The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria

The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria

The Holy Family with Saints Anne and Catherine of Alexandria

Artist:
Jusepe de Ribera (called Lo Spagnoletto) (Spanish, Játiva 1591–1652 Naples)
Date:
1648
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
82 1/2 x 60 3/4 in. (209.6 x 154.3 cm)
Classification:
Paintings
Credit Line:
Samuel D. Lee Fund, 1934

A masterpiece of the artist’s maturity, this painting combines the naturalism and quality of physical presence associated with Caravaggio with the elevated formal language of Raphael. Spanish by birth, Ribera lived all of his adult life in Rome and Naples, which was ruled by a Spanish viceroy. During his early years in Rome, he adopted Caravaggio’s practice of working directly from posed models and this has enabled him to give vibrant presence to figures inhabiting a sacred realm.

Provenance

private collection, Genoa (until 1807/8); [Jean-Baptiste Pierre Le Brun, Paris, 1807/8–at least 1810; unverified sale, Paris, April 1810, no. 128]; Sir Thomas Baring, 2nd Bt., Stratton Park, Hampshire (by 1824–d. 1848); his son, Thomas Baring, London (1848–d. 1873); his nephew, Thomas George Baring, later 1st Earl of Northbrook, Stratton Park (1873–d. 1904; cat., 1889, no. 237); his son, Francis George Baring, 2nd Earl of Northbrook, Stratton Park (1904–19; his sale, Christie's, London, December 12, 1919, no. 134, for £546 to Colnaghi); [Colnaghi, London, 1919–21]; Henry George Charles Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles, later 6th Earl of Harewood, London (1921–34); [Seligmann and Rey, Paris and New York, 1934; sold to MMA]

Copyright Image
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