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Jusepe de Ribera
Democritus
1630
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
Euclid
ca. 1630-35
Getty

Jusepe de Ribera
St. Simon
ca. 1630-35
Prado

The painter now mainly known as Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652) was also known in his own lifetime as Giuseppe de Ribera, as José de Ribera, and as Lo Spagnoletto. He had been baptized Joan Josep Ribera shortly after his birth in provincial Spain, but by the end of his teens had already journeyed to Italy to study art – one of that host of European culture-pilgrims drawn to Rome during the 17th century. After absorbing Raphael's High Renaissance idealism and Caravaggio's fashionable lighting, Ribera settled in Naples, which was under Spanish rule during part of the 17th century. Many of his early patrons and collectors were Spanish and much of his work was regularly shipped back to Spain. When questioned about returning, Ribera answered –

"My dear friend, I have a strong impulse to go, but judging from the experience of many well-informed and truthful persons, I find this drawback. During the first year I would be received there as a great painter, but in the second year no one would pay attention to me, because when people know you are around they lose respect for you."*     

Jusepe de Ribera
St. Jerome Writing
1615
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
St. Joseph & the Christ Child
ca. 1632
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
St. Christopher & the Christ Child
1637
Prado

Juspep de Ribera
Vision of St. Francis
1636-38
Prado

Juspep de Ribera
St. Peter Liberated by an Angel
1639
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
Isaac & Jacob
1637
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
Raising of Lazarus
1616
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
The Savior
ca. 1630
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
St. Peter
ca. 1630
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
St. Jude the Apostle
ca. 1630-35
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
Allegorical figure : a fragment
1636
Prado

* Ribera's words are quoted in a useful volume called Italian and Spanish Art, 1600-1750 : Sources and Documents / edited by Robert Enggas and Jonathan Brown (Evanston : Northwestern University Press, 1992).