Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man at the Gemaldegalerie Berlin, painted around 1613, is an early portrait from Ribera's formative period. The strong chiaroscuro and direct observation show the young Spanish painter absorbing Caravaggio's influence in Rome. 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 nobl...

The sitter's face emerges from darkness in stark Caravaggesque lighting. Ribera's early bold handling and dramatic chiaroscuro establish the naturalistic portrait style he would develop throughout his career.