Jusepe de Ribera, called lo Spagnoletto

Jusepe de Ribera, called lo Spagnoletto “the Spaniard” (1591-1652) was born in Játiva, in the kingdom of Valencia, but as a young man he settled in Italy. After staying for some time in Lombardy and Emilia, he arrived in Rome in 1615, and there he completed his training inspired by Caravaggio but also by the works of Raphael. The following year he came to Naples under the new viceroy, the third Duke of Osuna. Ribera spent the rest of his life in Naples, working for the viceroy, but also for Neapolitan nobles and churches and convents of the city. Among his most famous works are The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew, The Drunken Silenus, The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew, the Pietà , Jacob’s dream, The Crippled and the twelve Prophets that decorate the arches of the entrance wall and the side chapels of the Chapter house of San Martino. Seriously ill, Ribera slowed down his activities in later years. He died and was buried in Naples.