Artwork
Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist
Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan Ribalta. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1625 by Juan Ribalta, a Valencian painter of the early seventeenth century, this oil on canvas presents two apostolic figures in a nocturnal setting. The composition centers on Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist, each engaged in the act of writing, while a muted night sky and a subtle illumination define the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the evangelists at work: one figure, clad in a pinkish robe, gazes upward with uplifted arms, suggesting divine inspiration, while the other, in a brown robe, kneels with pen poised over a book, emphasizing the act of recording the Gospel. The inclusion of an inkwell and pen underscores the importance of scriptural authorship.
Technique & Style
Ribalta employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with a faint, almost ethereal light that catches the saints’ faces and gestures. This dramatic use of light and darkness reflects the influence of Caravaggisti aesthetics, a hallmark of the early Baroque period, and serves to heighten the emotional intensity of the scene.
History & Provenance
Juan Ribalta, son of the noted painter Francisco Ribalta, inherited his father’s Caravaggesque approach, which is evident in this piece. Since its creation, the painting has entered the collection of Madrid’s Museo del Prado, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of Spanish Baroque art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Juan Ribalta (1597 – October 1628) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period. He was born and died in Valencia. His father, Francisco Ribalta, was a famous painter, active in the style of Caravaggio. Some sources said…
