Luis Meléndez (1715-1780) is today recognized as the premier still-life painter in eighteenth-century Spain, indeed one of the greatest in all of Europe. He is widely heralded for his virtuoso paintings of everyday objects rendered with exacting detail, marvelous effects of color and light, and subtle variations in texture. After a precarious beginning to his career, Meléndez received a royal commission in 1771 from the Prince of Asturias (later King Charles IV) to paint a series of still lifes depicting "the four Seasons of the Year, or more properly, the four Elements, with the aim of composing an amusing cabinet with every species of food produced by the Spanish climate." An inventive and consummate painter of still-life arrangements, Meléndez created 44 compositions for the prince as well as variants for other patrons. His dazzling achievements were long overshadowed by those of his Spanish contemporary, Francisco Goya, but in recent decades his work has gained a growing reputation in the United States and Europe. Featuring works from collections worldwide--including America, Spain, and England--this lavishly illustrated book showcases 31 still lifes by Meléndez, among them several previously unpublished works. Individual painting entries incorporate fascinating technical images along with close-up reproductions. Essays provide an overview of the artist's life and work, a discussion of period objects depicted in Meléndez's still lifes, and an explanation of technical discoveries. The book as a whole illuminates both the art history and technique behind an ingenious body of work.
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Luis Meléndez
Luis Meléndez is regarded as the leading Spanish still-life painter of the 18th century. He was one of a family of painters, but his promising career in figure painting ran aground after his father's dispute with the Academy in Madrid. He petitioned the King on two occasions to become a court painter, but failed to gain an official post, and died in poverty.
Luis Egidio Meléndez de Rivera Durazo y Santo Padre was born in the Spanish dominion of Naples; his family moved to Spain soon after. His father, uncle, brother and two sisters were all painters. His father, Francisco, was instrumental in founding the Royal Academy in Madrid in 1744, and his son's self portrait of 1746 shows him as a promising student there. Following a dispute, both father and son were expelled from the Academy and turned to miniature painting in the 1750s.
The series of about 100 still lifes for which Luis Meléndez is remembered dates from the last twenty years of his life. Often planned in pairs, they range from large compositions, which sometimes incorporate landscape settings as in Flemish and Neapolitan still lifes, to smaller and more intense paintings, usually of a vertical format, that are more characteristically Spanish.
Luis Melendez
Welterweight Category
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Luis Melendez vs Jose Esparza | Full Fight
Bio
Luis Melendez was born to fight in Karate Combat. Not only did he start training in Karate since he was 3 years old but his very own parents first met each other in the Dojo. He would eventually go on to earn his Black Belt in both Shorinji Kempo and Isshin-Ryu. However there are many paths to the mountain top and Luis chose to chart his own path. He would start training in Taekwondo, earn his black belt, and join the World Taekwondo National Team. Competing in over 300 Taekwondo Fights winning 90% of those matches with an 80% KO average. He wouldn’t limit his exploration of the Martial Arts to just Karate and Taekwondo however. As an Amateur competitor he would also attain a 4-0 record in Muay Thai, 16-2 record in Jiu Jitsu (Purple Belt), and 5-3 record in MMA. He would make his Professional Debut in Kombat Taekwondo and win by Unanimous Decision. After this win he was invited to fight for a Karate Combat contract at Kickback 1 off the recommendation of former UFC Champion Anthony Pettis. He would earn his contract after an impressive debut and become the first Puerto Rican Fighter to be signed to Karate Combat. Bringing his martial arts journey full circle.
Karate styleTaekwondo
Weight classWelterweight
Leg reach-
Arm reach-
Stats
Total Strikes landed
35.5%
39 / 110
Strikes accuracy
Power strikes landed
59%
23 / 39
Total Strikes landedPer match
39
Strikes blockedPer match
38
Total pit timePer match
9:0
Fight history
Luis MelendezvsDonevin Manuel
Unanimous Decision
Luis MelendezvsArmus Guyton
Unanimous Decision
Luis MelendezvsWill Esparza
Unanimous Decision
Luis MelendezvsJose Ferreri
Unanimous Decision
Luis Egidio Meléndez
Spanish painter (1716–2020)
This article is about the 18th-century Spanish painter. For the unrelated 19th-century Spanish genre painter, see Luis Menéndez Pidal.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Meléndez de Rivera and the second or maternal family name is Durazo y Santo Padre.
Luis Egidio Meléndez
Self-portrait, oil on canvas, 1747, Musée du Louvre
Born
Luis Egidio Meléndez de Rivera Durazo y Santo Padre
1716 (1716)
Naples
Died
1780 (aged 63–64)
Madrid
Nationality
Spanish
Known for
Painting
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 the greatest Spanish still-life painter of the 18th century. His mastery of composition and light, and remarkable ability to convey the volume and texture of individual objects enabled him to transform the most mundane of kitchen fare into powerful images.
Life
Luis Egidio Meléndez de Rivera Durazo y Santo Padre was born in Naples in 1716 to Francisco Meléndez de Rivera Diaz (1682 – after 1758) and Maria Josefa Durazo y Santo Padre Barrille. Meléndez's father, a miniaturist painter from Oviedo, had moved to Madrid with his older brother, the portrait painter Miguel Jacinto Meléndez (1679–1734) in pursuit of artistic instruction.
Whereas Miguel remained in Madrid to study and became a painter in the court of Philip V of Spain, Francisco left for Italy in 1699 to seek greater artistic exposure. Francisco took a special interest in visiting the Italian academies and settled in Naples where he married. Meléndez was a year old when his father, who had been a soldier in a Spanish garrison and lived abroad for almost two decades, returned to Madrid with the family. Meléndez, his brother José Agustín, and Ana, one of his sisters, began their careers under the tute
