Saint Peter and Saint Paul (Ribera)

Saint Peter and Saint Paul
ArtistJusepe de Ribera
Yearc. 1616
Mediumoil painting on canvas
MovementBaroque
Catholic art
SubjectSaint Peter and Saint Paul
Dimensions126 cm × 112 cm (50 in × 44 in)[1]
LocationMusée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg
Accession1890

Saint Peter and Saint Paul is a circa 1616 Catholic Baroque painting by the Spanish-born Neapolitan artist Jusepe de Ribera. It is on display in the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Strasbourg, France. Its inventory number is 180.[2]

The painting bears a long and explicit signature on the edge of the table: JOSEPHUS RIBERA HISPANUS VALENTINUS CIVITATIS SETABIS ACADEMICUS ROMANUS; i.e. "José Ribera, a Spaniard from the Kingdom of Valencia, the city of Xàtiva, the Academy of Rome".[2][3] It was bought by the museum in 1890 from the collection of Gustave Rothan [da]; its previous history could be traced back with certitude until 1809, but only speculatively beyond that date.[1] Saint Peter and Saint Paul is influenced by Caravaggism in its naturalistic depiction of the two men, while displaying early Classicism in its solid composition.[2] Ribera reused another canvas to paint over; an upside-down head of a child can still be seen below the parchment in Saint Peter's hand.[1][2]

  1. ^ a b c Kientz, Guillaume (June 2017). De Giotto à Goya. Peintures italiennes et espagnoles du musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg. Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-2-35125-151-5.
  2. ^ a b c d Jacquot, Dominique (2006). Le musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg. Cinq siècles de peinture. Strasbourg: Musées de Strasbourg. pp. 170–171. ISBN 2-901833-78-0.
  3. ^ "Saint Pierre et saint Paul". French Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 22 July 2020.