Melquisedec, Rey De Salem

Juan de Juanes composed this image of the Old Testament priest-king Melchizedek between 1545 and 1550. The figure bears bread and wine, prefiguring the Christian Eucharist. Gold leaf covers the background, and the back of the panel features polychrome decoration using the sgraffito technique, indicating this was part of an elaborate church tabernacle.

This panel formed part of the high altarpiece for the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Fuente la Higuera, Valencia. It originally flanked a central image of Christ holding the chalice and Host, with the High Priest Aaron on the opposite side holding incense. Together, the three panels conveyed the Eucharistic meaning connecting Old Testament sacrifice to the Christian sacrament.

The painting came to the Royal Collection at Aranjuez Palace in 1801 and is now at the Museo del Prado in Madrid. At 80 by 35 centimeters, the narrow vertical format suited its original position in the tabernacle structure. Juan de Juanes was the leading Valencian painter of his generation, known for refined religious compositions influenced by Raphael.