Artwork

Still Life with Oranges Honey-Jar Boxes of Sweetmeats and Watermelons

Still Life with Oranges Honey-Jar Boxes of Sweetmeats and Watermelons is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Luis Egidio Meléndez. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Overview

Still Life with Oranges Honey-Jar Boxes of Sweetmeats and Watermelons is an oil painting created by Luis Egidio Meléndez in 1760. It is a representative work of the rococo movement and showcases the artist's skill in still-life painting.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a simple arrangement of everyday food items, including oranges, a watermelon, and wooden boxes, on a dark table. A honey jar with a cloth cover and a leafy branch add to the composition, highlighting the textures and volumes of the objects.

Technique & Style

Meléndez's use of chiaroscuro creates a striking contrast between light and dark, making the fruit appear lifelike. The delicate handling of light emphasizes the surface qualities of the objects, demonstrating the artist's attention to detail and mastery of still-life painting.

History & Provenance

The painting is part of the collection at Madrid's Museo del Prado. Meléndez, despite being underappreciated during his lifetime and dying in poverty, is now recognized as a leading Spanish still-life painter of the 18th century.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Luis Egidio Meléndez

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…