Spanish school of the 18th century.
"Still life of fruit".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
With period frame in carved and gilded wood.
The frame is damaged.
Measurements: 80 x 74 cm; 100 x 93 cm (frame).
This splendorous still life gathers varied fruits: grapes, pomegranates, pears, plums and a long etcetera of juicy food captured with precious and detailed eagerness.
Although with the establishment of the Academies in the 18th century still lifes were regarded as a minor genre, their success in the preceding century did not diminish, due both to the decorative value of this type of work and to the high quality of the painters who specialised in the genre. This led to heated discussion, which culminated in 1765 with the appointment of the Italian-born still-life painter Mariano Nani as an academician of merit. It was from this point onwards that the still life began to establish itself as one of the genres most sought after by collectors.