Prophets and Patriarchs (Ribera)

Prophets and Patriarchs is a series of fourteen oil on canvas paintings produced between 1638 and 1643 by Jusepe de Ribera along the nave walls of the church of the Certosa di San Martino in Naples, where they still hang.[1] Moses and Elijah hang behind the west facade, whilst the rest hang under the arches of the side chapels.[1][2]

History

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The work was one of a set of commissions from Ribera by the Certosa beginning in 1638[2] and also included a Pietà for the sacristy (moved to its current home in the sala del Tesoro Nuovo at the end of the 17th century[2]), The Last Supper for the choir and Saint Jerome, Saint Sebastian and Saint Bruno Receiving the Rule for the prior's private quarters, for a total commission of around 2,160 ducats.[3] He was paid 80 ducats per canvas in the set of twelve works in the side chapels and 50 ducats each for the two on the facade.[4] Moses, Elijah and Noah were the first of the fourteen to be completed, with the others finished in the following five years - the last payment receipt was signed at the end of 1643 and eight of them are initially "J.R." in the bottom corner.[1]

Catalogue

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Image Title Year Dimensions Notes
  Moses 1638 168 × 97 cm Signed and dated «Jusepe de Ribera espanol / F. 1638».
  Elijah 1638 168 × 97 cm Signed and dated «Jusepe de Ribera espanol / F. 1638».
  Haggai 1638-1643 272 × 252 cm
  Noah 1638 271 × 254 cm Signed and dated«Jusepe de / Ribera es / panol / F. / 1638».
  Joel 1638-1639 270 × 252 cm Initialled and dated «J.R.a 163...».[a]
  Amos 1640 272 × 256 cm Initialled and dated «J.R.a 1640».
  Obadiah 1638-1643 270 × 266 cm
  Hosea 1638-1643 270 × 254 cm Initialled «J.R.a».
  Habakkuk 1638-1643 267 × 236 cm Initialled «J.R.a».
  Zephaniah 1638-1643 266 × 236 cm Initialled «J.R.a».
  Daniel 1638-1643 267 × 236 cm Initialled «J.R.a».
  Jonah 1638-1643 276 × 236 cm Initialled «J.R.a».
  Micah 1638-1643 268 × 243 cm Siglato «J.R.».
  Ezekiel 1638-1643 271 × 251 cm

Notes

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  1. ^ The last number from the year is lost

References

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  1. ^ a b c (in Italian) N. Spinosa, Ribera. L'opera completa, Napoli, Electa, 2003, pp. 338-339.
  2. ^ a b c (in Italian) N. Spinosa, Ribera. L'opera completa, Napoli, Electa, 2003, pp. 179-185
  3. ^ (in Italian) Nicola Spinosa, Pittura del Seicento a Napoli - da Caravaggio a Massimo Stanzione, Napoli, Arte'm, 2008, p. 377
  4. ^ (in Italian) N. Spinosa, Ribera. L'opera completa, Napoli, Electa, 2003, p. 115

Bibliography

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  • (in Italian) N. Spinosa, Ribera. L'opera completa, Napoli, Electa, 2003.
  • (in Italian) N. Spinosa, Jusepe de Ribera, Milano, Giunti Editore, 1992.