José De Ribera
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Jusepe de Ribera (; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and
printmaker Printmaking is the process of creating artworks by printing, normally on paper, but also on fabric, wood, metal, and other surfaces. "Traditional printmaking" normally covers only the process of creating prints using a hand processed technique ...
. Ribera, Francisco de Zurbarán, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, and the singular
Diego Velázquez Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (baptised 6 June 15996 August 1660) was a Spanish painter, the leading artist in the Noble court, court of King Philip IV of Spain, Philip IV of Spain and Portugal, and of the Spanish Golden Age. He i ...
, are regarded as the major artists of Spanish Baroque painting. Referring to a series of Ribera exhibitions held in the late 20th century, Philippe de Montebello wrote "If Ribera's status as the undisputed protagonist of Neapolitan painting had ever been in doubt, it was no longer. Indeed, to many it seemed that Ribera emerged from these exhibitions as not simply the greatest Neapolitan artist of his age but one of the outstanding European masters of the seventeenth century."Pérez-Sánchez, Alfonso E., and Nicola Spinosa. 1992.
Jusepe de Ribera 1519–1652
'. The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York. 290 pp,
Jusepe de Ribera has also been referred to as José de Ribera (usual in Spanish and French), Josep de Ribera (in Catalan), and was called Lo Spagnoletto (Italian for "the Little Spaniard") by his contemporaries and early historians. Ribera created
history painting History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek and Roman mythology and B ...
s, including traditional Biblical subjects and episodes from
Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories conc ...
. He is perhaps best known for his numerous views of
martyrdom A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In colloqui ...
, which at times are brutal scenes depicting bound saints and
satyr In Greek mythology, a satyr (, ), also known as a silenus or ''silenos'' ( ), and sileni (plural), is a male List of nature deities, nature spirit with ears and a tail resembling those of a horse, as well as a permanent, exaggerated erection. ...
s as they are flayed or crucified in agony. Less familiar are his occasional, but accomplished portraits, still lifes and landscapes. Nearly half of his surviving work consist of half length portraits of workers and beggars, often older individuals in ragged clothes, posing as various philosophers, saints, apostles and allegorical figures. Ribera's paintings, particularly his early work, are characterized by stark realism using a
chiaroscuro In art, chiaroscuro ( , ; ) is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to ach ...
or tenebrist style. His later work embraced a greater use of color, softer light, and more complex compositions, although he never entirely abandoned his Caravaggisti leanings. Very little is known about the first 20 years of his life and there are many gaps concerning his later life and career. He was baptized on February 17, 1591, in Játiva, Spain, his father identified as a shoemaker. He is not recorded again until 1611, when records show he was paid for a painting (now lost) for a church in
Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...
, Italy. Documents show he was a member of the Accademia di San Luca in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
by October 1613 and living in a house in the Via Margutta in 1615–16, at that time known as "the foreigner's quarter", apparently living a bohemian life with his brothers and other artists. Anecdotal accounts written at the time indicate he quickly earned a reputation as an outstanding painter after arriving in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
and was earning great profits, but also noted his laziness and extravagant spending. Ribera moved to
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
in late 1616, under Spanish rule at that time, and in November married Caterina Azzolino, the daughter of Sicilian painter Giovanni Bernardino Azzolini. There he remained for the rest of his life, setting up a workshop with many pupils, securing commissions, and establishing an international reputation. In 1626 he received the Cross of the Order of Christ from
Pope Urban VIII Pope Urban VIII (; ; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death, in July 1644. As pope, he expanded the papal terri ...
. His health began to deteriorate in 1643 and his productivity declined from that time on, and by 1649 he was experiencing financial hardships as well. However, when his health permitted, he continued to produce several acclaimed paintings into the last year of his life.National Gallery of Art, Washington D. C. (www.nga.gov):
Jusepe de Ribera, Biography
'. (accessed December 10, 2022)
Lassaigne, Jacques. 1952. ''Spanish Painting: From Velazquez to Picasso''. Editions D'Art Albert Skira, Geneva, Switzerland 148 pp. (see pages 24–30, & 141)


