Described as "the leading Spanish still life painter of the 18th century", Luis Meléndez was of a family of prominent painters. However, he suffered the end of a promising career because his father, Francisco, got 'crosswise' with the art Academy in Madrid, which he had help found in 1744. As a result of both Francisco and Luis ridiculing the Academy Director, Luis failed to get any court appointment that would bring him income because he along with his father was expelled from the Academy. As a result, he died in poverty.

However, during this period, which was the last 20 years of his life, he painted miniatures and about 100 still life, many of them intended to be hung as pairs. Some of them had landscape backgr...