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
Created around 1630, *Saint Simon* is an oil painting by Jusepe de Ribera, a Spanish-born artist who spent most of his career in Naples. Executed during the early phase of the Italian Baroque, the work presents a solitary figure rendered with the dramatic contrasts and tactile surface that characterize Ribera’s mature style.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a bearded man in a modest brown habit trimmed with a red sash, holding a book in his left hand and a staff in his right. These attributes identify him as the apostle Simon, a conventional iconographic combination that emphasizes his role as a teacher and a pilgrim of the faith.
Technique & Style
Ribera employs a strong chiaroscuro, letting a focused light fall on the saint’s face and hands while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. Thick, impasto brushwork builds the texture of the fabric and the flesh, giving the composition a palpable three‑dimensionality that draws the eye to the contemplative expression.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the collection of Madrid’s Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. Its presence in the national museum reflects the Spanish crown’s historic patronage of Ribera, whose works were highly prized in the 17th‑century Iberian art market.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jusepe de Ribera (Valencian: ; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.
