Spanish school, circle of Luis Meléndez; 18th century.
Spanish school, circle of LUIS MELÉNDEZ (Naples, 1716-Madrid, 1780); XVIII century.
"Couple of still lifes".
Oil on canvas (x2). Relined.
Measurements: 42 x 68 cm (x2).
Pair of baroque still lifes in which the author, in spite of the difference, uses the same composition with the main elements arranged on an austere wooden board, without any ornamentation. These elements are arranged almost in the foreground, superimposed on each other to create space, they are arranged as a frieze. In both paintings the lighting is completely tenebrist, with the focus of light falling on the center of the scene and based on the use of whites, or feathers or eggs to provide luminosity. In one of the paintings we see fewer elements of eggs, meat, and tomatoes, while in the still life of hunting we can appreciate a greater exuberance.
By the way of solving both paintings, with an orderly, clear composition and a very solid drawing, the paintings we are dealing with can be related to the school of Luis Meléndez. Meléndez's still lifes are characteristic for reflecting a great compositional sobriety. In them he uses the hallmarks of light and shadow, which bring an intensity to the painting reminiscent of the paintings of Sánchez Cotán or Zurbarán.
A painter born in Italy, but from a Spanish family of Asturian origin, Luis Egidio Meléndez was the son of the miniaturist Francisco Antonio and nephew of the portraitist Miguel Jacinto. According to the Prado Museum: "He went to Italy and returned to Spain, where he initially worked as a miniaturist, but his preponderant role was developed in still life, becoming one of the most outstanding still life painters in the history of the genre. His creations have been dispersed throughout private collections and museums in Spain and abroad. The Prado Museum has a large collection of pieces by his hand, which come from the Palace of Aranjuez".
HELP
Bid on this lot
Spanish school, circle of LUIS MELÉNDEZ (Naples, 1716-Madrid, 1780); XVIII century.
"Couple of still lifes".
Oil on canvas (x2). Relined.
Measurements: 42 x 68 cm (x2).
Pair of baroque still lifes in which the author, in spite of the difference, uses the same composition with the main elements arranged on an austere wooden board, without any ornamentation. These elements are arranged almost in the foreground, superimposed on each other to create space, they are arranged as a frieze. In both paintings the lighting is completely tenebrist, with the focus of light falling on the center of the scene and based on the use of whites, or feathers or eggs to provide luminosity. In one of the paintings we see fewer elements of eggs, meat, and tomatoes, while in the still life of hunting we can appreciate a greater exuberance.
By the way of solving both paintings, with an orderly, clear composition and a very solid drawing, the paintings we are dealing with can be related to the school of Luis Meléndez. Meléndez's still lifes are characteristic for reflecting a great compositional sobriety. In them he uses the hallmarks of light and shadow, which bring an intensity to the painting reminiscent of the paintings of Sánchez Cotán or Zurbarán.
A painter born in Italy, but from a Spanish family of Asturian origin, Luis Egidio Meléndez was the son of the miniaturist Francisco Antonio and nephew of the portraitist Miguel Jacinto. According to the Prado Museum: "He went to Italy and returned to Spain, where he initially worked as a miniaturist, but his preponderant role was developed in still life, becoming one of the most outstanding still life painters in the history of the genre. His creations have been dispersed throughout private collections and museums in Spain and abroad. The Prado Museum has a large collection of pieces by his hand, which come from the Palace of Aranjuez".
HELP