Life


Early biographies

His Italian biographers have many tales to tell of Ribera's stormy, picaresque career, and picture "Lo Spagnoletto's" life as an endless series of professional intrigues and rivalries, attempted poisonings due to ''gelosia di mestiere'', conspiracies and brawls, triumphs and adversities, dramatic love affairs. Alterations of dark patches and dazzling light, glooms and raptures – just as in his paintings. Perhaps we would do better to keep to the records and established dates of Ribera's life." Jacques Lassaigne (1952)
Biographers of Ribera in the 17th and 18th century, including Bernardo de' Dominici, De Dominici, Bernardo. 1742 – 45. ''Vite de' pittori, scultori, ed architti napoletani'' 'Lives of Neapolitan Painters, Sculptors and Architects'' Vols. I – III. Naples. Carlo Celano,Celano, Carlo. 1692. ''Notizie del bello, dell'antico, e del curioso della cittá di Napoli'' 'News of the Beautiful, the Ancient, and the Curious of the City of Naples'' Naples. and Palomino de Castro y Velasco Antonio Palomino, Acisclo Antonio. 1715 – 1724. ''El museo pictórico y Escala óptica'' 'The Pictorial Museum and Optical Scale'' Vols. I – III. Madrid. produced a substantial amount of information on the artist's life that is now known to be erroneous. Much of this misinformation was pervasive well into the 20th century and is occasionally still repeated today. It was long believed he was born in 1587, De Dominici saying he was from
Gallipoli, Apulia Gallipoli (; ; ) is a Southern Italy, southern Italy, Italian town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce, in Apulia. In 2014, it had a population of 31,862 and is one of the towns where the Greek dialect Griko is spoken. Geography The town ...
while Celano stated he was from
Lecce Lecce (; ) is a city in southern Italy and capital of the province of Lecce. It is on the Salentine Peninsula, at the heel of the Italian Peninsula, and is over two thousand years old. Because of its rich Baroque architecture, Lecce is n ...
. One said he descended from nobility, and another identified his father as a Spanish army officer. Research and documents emerged in the 20th century have proven these false.Finaldi, Gabriele. 1992. ''A Documentary Look at the Life and Work of Jusepe de Ribera''. pages 3–8: IN Pérez-Sánchez, Alfonso E., and Nicola Spinosa. ''Jusepe de Ribera 1519–1652''. The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York. 290 pp, Milicua, José. 1992. ''From Játiva to Naples''. pages 9 – 17: IN, Pérez-Sánchez, Alfonso E., and Nicola Spinosa. ''Jusepe de Ribera 1519–1652''. The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York. 290 pp, Other episodes and events in Ribera's life remain unverified. Early accounts (still repeated today) state that Ribera began his art education in
Valencia Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...
, where he was a pupil of Francesc Ribalta. Although this is entirely plausible, there is no real evidence to confirm it. De Dominici's biography described Ribera as an egotistical and condescending individual of reprehensible behavior. He was reputed to have been chief of the so-called Cabal of Naples, his abettors being a Greek painter, Belisario Corenzio and the Neapolitan
Battistello Caracciolo Giovanni Battista Caracciolo (also called Battistello) (1578–1635) was an Italian artist and important Neapolitan follower of Caravaggio. He was a member of the murderous Cabal of Naples, with Belisario Corenzio and Giambattista Caracciolo ...
. However, there are no real documents or records to substantiate (or discredit) this other than these early biographies. De Dominici's biography has been called "barefaced lies" by one modern historian,Prota-Giurleo, Ulisse. 1953. ''Pittori napoletani del Seicento'' 'Neapolitan Painters of the Seventeenth Century'' Fausto Fiorentino-Libraio, Naples. 174 (page 97). and "a caricature" by another, although the latter noted a critical examination of it can still provide some insights.


Early life (1591–1616)

Little information is available on Ribera's youth. It was as recent as 1923 that the year of his birth was positively established. He was baptized on February 17, 1591, in Játiva, Spain, about 60 km. (37 mi.) south of Valencia. His parents were identified as Simón and Margarita (née Cucó) Ribera, married in 1588, and his father's occupation a shoemaker. Other baptismal records show the couple had two other sons, Jerónimo (b.1588) and Juan (b.1593).Viñes, Gonzalo J., 1923. ''La verdadera partida de bautismo del Españoleto y otros datos de familia''. Archivo de arte valenciano, (9): 18-24. A gap of 20 years follows his baptism record, including information regarding his childhood, education, teachers, and when he left Spain. Ribera's move to the Italian peninsula and his training as an artist have been subjects of interest to art historians in recent decades. His 18th century biographer Palomino wrote that he apprenticed with the Spanish painter Francesc Ribalta in Valencia, and this was generally accepted by historians into the mid to late 20th century, although no proof of this connection exists. Recently, historians have begun to question this scenario. There is some evidence to suggest Ribera might have been in Italy as early as 1608-1609 (age 17 or 18), or even as early as 1605-1606 (age 14 or 15).Galleria nazionale d'arte antica di palazzo Corsini: Art/Masterpeices
Jusepe Ribera Known as Spagnoletto (Játiva 1591 - Naples 1652), Peter's Denial ca. 1615-16
'. (accessed December 20, 2022)
Marriage records show that his father, Simón, married a second time in 1597 when Jusepe was six years old, and a third time in 1607 when he was 16, suggesting some disruption and lack of continuity in Ribera youth. Recent decades have also shed light on Ribera's presumed teacher Francesc Ribalta, whose early works exhibit a
mannerist Mannerism is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, when the Baroque style largely replaced it ...
style, and is now known to have only reached his final and mature period, reflecting a realist and Caravaggesque current about 1614, at which point Ribera is already documented working in Italy. Some historians also believe Ribera's drawing technique shows a thoroughly Italian education and influences. Records show Ribera was in
Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...
, Italy in June 1611, where he received payment for a painting of ''Saint Martin Sharing His Cloak with a Beggar'', for the Church of San Prospero. It is notable and some indication of Ribera's reputation that a foreigner, at the age 20, was given a commission for a public altarpiece. Ludovico Carracci wrote in 1618, that Ribera was under the protection of the ducal family ( House of Farnese) while in Parma which aroused some resentment from local artist. The painting, now lost, is known from copies and prints and was often praised in the local literature until it was taken by
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
's troops. The artist is next confirmed in Rome in October 1613, where records show he was a member of the Accademia di San Luca. Parish registries ('' Status animarum'') verify he observed Easter in 1615 and 1616 and was living in a house on the Via Margutta, then known as the foreigners quarter, with others including his brothers Jerónimo, and Juan who is also known to have been a painter. At that time Rome was the most important center of painting, "the fountainhead of the Baroque",Janson, H. W. 1977. ''History of Art: A Survey of the Major Visual Arts from the Dawn of History to the Present Day'', 2nd ed. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York. 767 pp. (page 483) where artist from throughout Europe gravitated, including painters such as Gerrit van Honthorst from the Netherlands, Simon Vouet from France, Adam Elsheimer from Germany, and many others, all exploring various aspects of
chiaroscuro In art, chiaroscuro ( , ; ) is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to ach ...
and tenebrism in the wake of
Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the fina ...
.Dupont, Jacques and Francois Mathey. 1951. ''The Seventeenth Century: The New Developments in Art from Caravaggio to Vermeer''. Editions D'Art Albert Skira, Geneva, Switzerland. 136 pp. (Pages 31, 123-24, & 131) The last records of the artist in Rome are a payment of promised alms to the Accademia de San Luca in May 1616, and a bank transaction in July 1616. In his ''Considerazioni sulla pittura'' (1614–1621) Giulio Mancini wrote a brief account of Ribera's time in Rome. He stated that
Guido Reni Guido Reni (; 4 November 1575 – 18 August 1642) was an Italian Baroque painter, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne. He painted primarily religious works, but al ...
was an admirer of Ribera's work and that a painter of Ribera's disposition had not been seen in the city for many years, exceptionally high praise in reference to an art center like Rome. He characterized Ribera as a follower of
Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the fina ...
, but more experimental and bolder. According to Mancini, Ribera began working for daily wages in other artists workshops and in time developed a strong reputation and was making great profits. He wrote that Ribera had some problems with Roman authorities when he neglected his Easter confession one year (likely 1614 or earlier). Mancini stated that Ribera could also be lazy at times, indulged in extravagant spending, and that he left Rome in order to avoid his creditors. Mancini, Giulio. 1614–21. ''Considerazioni sulla pittura'': Vol. I. ''Considerazioni sulla Pittura'', ''Viaggio per Roma'', & Appendici, ed. Adriana Marucchi, Roma, 1956. Vol. II. ''Commenta alle Opere del Mancini di Luigi Salerno'', Roma, 1957. [''Considerations on Painting'': Vol. I, ''Considerations on Painting'', ''Journey to Rome'', & Appendix, ed. Adriana Marucchi, Rome, 1956. Vol. II, ''Comment on the Works of Mancini by Luigi Salerno'', Rome, 1957]


Neapolitan period (1616–1643)

The Kingdom of Naples was part of the Spanish Empire during Ribera's lifetime, and was ruled by a succession of Spanish List of viceroys of Naples, Viceroys. In 1616, Ribera moved to
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
permanently, in order to avoid his creditors (according to Giulio Mancini, who described him as living beyond his means despite a high income). In November, 1616, Ribera married Caterina Azzolino, the daughter of a Sicilian-born Neapolitan painter, Giovanni Bernardino Azzolino, whose connections in the Neapolitan art world helped to establish Ribera early on as a major figure whose presence was to have a lasting impact on the art of the city. His Spanish nationality aligned him with the small Spanish governing class in the city, as well as with important collectors and art dealers from the
Spanish Netherlands The Spanish Netherlands (; ; ; ) (historically in Spanish: , the name "Flanders" was used as a '' pars pro toto'') was the Habsburg Netherlands ruled by the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs from 1556 to 1714. They were a collection of States of t ...
. At this point Ribera began to sign his work as "Jusepe de Ribera, español" ("Jusepe de Ribera, Spaniard"). He was able to quickly attract the attention of the Viceroy, Pedro Téllez-Girón, 3rd Duke of Osuna, another recent arrival, who gave him a number of major commissions, which showed the influence of
Guido Reni Guido Reni (; 4 November 1575 – 18 August 1642) was an Italian Baroque painter, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne. He painted primarily religious works, but al ...
. Few paintings survive from 1620 to 1626, but this was the period in which most of his best prints were produced. These were at least partly an attempt to attract attention outside of Ribera's Neapolitan circles. His career picked up in the late 1620s, and he was accepted as the leading painter in Naples thereafter. He received the Order of Christ of Portugal from
Pope Urban VIII Pope Urban VIII (; ; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death, in July 1644. As pope, he expanded the papal terri ...
in 1626. Although Ribera never returned to Spain, many of his paintings were taken back by returning members of the Spanish governing class, such as the Duke of Osuna, and his etchings were brought to Spain by dealers. His influence can be seen in the works of Velázquez, Murillo, and most other Spanish painters of the period. He has been characterized as selfishly protecting his prosperity, and is reputed to have been chief of the so-called Cabal of Naples, his abettors being a Greek painter, Belisario Corenzio and the Neapolitan Giambattista Caracciolo. It is said this group aimed to monopolize Neapolitan art commissions, using intrigue, sabotage of work in progress, and even personal threats of violence to frighten away outside competitors such as
Annibale Carracci Annibale Carracci ( , , ; November 3, 1560 – July 15, 1609) was an Italian painter and instructor, active in Bologna and later in Rome. Along with his brother Agostino Carracci, Agostino and cousin Ludovico Carracci, Ludovico (with whom the Ca ...
, the Cavalier d'Arpino, Guido Reni, and Domenichino. All of them were invited to work in Naples, but found the place inhospitable. The cabal disbanded at the time of Domenichino's death in 1641. Ribera's pupils included Hendrick de Somer, Francesco Fracanzano, Luca Giordano, and Bartolomeo Passante. He was followed by Giuseppe Marullo and influenced the painters Agostino Beltrano, Paolo Domenico Finoglio, Giovanni Ricca, and Pietro Novelli.Jusepe Ribera
at the Netherlands Institute for Art History


Later life (1644–1652)

Around 1644, his daughter married a Spanish nobleman in the administration, who died soon after. From 1644, Ribera's ill health greatly reduced his ability to work, although his workshop continued to produce works under his direction. In 1647–1648, during the uprising against Spanish rule, he and his family took refuge in the palace of the Viceroy. In 1651 he sold his home, and was in dire financial straits by the time of his death in September 1652.


