St. Onuphrius

Saint Onuphrius in the Bavarian State Painting Collections, painted around 1621, depicts the Egyptian hermit covered only by his own hair and leaves. Ribera found in such extreme desert ascetics ideal subjects for his naturalistic approach to the human body. 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 vice...

The hermit's near-naked body is rendered with unsparing anatomical detail. Ribera's harsh tenebrism and direct observation create a visceral image of physical self-denial.