Artwork
The Old Usurer
The Old Usurer is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jusepe de Ribera. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
The Old Usurer is a 1638 oil-on-canvas painting by Jusepe de Ribera, a prominent Spanish Baroque artist based in Naples. The work is characterized by Ribera's distinctive realist style and expert use of chiaroscuro, hallmarks of the early Baroque Italian movement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays an elderly man, likely a moneylender, with intense psychological depth. His aged, lined face and engaged gesture (counting or pointing with a wooden stick) convey a sense of focused intent.
Technique & Style
Ribera employs stark chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with illuminated areas, to accentuate the subject's wrinkles, the texture of his clothing, and his hands. This dramatic lighting technique draws the viewer's attention to the figure's expressive details.
History & Provenance
Created in 1638, The Old Usurer is part of the collection at Madrid's Museo del Prado, placing it among the works of other notable Spanish Baroque artists such as Zurbarán, Murillo, and Velázquez within the museum's holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jusepe de Ribera (Valencian: ; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.
