Saint Jude Thaddée
Jusepe de Ribera·1609
Historical Context
Saint Jude Thaddeus by Ribera, at the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes, is another apostle painting from around 1609, early in Ribera's career. The young painter was already developing the powerful naturalism that would make him the dominant artistic personality in Neapolitan painting. Ribera painted his saints with unflinching naturalism rooted in his early study of Caravaggio's Rome before settling in Naples in 1616. Working under Spanish viceregal patronage, he produced devotional images comb...
Technical Analysis
The early date shows Ribera working in a somewhat more refined manner than his later, rougher style. The apostle's features are modeled with strong contrasts but smoother transitions, reflecting the young painter's development toward his mature manner.
