Pair of 17th C. Baroque Paintings after J. De Ribera

About Auction

Live

Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 31, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-10-31 10:00:00 2019-10-31 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-4581
Our Halloween Day auction features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (467)

• Lot Description
  Portuguese/Spanish, ca. 17th century CE, possibly School of Jusepe de Ribera (Spanish, 1591-1652). A striking pair of beautifully framed oil on canvas paintings of two apostles, both paintings after Jusepe de Ribera and displaying hallmarks of Baroque dramatic realism employed to portray religious subjects during this period. Most notable is the tenebrism (tenebroso) or dramatic use of light and shadow (following the Italian Baroque artist Caravaggio who was the most important influence on Ribera); a strong sense of naturalism to emphasize the subjects' veristic appearances - notice the brush marks delineating crows feet, wrinkled foreheads, nasolabial folds, and facial hair; as well as the sense of immediacy and emotion captured by their poses and expressions - as if caught in a moment of deep thought or prayer. Size: canvases measure ~ 18.625" W x 24.825" H (47.3 cm x 63.1 cm); apostle holding gospel measures 24.5" W x 29.625" H (62.2 cm x 75.2 cm) framed; apostle holding staff measures 24.125" W x 29.875" H (61.3 cm x 75.9 cm) framed.
  
  Both paintings are set in striking frames which date later than the paintings but compliment the work beautifully with their finely carved details and rich gold and jewel tone red hues. Interestingly, some scholars believe that the naturalistic faces of Ribera's apostles were modeled upon true human types living in Ribera's midst. In addition, the bearded apostle dressed in gold robes and holding a staff bears a strong resemblance to Ribera's Saint Peter (ca. 1630) in the Museo del Prado, while the portrait of the apostle holding a gospel may represent Saint James the Less or Saint Simon, also depicted by Ribera (1630-1635) and in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
  
  During the Counter Reformation, series of half-length figures depicting the apostles holding their attributes and set against a neutral background, like these examples, became quite popular. Ribera painted one of the most significant series around the year 1630. Scholars believe that while some of the paintings in this series were created by his workshop, others were primarily by his hand.
  
  Provenance: private Los Angeles County, California, USA collection - According to the current owner, these paintings were acquired from Rainer Daehnhardt.
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #135967

  Condition

  Both paintings show age wear; however, the imagery is still remarkable. The frames present some surface wear with scuffs and areas of pigment loss, but are otherwise quite charming. The verso of the portrait of the apostle with the yellow robe has some remains of gallery paper on the verso and expected darkening to the canvas. The other portrait is backed by a board, so the verso of the canvas is not visible. There are inactive insect holes visible along the sides of the frames. Both have old labels attached to the frames that read, "#4 by Diego Di Ribera" as well as "#5 by Diego Di Ribera".
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %