RIBERA

*RIBERA* 1591 - 1652 Click on the image for biography.
More insight	More Ribera's pictures: "A little history of Art"

The Martyrdom of St. Philip (known as of St. Bartholomew)
(El Martirio de San Felipe, conocido como el de San Bartolomé)
Painted 1639.
ORIGINAL SIZE: 2,34 x 2,34 m

This painting was usually considered to represent the martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, the apostle who, according to tradition, was skinned alive, but recent researchs have proved that represents the martyrdom of St. Philip, favorite saint of Philip IV. The picture is supposed to have been painted by this king's commission. It's one of the artist's mature works, as it comes out from the richness of colours, the magnificent nude of the saint and the delicacy of the background.
Ribera depicts the moment before torture: the saint's body is being lifted while one man is holding his leg. In the background, left and right, two groups of onlookers.

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Click on the image to enlarge

Jacob's Dream
(El Sueño de Jacob)
Painted 1639.
ORIGINAL SIZE: 1,79 x 2,33 m

This is one of Ribera's most famoust works and it really shows Caravaggian and Venetian school influence. Composition is mixing both naturalist and obscure elements that emphasize the human figure. Jacob appears like in a theatrical sky, deeply asleep. Here Ribera makes smoother his earlier paintings dramatic effects, giving clearly an example of the mature artist's years.

St Andrew
(San Andrés)
Painted 1630-32.
ORIGINAL SIZE: 1,23 x 0,95 m

The second stage in the picture of José de Ribera is from 1625 to 1639, so-called dark period of "el Españoleto". It´s a realistic work; in this painting Ribera succeeds in making an anatomical study of great quality.

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More Ribera's pictures: "A little history of Art"

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