Work

His early style was influenced by the study of the Spanish and Venetian masters as well as
Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the fina ...
and
Correggio Antonio Allegri da Correggio (August 1489 – 5 March 1534), usually known as just Correggio (, also , , ), was an Italian Renaissance painter who was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the High Renaissance, who was responsible for som ...
. His subject matter was notoriously gruesome, portraying human cruelty and violence with startling naturalism. In the early 1630s his style shifted from stark tenebrism to a more diffused lighting, as seen in '' The Clubfoot'' of 1642. Nearly half of Ribera's entire oeuvre consist of half-length representations of saints, apostles, philosophers, scientists, and allegorical figures. The models for these paintings were the natives from the streets of Rome and Naples, typically humble people such as fishermen, dockworkers, elderly people, and beggars, often characterized by wrinkled skin and ragged clothes, painted with a raw visual intensity.Spinosa, Nicola. 2006. ''Ribera: The Complete Work''. Electa Napoli. Ribera’s landscapes were recorded in 18th and 19th century inventories and have been praised in historical literature. However, it was not until the late 20th century when a pair of large canvases (127 x 269 cm.) executed in 1639, were identified in the collection of the Palacio de Monterrey,
Salamanca Salamanca () is a Municipality of Spain, municipality and city in Spain, capital of the Province of Salamanca, province of the same name, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is located in the Campo Charro comarca, in the ...
, that surviving examples of his pure landscape paintings were known modern scholars. Landscapes are rare subjects in Spanish painting before the 19th century. Among the very few examples are two small oils executed by Velázquez on a visit to Italy. Contemporary historians have remarked on the originality of Ribera’s approach to the subject and noted a contrast with Roman landscape painting of the period, exemplified in the work of
Nicolas Poussin Nicolas Poussin (, , ; June 1594 – 19 November 1665) was a French painter who was a leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome. Most of his works were on religious and mythologic ...
and Claude Lorrain. Scholz-Hänsel, Michael. 2000. Jusepe de Ribera 1591 ‒ 1652. Masters of Spanish Art. Könemann Verlagsgesllschaft, Cologne. 140 pp. Art historian Alfonso Pérez Sánchez, former director of the Prado Museum, wrote that these landscapes “assure Ribera a principal place in the history of Neapolitan landscape painting” and that “Ribera has given the landscapes his own stamp: even without the signature they would be recognizable as his.” He executed several fine male portraits and a self-portrait. The only equestrian portrait painted by Ribera, depicting Philip IV's son and viceroy of Naples John Joseph of Austria, is exhibited in the Royal Collections Gallery. He was an important etcher—indeed, the most significant Spanish printmaker before Goya—producing about forty prints, nearly all in the 1620s. Some major works include '' Saint Januarius Emerging from the Furnace'' in
Naples Cathedral The Naples Cathedral (; ), or the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary (), is a Roman Catholic cathedral, the main church of Naples, southern Italy, and the seat of the Archbishop of Naples. It is widely known as the Cathedral of Saint Januarius ...
; the ''Descent from the Cross'' in the Certosa di San Martino, Naples; the ''Adoration of the Shepherds'' (1650) in the
Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...
; the '' Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew'' in the
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya The (; ), abbreviated as MNAC (), is a museum of Catalonia, Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Situated on Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, near Plaça d'Espanya, Barcelona, Pl Espanya, th ...
,
Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
; and the ''Pieta'' in the sacristy of San Martino, Naples. His mythologic subjects are often as violent as his martyrdoms, the most famous being his renditions of ''Apollo and
Marsyas In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas (; ) is a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double oboe (''aulos'') that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of ...
,'' now in Brussels and Naples, and his ''
Tityos Tityos or Tityus (Ancient Greek: Τιτυός) was a giant from Greek mythology. Family Tityos was the son of the mortal princess Elara and the god Zeus. He had a daughter named Europa who coupled with Poseidon and gave birth to Euphemus, o ...
'', now in the
Museo del Prado The Museo del Prado ( ; ), officially known as Museo Nacional del Prado, is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It houses collections of Art of Europe, European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th ce ...
. Alongside eleven drawings, the Prado owns fifty-six paintings and another six attributed to Ribera such as '' Jacob’s Dream'' (1639), '' The Martyrdom of Saint Philip'' (1639; often described as
Saint Bartholomew Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John (1:45–51; cf. 21:2). New Testament references The name ''Bartholomew ...
due to overlapping iconography) or ''Saint Jerome Writing'' (1644), credited to him by Gianni Papi, a Caravaggio expert; the Louvre contain four of his paintings and seven drawings; the
National Gallery, London The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current dire ...
owns three;"Jusepe de Ribera, Rm 30", The National Gallery
/ref> and the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando owns an ensemble of five paintings including '' The Assumption of Mary Magdalene'' from
El Escorial El Escorial, or the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (), or (), is a historical residence of the king of Spain located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, up the valley ( road distance) from the town of El Escorial, Madrid, El ...
, and an early ''Ecce Homo'' or ''The head of St John the Baptist''.


Legacy

Salvator Rosa and Luca Giordano were his most distinguished followers, who may have been his pupils; others were also Giovanni Do, the Flemish painter Hendrick de Somer (known in Italy as 'Enrico Fiammingo'), Michelangelo Fracanzani, and Aniello Falcone, who was the first considerable painter of battle-pieces. Ribera's work remained in fashion after his death, largely through the adoption of his hyper-naturalistic depictions of violence in the paintings of pupils like Luca Giordano.Johnson, Paul. ''Art: A New History'', Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003. The gradual rehabilitation of his international reputation was aided by exhibitions in Princeton in 1973, of his prints and drawings, and of works in all media in London at the
Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...
in 1982 and in New York at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...
in 1992. Since then his ''oeuvre'' has gained more attention from critics and scholars. In 2006, a
catalogue raisonné A (or critical catalogue) is an annotated listing of the works of an artist or group of artists and can contain all works or a selection of works categorised by different parameters such as medium or period. A ''catalogue raisonné'' is normal ...
of Ribera's work was published, written by the former director of the
Museo di Capodimonte Museo di Capodimonte is an art museum located in the Palace of Capodimonte, a grand Bourbon palazzo in Naples, Italy designed by Giovanni Antonio Medrano. The museum is the prime repository of Neapolitan painting and decorative art, with se ...
in Naples, Nicola Spinosa.


