Artwork
Saint Simon
Saint Simon is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jusepe de Ribera. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Saint Simon is a 1630 oil painting by Jusepe de Ribera, a prominent Spanish Baroque artist. The work is part of the Museo del Prado's collection in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a bearded man in profile, identified as Saint Simon, dressed in a yellow robe over dark attire. His left hand holds a folded cloth, while his right rests on his chest, conveying a sense of contemplation or devotion.
Technique & Style
Ribera employs strong chiaroscuro, with a dark background accentuating the subject's face and robe. The interplay of light and dark shadows creates a three-dimensional effect, characteristic of early Baroque techniques.
History & Provenance
Created during Ribera's time in Naples, where he was a central artistic figure, the painting later became part of the Museo del Prado's collection in Madrid, alongside works by other notable Spanish Baroque artists like Zurbarán, Murillo, and Velázquez.
Context
Saint Simon reflects Ribera's contribution to the early 17th-century Italian Baroque movement, influenced by his Spanish heritage and Italian surroundings, particularly his base in Naples.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jusepe de Ribera (Valencian: ; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.
