Artwork
Still Life with Fish, Bread, and Kettle
Still Life with Fish, Bread, and Kettle is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Luis Egidio Meléndez. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Still Life with Fish, Bread, and Kettle, painted by the Spanish artist Luis Egidio Meléndez in 1772, is an oil on canvas work now housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art. This painting exemplifies the artist's skill in the still-life genre, for which he is now highly regarded, though he received little acclaim during his lifetime. It showcases a meticulous arrangement of everyday objects.
Subject & Meaning
On the left, a small bowl holds two oranges, one still bearing a green leafy stem, while a few garlic cloves are scattered in the foreground.
The painting presents a carefully composed array of common kitchen items on a dark surface. A prominent fish, distinguished by its silver and gray scales, orange fins, and red mouth, anchors the composition. To its right, a round loaf of bread and a metal kettle are placed. On the left, a small bowl holds two oranges, one still bearing a green leafy stem, while a few garlic cloves are scattered in the foreground.
Technique & Style
Meléndez executed this oil painting with a precise focus on rendering the tactile qualities and three-dimensional forms of each object. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, employing strong contrasts between light and shadow against a dark background, creates a dramatic visual effect that emphasizes the arrangement. This approach, while rooted in the Rococo period, demonstrates a keen observation of naturalistic detail and material properties.
History & Provenance
Created in 1772, this work reflects the output of Luis Egidio Meléndez, an 18th-century Spanish painter. Despite his artistic accomplishments, Meléndez struggled for recognition throughout his career and ultimately died in poverty. His talent, however, has since been re-evaluated, and he is now celebrated as a preeminent Spanish still-life painter of his period, with his works sought by major institutions.
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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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