Jusepe de Ribera

Ribera was born in Spain, at Játiva near Valencia, and probably received his training there under Francisco Ribalta. He moved soon afterwards to Italy and following a period in Rome settled in Naples in 1616. Ribera became well known for the realism of his treatment of violent subjects such as 'The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew' and 'The Flaying of Marsyas' (Pitti, Florence, and Museo di San Martino, Naples, respectively), but he also painted genre scenes and religious subjects in a refined classical mode characterised by a rich palette.