Meléndez, Luis Egidio – Bodegón: un trozo de salmón, un limón y tres vasijas Part 2 Prado Museum

The composition presents a still life arrangement on what appears to be a wooden tabletop. The artist has focused on a limited selection of objects: a portion of salmon, a lemon, and three copper vessels of varying sizes and forms. A dark background creates a sense of depth and directs the viewer’s attention towards the carefully arranged foreground elements.
The salmon piece dominates the central space. Its vibrant orange flesh contrasts sharply with the muted tones of the surrounding objects and backdrop. The artist has rendered the texture of the fish meticulously, capturing the sheen of its surface and the delicate structure of its scales. Beside it sits a lemon, its pale yellow hue providing a complementary color to the salmon’s intensity.
The three copper vessels are arranged in a triangular formation behind the food items. Their surfaces reflect light in subtle ways, suggesting their metallic nature and adding visual interest to the composition. The largest vessel is a rounded pot with a handle, while the others appear to be smaller containers or basins. They possess a certain rustic quality, hinting at domesticity and everyday use.
The lighting within the scene is carefully controlled. It appears to emanate from an unseen source on the left side of the frame, casting soft shadows that define the forms and create a sense of volume. The artist’s attention to detail in rendering textures – the smoothness of the lemon skin, the rough surface of the wood, the sheen of the copper – contributes to the overall realism of the work.
Beyond the purely descriptive elements, the arrangement suggests themes of abundance and transience. The presence of fresh food implies prosperity and a connection to nature’s bounty. However, the perishable nature of salmon also subtly alludes to the fleeting quality of life and the inevitability of decay. The copper vessels, with their utilitarian function, ground the scene in a sense of everyday existence, while simultaneously hinting at a certain timelessness. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, inviting the viewer to appreciate the beauty found within ordinary objects and moments.