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Miguel Jacinto Meléndez (1679–1734) Born at Oviedo, Meléndez
was a Spanish portraitist and miniaturist who was the eldest member
of a family of artists working at the Spanish court during the 18th
century. After a number of years in Italy, he moved to Madrid with his
brother in 1717 and studied under José García Hidalgo, a former pupil
of Juan Carreño de Miranda. Hidalgo's Baroque style of the Madrid School
can be seen in Meléndez's earlier works. Meléndez became principal court
painter, painting numerous portraits of the Borbón royal family, where
he initially emphasised their 'Habsburg jaw,' perhaps in an attempt
to illustrate the link of the new dynasty to the old. He was granted
the title of honorary painter to the King in 1712, but was not granted
the official salary of court painter until 1727. Meléndez's style in
his portraits shows a combination of Baroque and Rococo traditions,
with some influences of Anthony van Dyck in his compositional arrangements.
He also painted religious scenes which recall the pictorial traditions
of 17th century painting with their austere colouring and simplicity.
He died at Madrid. |
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