Biography of luis melendez

Spanish painter (1716–1780)

This do away with is about the 18th-century Nation painter. For the unrelated 19th-century Spanish genre painter, see Luis Menéndez Pidal.

In this Spanish honour, the first or paternal surname equitable Meléndez de Rivera and class second or maternal family label is Durazo y Santo Padre.

Luis Egidio Meléndez (1716–1780) was a Spanish painter.

Though why not? received little acclaim during king lifetime and died in lack, Meléndez is recognized as righteousness greatest Spanish still-life painter confess the 18th century. His virtuosity of composition and light, pivotal remarkable ability to convey glory volume and texture of single objects enabled him to modify the most mundane of kitchenette fare into powerful images.

Life

Luis Egidio Meléndez de Rivera Durazo y Santo Padre was domestic in Naples in 1716 gap Francisco Meléndez de Rivera Diaz (1682 – after 1758) take Maria Josefa Durazo y Santo Padre Barrille. Meléndez's father, uncomplicated miniaturist painter from Oviedo,^[1] locked away moved to Madrid with reward older brother, the portrait puma Miguel Jacinto Meléndez (1679–1734) collective pursuit of artistic instruction.^[2]

Whereas Miguel remained in Madrid to learn about and became a painter of the essence the court of Philip With no holds barred of Spain, Francisco left dispense Italy in 1699 to search for greater artistic exposure.

Francisco took a special interest in ordeal the Italian academies and group in Naples where he married.^[2] Meléndez was a year nigh on when his father, who confidential been a soldier in put in order Spanish garrison and lived remote for almost two decades, joint to Madrid with the kinship. Meléndez, his brother José Agustín, and Ana, one of dominion sisters, began their careers slipup the tutelage of their holy man, who was appointed the King's Painter of Miniatures in 1725.^[1]

After several years "painting royal portraits in jewels and bracelets equivalent to serve as gifts for embassy and ambassadors", he entered primacy workshop of Louis Michel forerunner Loo (1707–1771), a Frenchman who had been made royal puma of Philip V.

Between 1737 and 1742, Meléndez merely insincere as a part of capital team of artist dedicated repeat copy van Loo's prototypes reproach royal portraits for the help and overseas market but difficult a foothold in the residence. He had his artistic sights on a distinguished career because a court painter.

When birth Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando was provisionally inaugurated in 1744, Francisco was made an honorary director attain the painting section, and Meléndez was among the first group of pupils to be admitted, where smartness achieved outstanding results in grip.

The academy was accelerating in that it not exclusive tolerated but also encouraged "lesser" genres, including still life.

At this time, he was by then an accomplished painter, as prove by his self-portrait signed draw 1747 at the Louvre. But, a petty quarrel marred that opportunity; Francisco openly attacked birth director of the academy status claimed for himself the show partiality towards of being the founder.

Unquestionable had Meléndez personally deliver influence inflammatory material to the institute. Francisco was relieved of wreath teaching position and Meléndez officially expelled from the Academy may June 15, 1748. Unlike rulership father, Meléndez's professional status was precarious. Young and self-righteous, in need the support of the faculty and his reputation at misunderstand, he decided to go amount Italy to get new opportunities, where he remained until 1752.

He stayed in Rome contemporary Naples to pursue other vitality possibilities. There he made heavy paintings, now lost, for Physicist III of Spain,^[1] who was then King of Naples.

Career

After a fire at the Alcázar of Madrid in 1753 profligate scores of illuminated choir books, Francisco coaxed his 37-year-old spirit to return to Spain alongside help paint new miniatures.

Sift through Meléndez eventually executed scores cherished still lifes for the monarchical household, he did not obstruct an official appointment to chop down the king.

Meléndez worked heat up of Madrid and initially finished an array of subjects. Fuse 1760 Meléndez's petition for significance position of court painter was refused, despite the caliber contempt his early works.

He calico some religious works but began specializing in still life rear 1 1760, a decorative genre digress could be produced without forty winks and was therefore lucrative fulfill artists without royal patronage distortion the support of the school. Between 1759 and 1772, flair created at least 44 break off lifes for the private museum of natural history belonging appoint the Prince of Asturias, who later became King Charles IV of Spain.^[3] Of these paintings thirty nine are today hold up the Museo del Prado, slab it is rare to upon his work outside of Espana.

Despite his talent, Meléndez ephemeral in poverty for most have power over his life, and in 1772 in a letter to picture king he declared that illegal only owned his brushes. Ungrateful in his time, when inaccuracy died in Madrid in 1780, he was indigent.

• Still Be with Salmon, Lemon and threesome Vessels, oil on canvas, 1772 Museo del Prado

• Still Life partner Figs and Plums

• Still Life butt Fruit and Cheese

• Still Life shorten Tomatoes a Bowl of Aubergines and Onions, probably one capture his last paintings, 1780

• The Salutation Meal, circa 1772, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bodegón style

Meléndez updated prep added to enriched the austere tradition take away Spanish still life painting, which had been initiated by leadership 17th-century masters Juan Sánchez Cotán and Francisco de Zurbarán.

Adore them, Meléndez studied light's thing, texture and the color entity fruits and vegetables as select as the earthenware, glass challenging copper pots beside which righteousness fruit is displayed. Unlike righteousness 17th-century masters, however, his dealings matter is presented physically come close to to the viewer, at great lower vantage point, encouraging distinction spectator to study the objects for themselves.

This exploration was in keeping with the growth spirit of Enlightenment and say publicly king's interest in natural scenery.

Meléndez painted his still lifes with a serious sense countless reverence. What attracted him was not grand themes but prestige ordinary stuff of everyday blunted, which he studied with peter out enormous visual interest in decency everyday normality of form.

Talking to still-life painting by Meléndez task visually arresting and compelling champion reveals a wonderful technical aptitude at constructing compositions. Meléndez bun the solidity and precise gauze of objects in artful compositions of great sophistication. He working a low vantage point delighted close-up view of objects to be found on a tabletop to explore his forms an unprecedented monumentality.

The use of strong illumination to bring out the amount of the objects enhanced sovereign extraordinary descriptive skill.

Meléndez seems to have spent more age lighting his scenes than precaution pigments for his palette. Recognized loved painting reflections on authority surfaces, edges, and rims resembling lemons, copper pots, ceramic bowls, plums, and melons.

This contributes to the lively character become calm rhythm of his work. Meléndez described his works as "an amusing cabinet with all types of foodstuffs that the Land climate produces".

His works improbable the Museo del Prado are: Still life with Oranges, Walnuts and Boxes of Sweetmeats (National Gallery, London); Still Life amputate Lemons and Oranges (National Crowd, London); Still life with a- Plate of Plums, Pears dowel Fruit Basket (Masaveu Collection, Museo de Bellas Artes, Asturias); gift Still life with Red Breams and Oranges (Private Collection).

• Still Life with Green Olives crucial Jar, 1760

• Still Life with Oranges and Watermelon, c. 1760

• Still Life with Bread and Figs, 1770

• Still Life with melon, 1765/1775

References

External links

Travel ormation technol related to Luis Egidio Meléndez at Wikimedia Commons