Abstract
Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652) is one of the titans of Spanish Baroque art. Born in Játiva, Valencia, in eastern Spain, Ribera emigrated to Italy as a young artist in 1606. There he encountered the revolutionary paintings of Caravaggio, whose stark realism he adopted in his own works, pushing the boundaries of both painting and the graphic arts to reveal the rawness of nature. Proud of his Spanish heritage, Ribera eventually settled in Naples, then a Spanish territory, in 1616, but never again returned to Spain. Soon after his arrival, he secured the viceroys of Naples as his principal patrons. They commissioned works of art for their personal collections as well as for the Spanish Crown. Strategically positioned between the Kingdom of Naples and the Iberian Peninsula, Ribera had a significant impact on the art of both regions.
In addition to the viceroys, Ribera worked for the aristocracy and the Church. Much of his artistic production comprises religious subjects, spanning Biblical stories and themes related to the Virgin Mary, saints, hermits, and martyrs. Mythological and classical subjects, in contrast, appear less frequently in his work. Nevertheless, whether in paint or on paper, Ribera adopted a naturalistic treatment of these themes. He was a pioneer in the genre of beggar-philosopher paintings; he also produced a small group of drawings representing scenes of urban life in Naples featuring gypsies, acrobats, Turks, and children, as well as images of hunting and torture. The artist was unique among his Neapolitan and Spanish contemporaries for depicting such a wide range of subjects, often in an uncompromising manner. This book is the first to interpret Ribera’s artworks in the round, weaving together his varied motifs, multiple media, and diverse patronage. Grounding his paintings, prints, and drawings in the historical, geographical, and material context of early modern Naples, the volume offers new insights into Ribera’s artistic practice.
Thematically structured with a chronological arc, this study is divided into six chapters. Following a brief introduction to the artist through an analysis of his distinctive signature, Chapter one traces his artistic and cultural encounters in Rome, and Chapter two examines his early portrayals of sensory perceptions in his paintings and graphic arts. Chapter three turns to the circumstances surrounding the works commissioned by four ruling viceroys of Naples, whose patronage of Ribera was particularly significant: the Duke of Osuna, the Duke of Alcalá, the Count of Monterrey, and the Duke of Medina de las Torres. Focusing on the collecting practices of these notable figures will illuminate major themes in Ribera’s art—the body, the everyday, and the marvellous—which emerge sharply in the following three chapters. A critical evaluation of Ribera’s reception concludes the volume.
In addition to the viceroys, Ribera worked for the aristocracy and the Church. Much of his artistic production comprises religious subjects, spanning Biblical stories and themes related to the Virgin Mary, saints, hermits, and martyrs. Mythological and classical subjects, in contrast, appear less frequently in his work. Nevertheless, whether in paint or on paper, Ribera adopted a naturalistic treatment of these themes. He was a pioneer in the genre of beggar-philosopher paintings; he also produced a small group of drawings representing scenes of urban life in Naples featuring gypsies, acrobats, Turks, and children, as well as images of hunting and torture. The artist was unique among his Neapolitan and Spanish contemporaries for depicting such a wide range of subjects, often in an uncompromising manner. This book is the first to interpret Ribera’s artworks in the round, weaving together his varied motifs, multiple media, and diverse patronage. Grounding his paintings, prints, and drawings in the historical, geographical, and material context of early modern Naples, the volume offers new insights into Ribera’s artistic practice.
Thematically structured with a chronological arc, this study is divided into six chapters. Following a brief introduction to the artist through an analysis of his distinctive signature, Chapter one traces his artistic and cultural encounters in Rome, and Chapter two examines his early portrayals of sensory perceptions in his paintings and graphic arts. Chapter three turns to the circumstances surrounding the works commissioned by four ruling viceroys of Naples, whose patronage of Ribera was particularly significant: the Duke of Osuna, the Duke of Alcalá, the Count of Monterrey, and the Duke of Medina de las Torres. Focusing on the collecting practices of these notable figures will illuminate major themes in Ribera’s art—the body, the everyday, and the marvellous—which emerge sharply in the following three chapters. A critical evaluation of Ribera’s reception concludes the volume.
| Original language | English |
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| Publisher | Reaktion Books |
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| Publication status | In preparation - 2023 |
| Series | Renaissance Lives |
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