the precious illustrated books. For the crown prince's natural history cabinet, Meléndez created 44 still lifes depicting Spanish vegetables and fruits (and traces of the San José scale insect), most of which now belong to the Prado. His bodegones, however, were nothing but natural history illustrations for science at the time: in 1760 his application to be appointed chamber painter to the court was rejected. He died in 1780 - unrecognized and in poverty.
.jpg "Still Life With Bream, Oranges, Garlic and Kitchen Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Oranges, Jars, and Boxes of Sweets by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with a Drinking Chocolate Set, 1770 by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "A still life of ham and eggs by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with pomegranates, apples, cherries and grapes by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Quinces, Peaches, Grapes and Pumpkin by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with a Piece of Salmon, a Lemon and Kitchen Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Grapes, Figs, and a Copper Kettle by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Glass of Wine, Watermelon and Bread by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Cherries, Cheese and Greengages by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still life with plums, figs, bread and jug, Second Half of the 18th century by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life of fishes, oranges and garlic by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Figs and Bread by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-40598).jpg "Still Life. The Snack (detail) by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Figs, Wicker Basket, Pumpkin, Bread, Wine Skin and Knife by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Pears, Melon and Barrel for Marinading by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with plums, figs, bread and fish by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still life with grapes, apple and plums by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still life with plate of grapes, peaches, pears and plums in a landscape by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still life with quinces, a silver fruit dish, bowls, a box for sweets and a butterfly by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Game by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-99393).jpg "Still Life. The Snack by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Pigeons, Wicker Basket, Ham, Onions and a Lemon by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with bread, greengages and pitcher by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life With Figs by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Apples, Nuts, Pears, and Boxes of Sweets by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life of Oranges, Melons and Boxes of Sweets by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Meat, Cooking Pots, Chickpeas, a Lemon and Garlic by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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_Se_-_(MeisterDrucke-959945).jpg "Still Life with Plums, Figs, Bread and Jug by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Ham, Eggs, Bread, Frying Pan and Pitcher by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Apples, Pots of Jam and Boxes of Cake by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with a Plate of Grapes by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Melon and Pears by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Fruits and Cooking Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Pomegranates, Apples, a Pot of Jam and a Stone Pot by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Self Portrait Holding a Nude Study by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still life with chocolate and pastries, 1770 by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "The Afternoon Meal (La Merienda) by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Bream, Oranges, Garlic and Kitchen Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Apples, Grapes, Melons, Bread, Jug and Bottle by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still life with oysters, garlic and eggs by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Bread, Apples, Grapes and a Bottle by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "King Ferdinand VI of Spain by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still life with a plate of azaroles, fruit, mushrooms, cheese and receptacles by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-994865).jpg "Still life with oysters, garlic and eggs by Luis Egidio Melendez")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-994865).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1173556).jpg "Still Life with Bread, a Jug, and a Napkin by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Fish, Bread, and Kettle, c1772 by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Fruit and Jug by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Herrings, Green Onions, Bread, and Kitchen Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Oranges and Walnuts by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with a Plate of Azarole Apples, Fruit, Mushrooms, and Cheese by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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_(1713-1759)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1317764).jpg "Portrait of Ferdinand VI of Spain by Luis Egidio Melendez")
_(1713-1759)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1317764).jpg)
.jpg "Still Life with Oranges and Walnuts. 1772 by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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_second_wife_of_Philip_V_o_-_(MeisterDrucke-1422265).jpg "Portrait of Elizabeth Farnese by Luis Egidio Melendez")
_second_wife_of_Philip_V_o_-_(MeisterDrucke-1422265).jpg)
_-_Rococo_Portrait_of_Infa_-_(MeisterDrucke-1321842).jpg "Portrait of Infanta Barbara of Portugal (1711-1758) by Luis Egidio Melendez (1716-1780) by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Fruits and Cooking Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Pears and Grapes by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Apples in a Basket, a Jar and Condiment Boxes on a Table by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1011037).jpg "Still Life with Limes, Jam Pot and Butterfly by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Portrait of the Artist Holding an Academy by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Apples, Grapes and a Pot of Jam by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Self-portrait Holding an Academic Study by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Oranges and Sweets by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Oranges, Jars, and Boxes of Sweets by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Apples, Grapes and a Pot of Jam by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-996407).jpg "Portrait of Philip V by Luis Egidio Melendez")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-996407).jpg)
.jpg "Self-portrait Holding an Academic Study by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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_called_Luis_Melendez_-_(MeisterDrucke-1521232).jpg "Luis Egidio Melendez, Called Luis Melendez by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Vessels by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Herrings, Chives, Garlic, and Kitchen Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Pears and Grapes by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Apples, Grapes and a Pot of Jam by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Figs and Bread by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Apples, Grapes, Melons, Bread, Jug and Bottle by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Bread, Apples, Grapes and a Bottle by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Fruits and Cooking Utensils by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Fruit and Jug by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Melon and Pears by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Melon and Pears by Luis Egidio Melendez")
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.jpg "Still Life with Cucumbers and Tomatoes by Luis Egidio Melendez")
.jpg "Still Life with a Plate of Figs and Pomegranates, Bread and Wine by Luis Egidio Melendez")
.jpg "Still Life of Oranges, Watermelon, a Pot and Boxes of Cake by Luis Egidio Melendez")
.jpg "Still Life with bread, fishes and leeks by Luis Egidio Melendez")