Saint Francis Of Paola (charitas), Manner Of Jusepe De Ribera (1591-1652)

Artist: Italian School (XVIII), Manner of Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652)

Title: Saint Francis of Paola (Charitas)

Date: 18th Century

Overall measurements with the frame are 82cm x 74cm x 4cm and the painting itself ate 60cm x 51cm

Provenance: Private collection, South West London.

The figure depicted in this work is identifiable by his habit, long beard, walking staff, and the disc in the top left of the image bearing the word "charitas" as Saint Francis of Paola (1416-1507), founder of the Order of Minims (or minor friars), a religious order committed to perpetual abstinence and acts of humility. Saint Francis was born in Paola, a small town in Calabria, Italy, in 1416.

In the present work, the saint is shown making a pious gesture as he gazes heavenward with an expression of awe, looking at the illuminated disc bearing the word "charitas". There is a tradition that the saint experienced a vision in which the word "charitas" appears to him in a luminous cloud. The word became the motto of the Minims and appears on the order’s heraldic crest.

The quality of the execution of this work attests to its historical and cultural significance. Jusepe de Ribera was a Spanish painter who worked in Italy and influenced Neapolitan and Spanish painting. The interesting pose and position of the body and the evocative expression of the face of the saint in the present work are comparable to the work of de Ribera, suggesting that the artist was influenced by de Ribera.

Ribera was born in the province of Valencia in Spain, but was in Rome by 1606 and spent the rest of his life in Italy, where he was known as Lo Spagnoletto. Early on Ribera developed a powerfully naturalistic style much indebted to the mature works of Caravaggio. Primarily a painter of altarpieces and religious subjects, Ribera also tackled mythological themes, series of ancient beggar-philosophers, and portraits.

Condition report : The painting has been restored at some point quite recently . There are a few small surface marks and some areas of retouching and possibly small infilled areas and generally well blended retouching work . There is craquelure throughout . The paint surface is even and stable. The painting has been lined in circa 1900 from what we can tell. The canvas is in good tension .

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