Follower of Luis Egido Meléndez; 19th century.

Follower of LUIS EGIDIO MELÉNDEZ (Naples, 1716 - Madrid, 1780); XIX century.
"Still life".
Oil on canvas.
It has a period frame.
Measurements. 51 x 37 cm; 50 x 46 cm (frame).
The scene shows an austere and balanced composition with everyday objects: an earthenware jug, a broken plate with a spoon, a dark bottle with a cork stopper, some plums and apples in the foreground, and a slice of bread. The palette is dark, with subdued lighting that highlights textures and volumes, a technique characteristic of Luis Egidio Meléndez's style.
The work conveys a sense of simplicity and sobriety, highlighting the beauty of humble objects through meticulous realism and dramatic use of light.

The style of this painting is largely reminiscent of the work of Luis Egidio Meléndez, a continuation of the brilliant Hispanic execution of the seventeenth century and author of magnificent still lifes, a genre that was his specialty, although he also worked on figure subjects. A Spanish painter born in Italy, he was the son of Francisco Antonio, the miniaturist, and nephew of Miguel Jacinto, the portraitist. He began his education in Madrid with his father and later followed the classes of the Preparatory Board of the Academy of San Fernando, being a student of Louis-Michel van Loo. The expulsion of his father from the Board determined his dismissal from academic studies, so the young Meléndez made a trip to Italy to continue his education. Upon his return to Spain, 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, and undoubtedly the most brilliant of the Spanish eighteenth century. In fact, he is represented in the most prominent art galleries around the world, including the Prado Museum and the Louvre. Meléndez is an expert in the treatment of surfaces, showing an extraordinary ability to give an idea of the qualities of things: fruits, dead animals, ceramics, glass, cork, textiles, metals or stone. Although in some canvases he introduces a landscape background that brings them closer to the Neapolitan still life, most of his works are, in form and concept, similar to the one presented here, with several elements arranged in a clear structure on the surface of a table placed parallel to the lower edge of the painting, highlighted on a dark background that links directly with the Spanish masters of the XVII century. A master of expressive force and almost a magician of technique, Meléndez reflects, in his desire for accuracy, the principles of the enlightened world in his application to describe the elements in a way that can be understood as didactic.