Selected works


Oil paintings

History painting History painting is a genre in painting defined by its subject matter rather than any artistic style or specific period. History paintings depict a moment in a narrative story, most often (but not exclusively) Greek and Roman mythology and B ...
s (oil on canvas unless noted otherwise) File:Jusepe de Ribera - Martyrdom of St Lawrence - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Martyrdom of
Saint Lawrence Saint Lawrence or Laurence (; 31 December 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the Persecution of Christians, persecution of the Christians that the Roman Empire, Rom ...
'', 1620–1624, 208 x 155 cm.,
National Gallery of Victoria The National Gallery of Victoria, popularly known as the NGV, is an art museum in Melbourne, Victoria (state), Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is Australia's oldest and list of most visited art museums in the world, most visited art mu ...
File:José de Ribera - St Jerome and the Angel - WGA19365.jpg, ''
Saint Jerome Jerome (; ; ; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was an early Christian priest, confessor, theologian, translator, and historian; he is commonly known as Saint Jerome. He is best known for his translation of the Bible ...
and the Angel'', 1626, 262 x 164 cm.,
Museo di Capodimonte Museo di Capodimonte is an art museum located in the Palace of Capodimonte, a grand Bourbon palazzo in Naples, Italy designed by Giovanni Antonio Medrano. The museum is the prime repository of Neapolitan painting and decorative art, with se ...
File:Jusepe de Ribera - Martyrdom of Saint Andrew - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Martyrdom of
Saint Andrew Andrew the Apostle ( ; ; ; ) was an apostle of Jesus. According to the New Testament, he was a fisherman and one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. The title First-Called () used by the Eastern Orthodox Church stems from the Gospel of Jo ...
'', 1628. 209 x 183 cm.,
Museum of Fine Arts (Budapest) The Museum of Fine Arts (, ) is a museum in Heroes' Square (Budapest), Heroes' Square, Budapest, Hungary, facing the Kunsthalle Budapest, Palace of Art. It was built by the plans of Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog in an Eclecticism in ar ...
File:Sileno ebrio, por José de Ribera.jpg, ''Drunken
Silenus In Greek mythology, Silenus (; , ) was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus. He is typically older than the satyrs of the Dionysian retinue ('' thiasos''), and sometimes considerably older, in which case he may be referred to as a Pa ...
'', 1626, 185 x 229 cm., Museo di Capodimonte File:Ixion by Jusepe de Ribera (1632), 220 x 301 cm., Museo del Prado.jpg,
Ixion In Greek mythology, Ixion ( ; ) was king of the Lapiths, the most ancient tribe of Thessaly. Family Ixion was the son of Ares, or Leonteus (mythology), Leonteus, or Antion and Perimele, or the notorious evildoer Phlegyas, whose name connotes " ...
, 1632, 220 x 301 cm.,
Museo del Prado The Museo del Prado ( ; ), officially known as Museo Nacional del Prado, is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It houses collections of Art of Europe, European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th ce ...
File:Ribera-ticio.jpg, ''
Tityos Tityos or Tityus (Ancient Greek: Τιτυός) was a giant from Greek mythology. Family Tityos was the son of the mortal princess Elara and the god Zeus. He had a daughter named Europa who coupled with Poseidon and gave birth to Euphemus, o ...
'', 1632, 227 x 301 cm., Museo del Prado File:José de Ribera - La Piedad.jpg, '' Pietà'', 1633, 157 x 210 cm.,
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum (, ; named after its founder, Baron Heinrich Thyssen, Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza), or simply the Thyssen, is an art museum in Madrid, Spain, located near the Museo del Prado, Prado Museum on one of the city ...
File:Ribera - La Trinidad, P001069 (cropped).jpg,
Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, thr ...
, 1635–36, 226 x 118, cm., Museo del Prado File:José de Ribera - Asunción de la Magdalena - Google Art Project.jpg, '' Assumption of
Mary Magdalen Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cr ...
'', 1636, 256 x 193 cm., Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando File:José de Ribera - Apollo Flaying Marsyas - WGA19374.jpg, ''
Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...
Flaying
Marsyas In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas (; ) is a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double oboe (''aulos'') that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of ...
'', 1637, 202 x 255 cm., Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium File:José de Ribera 058.jpg, ''Pietà'', 1637, 264 x 170 cm., National Museum of San Martino File:José de Ribera 048.jpg, ''
Jacob Jacob, later known as Israel, is a Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions. He first appears in the Torah, where he is described in the Book of Genesis as a son of Isaac and Rebecca. Accordingly, alongside his older fraternal twin brother E ...
