The sense of taste
Jusepe de Ribera·1613
Historical Context
The Sense of Taste at the Wadsworth Atheneum, painted around 1613, belongs to Ribera's early Five Senses series. These allegorical genre paintings established his reputation as a painter of powerful naturalistic character studies. Ribera's technique combined meticulous drawing from life with bold Caravaggesque chiaroscuro, applied in oil on canvas using impastoed highlights over transparent warm-toned grounds. His Neapolitan workshop produced works for Spanish viceroys, Italian nobles, and re...
Technical Analysis
The eating figure provides a naturalistic embodiment of the sense, rendered with bold chiaroscuro and direct observation. The early Caravaggesque style establishes Ribera's lifelong commitment to unvarnished naturalism.
