JOSE DE RIBERA Y TALLER

(S. XVII)

JOSE DE RIBERA AND WORKSHOP (17th century) "Archimedes"

Oil on canvas. Reference bibliography: SPINOSA, N. "Ribera. The Complete Works", Fundación Arte Hispánico, Madrid, 2006, p. 366, A104. This Archimedes belongs to one of the best-known series in the work of the painter José de Ribera (1591-1652), who, in his naturalist style, depicted philosophers and thinkers of Antiquity. His models were humble people from his own circle, whom he imbued with a certain nobility because they were figures dedicated to intellectual pursuits who disdained material possessions. The original model, painted for the Duke of Alcalá when he was Viceroy of Naples, is, according to Nicola Spinosa, the one now in a private collection and formerly belonging to the Marquis of La Remisa, appearing in entry number 212 of the collection's inventory compiled by Ceferino Araujo. Other autograph versions of the same model exist, works from Ribera's own workshop, and a number of copies of varying quality. Spinosa also mentions the copy held in the Prado Museum (P001120) and the one that, in 2006, was at Coll & Cortés Fine Art Dealers, from a private collection in Seville. Dimensions: 129 x 102 cm.