's Dream'', 1639, 179 × 233 cm., Museo del Prado File:José de Ribera 054.jpg, ''The Martyrdom of Saint Philip'', 1639, 214 × 234 cm., Museo del Prado File:San Pablo Ermitaño, por José de Ribera.jpg, '' Saint Paul the Hermit'', 1640, 143 × 143 cm., Museo del Prado File:Napoli-Ribera-San-Gennaro.jpg, '' San Gennaro Emerging Unharmed from the Furnace'', 1641-47 copper panel, 320 x 200 cm., Royal Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius File:José de Ribera - Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Martyrdom of
Saint Bartholomew Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John (1:45–51; cf. 21:2). New Testament references The name ''Bartholomew ...
'', 1644, 202 x 153 cm.,
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya The (; ), abbreviated as MNAC (), is a museum of Catalonia, Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Situated on Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, near Plaça d'Espanya, Barcelona, Pl Espanya, th ...
File:Testa del Battista - Jusepe de Ribera (Naples).jpg, ''Head of
John the Baptist John the Baptist ( – ) was a Jewish preacher active in the area of the Jordan River in the early first century AD. He is also known as Saint John the Forerunner in Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy, John the Immerser in some Baptist ...
''. 1646, 66 × 78 cm., Museo Civico Filangieri File:La Sagrada Familia, por José de Ribera.jpg, ''The
Holy Family The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. The subject became popular in art from the 1490s on,Ainsworth, 122 but veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint François de La ...
with
Saint Anne According to apocrypha, as well as Christianity, Christian and Islamic tradition, Saint Anne was the mother of Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary, the wife of Joachim and the maternal grandmother of Jesus. Mary's mother is not named in the Bible's Gosp ...
and
Catherine of Alexandria Catherine of Alexandria, also spelled Katherine, was, according to tradition, a Christian saint and Virginity, virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the emperor Maxentius. According to her hagiography, she was both a ...
'', 1648, 209.6 x 154.3 cm.,
Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...
Allegories, philosophers, apostles and saints File:Allegory of Smell Jose de Ribera.jpg, ''Allegory of Smell'', ca. 1611–16, 115 x 88 cm., private collection File:José de Ribera 014.jpg, ''Allegory of Taste'', ca. 1611–16, 113.5 x 88.3 cm.,
Wadsworth Atheneum The Wadsworth Atheneum is an art museum in Hartford, Connecticut. The Wadsworth is noted for its collections of European Baroque art, ancient Egyptian and Classical bronzes, French and American Impressionism, Impressionist paintings, Hudson Riv ...
File:José de Ribera 018.jpg, ''Allegory of Touch'', ca. 1611–16, 116 x: 88.3 cm., Norton Simon Museum File:San Pedro Ribera (Prado).jpg, ''Apostle, Saint Peter'', 1630–1635, 75 x 64 cm.,
Museo del Prado The Museo del Prado ( ; ), officially known as Museo Nacional del Prado, is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It houses collections of Art of Europe, European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th ce ...
File:Ribera - San Bartolomé, P001099 (cropped).jpg, ''Apostle, Saint Bartholomew'', 1630–1635, 77 x 64 cm., Museo del Prado File:A Philosopher LACMA M.91.125.2.jpg, ''Philosopher'' (''Plato''), 1637, 124.4 x 99 cm.,
Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits (George C. Page Museum). LACMA was founded in 1961 ...
File:Ribera - Protagoras, 1637.jpg, ''Philosopher'' (''Protagoras''), 1637, 124.1 x 98.4 cm., Wadsworth Atheneum File:Ribera, Jusepe de - Aristotle - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Philosopher'' (''Aristotle''), 1637, 124.4 x 99 cm., Indianapolis Museum of Art File:Jusepe de Ribera - Saint Onophrius - 36.891 - Museum of Fine Arts.jpg, ''Saint Onophrius'', 1642, 129.5 x 101.3 cm.,
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston The Museum of Fine Arts (often abbreviated as MFA Boston or MFA) is an art museum in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the list of largest art museums, 20th-largest art museum in the world, measured by public gallery area. It contains 8,161 painting ...
File:Ribera - Saint Jérôme pénitent, MNR329 (cropped).jpg, ''Saint Jerome in Penitence'', no date, 128 x 102 cm.,
Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...
File:Ribera - Paulus Eremita St. Paulus, der Eremit, 1647, WRM 2553 (cropped).jpg, ''Saint Paul the Hermit'', 1647, 130 x 103.5 cm, Wallraf–Richartz Museum File:José de Ribera 045.jpg, ''Saint Simeon with the Infant Jesus'', 1647, 113 x 93 cm., private collection File:S. Maria Egiziaca by Jusepe de Ribera.jpg, ''Saint Mary of Egypt'', 1651, 88 x 71 cm., Museo Civico Filangieri File:José de Ribera 011.jpg, ''The Penitent Saint Jerome'', 1652, 77.2 × 71.8 cm., Museo del Prado


