Artwork
Bodegón con pichones cesta de comida y cuencos
Bodegón con pichones cesta de comida y cuencos is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Luis Egidio Meléndez. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a bodegón, the work focuses on the representation of humble, everyday objects rather than allegorical figures or religious narratives.
Executed in 1750, this oil painting by Luis Egidio Meléndez is a still life that meticulously arranges domestic culinary items. The composition features a basket of food accompanied by earthenware bowls, specifically identified as a lebrillo, alongside utilitarian cutlery including a spoon and a knife.
As a bodegón, the work focuses on the representation of humble, everyday objects rather than allegorical figures or religious narratives. The inclusion of specific kitchenware and provisions reflects the genre's dedication to capturing the tangible reality of 18th-century Spanish domestic life, elevating ordinary vessels and ingredients through careful observation.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, reflecting the still-life genre typical of 18th-century Spanish art. It depicts a spoon, knife, bowl, and lebrillo arranged on a table, showcasing the artist's meticulous handling of light and texture. The composition emphasizes the materiality of everyday objects, with careful attention to surface detail and spatial arrangement.
History & Provenance
Bodegón con pichones cesta de comida y cuencos was painted by Luis Egidio Meléndez in 1750. The work entered the Spanish royal collections and was owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain. It is now held by the Museo del Prado, where it has been associated with the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, having entered the Prado's holdings as part of the Spanish royal collection.
No further details on commission, intermediate owners, or acquisition circumstances are documented in the available sources, and no specific inventory or accession number or exhibition history is recorded.
Overview
Luis Egidio Meléndez’s oil painting Bodegón con pichones cesta de comida y cuencos, executed circa 1750, is a still‑life that brings together modest kitchen items and a dead pigeon. The composition is set against an almost black backdrop, which isolates the objects and emphasizes their material qualities. The work is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Luis Egidio Meléndez (1716–1780) was a Spanish painter. Though he received little acclaim during his lifetime and died in poverty, Meléndez is recognized as one of the greatest Spanish still-life painters of the 18th…
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