Description
The painting The Holy Family with St Catherine, by the artist Jusepe De Ribera, is a work that stands out for its Baroque style and its detailed and carefully structured composition. The work, which measures 210 x 154 cm, shows the Holy Family surrounded by saints and angels, with Saint Joseph holding the Child Jesus in his arms, while the Virgin Mary and Saint Catherine lovingly observe the scene.
Ribera's work is characterized by his ability to create a sensation of depth and movement in the composition, through the use of light and shadow, and attention to detail in each of the characters and elements in the painting. The colors used in the work are vibrant and rich, especially highlighting the intense red of Saint Catherine's tunic and the deep blue of the Virgin Mary's cloak.
The history of the painting is interesting, as it is believed to have been commissioned by the family of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Spinola, who was a major patron of the arts in Naples in the 17th century. The work would have been created between the years 1630 and 1635, during the period in which Ribera lived and worked in Naples.
A little-known aspect of the painting is that, despite its religious theme, Ribera included realistic details in the work, such as the wrinkles in the characters' clothing and the textures in the objects that surround them. This demonstrates the artist's ability to combine the sacred and the profane in his work, creating a sense of realism and humanity in the scene.
In short, The Holy Family with St Catherine is an impressive work that stands out for its baroque style, its detailed composition and its use of colour. The history of painting and the little-known aspects of it make it even more interesting and valuable for art and history lovers.