Drawings

File:Ribera, Study of Bat & Ears, ca. 1622, red chalk & wash,16 x 27.8 cm., Metropolitan Museum Art.jpg, ''Study of Bat & Ears'', ca. 1622, red chalk & wash,16 x 27.8 cm.,
Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...
File:Ribera, Head of a Satyr, ca. 1625 –30, red chalk, 30.3 x 21.1 cm., Metropolitan Museum.jpg, ''Head of a Satyr'', ca. 1625–30, red chalk, 30.3 x 21.1 cm., Metropolitan Museum of Art File:José de Ribera - Christ beaten by a tormentor (cropped).jpg, ''Christ Beaten by a Tormentor'', ca. 1626, red chalk, 18.4 x 21.5 cm.
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
File:José de Ribera - Acróbatas en la cuerda. - Google Art Project (cropped).jpg, ''Acrobats on a High Wire'', ca. 1634–35, pen & wash, 25.7 x 19.8 cm., Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando File:Ribera - Escena fantástica caballero con hombrecillos encaramándose a su cuerpo, D008743 (cropped).jpg, ''Fantastic Scene'', pen & ink, 18.4 x 11 cm. private collection, Madrid File:Man in a Toga MET DP800293 (cropped).jpg, ''Man in a Toga'', 1640s, pen & wash, 21 x 10 cm., Metropolitan Museum File:Ribera - Man Bound to a Stake, 1963.24.614 (cropped).jpg, ''Man Bound to a Stake'', 1940s, pen & wash, 21.6 x 16.3 cm. California Palace of the Legion of Honor File:Ribera, Virgin of the Crescent Moon, 1591–52, pen, ink & wash, Metropolitan.jpg, ''Virgin of the Crescent Moon'', 1551–52, pen, ink & wash, 24 x 16.5 cm., Metropolitan Museum of Art


Prints: 1616–1630

File:Jusepe de Ribera - Large Grotesque Head - Google Art Project (cropped).jpg, ''Large Grotesque Head'', ca. 1617–27, etching, 22.3 x 15 cm. File:Jusepe de Ribera (cropped).jpg, ''Studies of Noses and Mouths'', ca. 1622, etching, 14.7 x 22.2 cm. File:Ribera - Studies of Ears, 1986.82.jpg, ''Studies of Ears'', 1622, etching, 14.6 x 22.2 cm. File:Ribera - Saint Jerome Listening to the Trumpet of the Last Judgment, 1927.5204.jpg, ''St. Jerome and the Trumpet of the Last Judgment'', ca. 1621, etching & engraving, 31.5 x 23.6 cm. File:Ribera Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew.jpg, ''Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew'', 1624, etching & engraving, 31.6 x 23.7 cm. File:Рибера Силен.jpg, ''Drunken Silenus'', etching & engraving, 27.3 x 35.5 cm.


Notes


References

* Main source: Scholz-Hänsel, Michael. (2000). '' Jusepe de Ribera, 1591–1652''. Cologne: Könemann.


Further reading

*Brown, Jonathan. (1973). ''Jusepe de Ribera: prints and drawings; atalogue of an exhibitionThe Art Museum, Princeton University, October–November 1973''. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University. the standard work on his prints and drawings. * * ull text resource


External links

*
Scholarly articles
in English about Jusepe de Ribera, lo Spagnoletto both in web an
PDF
@ th
Spanish Old Masters Gallery
*
''The bearded woman'', Work of the month – Ducal House of Medinaceli Foundation
* Curators in Conversation
Ribera
Gabriele Finaldi, Director, National Gallery, London, and Edward Payne, Curator, Spanish Art, Auckland Castle Trust, discuss Ribera. {{DEFAULTSORT:Ribera, Jusepe De 1591 births 1652 deaths People from Xàtiva Artists from the Valencian Community Spanish Baroque painters Spanish Roman Catholics Painters from Naples 17th-century Italian painters Italian male painters Italian Baroque painters Spanish printmakers Caravaggisti