Spanish school; c. 1820.

Spanish school; c. 1820.
"Still lifes".
Oil on cardboard (x4).
It has period frames.
Measurements: 45.5 x 60 cm (x4); 50.5 x 65 cm (frame, x4).
These four still lifes, dated around 1820, are a magnificent representation of the pictorial genre that seeks to capture the richness and variety of everyday food and utensils. With a style that evokes the Baroque tradition, these compositions stand out for their use of chiaroscuro, meticulously detailed texture and a balanced distribution of objects in the scene.
In the first one, the protagonist is a fish on a clay plate, accompanied by an onion, red peppers and small mushrooms. To one side, a woven basket overflowing with chestnuts adds a rustic, autumnal element. The dark background and directed light enhance the texture of the fish and the shiny skin of the vegetables.
The second still life presents a refined scene, with a porcelain dish decorated with small red apples and an egg in a silver ciborium. The presence of an inverted crystal goblet, glass bottles and ceramic vessels suggests an elegant domestic setting. The reflection in the glass objects and the glazed earthenware reinforce the realism of the composition.
In the third, the elements revolve around a kitchen table featuring several fish on a plate, an earthenware mortar, a dark glass bottle and laboratory vessels. The inclusion of a spyglass and a folded paper with a knife hint at a possible scientific or philosophical context, beyond the purely gastronomic.
The most opulent composition of the set is the fourth still life, where an intensely reddish lobster is displayed as the centerpiece, surrounded by exuberant fruits such as figs, grapes, pomegranates and split melon. An oil lamp and copper utensils suggest the preparation of a luxurious meal. The use of hallmarks between hard, shiny surfaces (lobster shell, earthenware) and the soft, juicy textures of the fruits add dynamism to the scene.
Overall, these still lifes reflect not only the abundance of the period, but also a symbolic intention, in which each element can allude to the passage of time, the transience of life and earthly pleasures. The detail in the textures and the play of light demonstrate a strong influence of Flemish and Spanish Golden Age painting, reinterpreted in a 19th century context.