Paris is currently celebrating José de Ribera (1591–1652), the late Renaissance and early Baroque master, with an extraordinary exhibition of over 100 paintings dedicated to the Valencian painter, who was born in Xàtiva. This celebration of Ribera's work offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore his legacy, and I have decided to do the same in an inspirational talk about his remarkable art. Ribera’s paintings are relatively easy to understand within the framework of the Baroque era. This was a time when the Catholic Church used art as a powerful form of propaganda, reminding people of the suffering of saints at the hands of the Romans to reinforce faith and counter the Protestant threat.
What I love about José de Ribera is not only his mastery of Caravaggio’s dramatic style but also his unique position as a painter outside the confines of a royal court. Unlike court painters who were often restricted to royal portraits, Ribera worked under the Spanish rulers of Naples, which allowed him to explore a wide range of subjects. His repertoire extends beyond tortured saints to some of the most unusual and compelling paintings, often with fascinating stories rooted in Spanish history.
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