Neapolitan school of the 17th century, workshop of Jusepe de - Lot 41

Neapolitan school of the 17th century, workshop of Jusepe de RIBERA (1588 - 1656) The philosopher Dioscorides 127 x 96.5 cm Annotated on the book ISSOPO Old restorations, missing parts, lifts and scratches On the back in ink: n°16 Our painting is a revival of Ribera's composition, kept in the palace of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (the Escorial), from 1629, known by several versions, including one in private collection in New York, another sale in London at Bohnams, April 10, 2013, No. 32. Ribera painted many figures of philosophers, both in his youth to Rome, that during his Neapolitan career... The success of this new iconography, sought after by the collectors, continued throughout the 17th century, with Salvator Rosa, Luca Giordano and Mattia Preti in Naples, but also at Ter Brugghen, Rembrandt, Mola and Velasquez elsewhere. Portraits of philosophers were highly prized in the neo-stoichian cenacles, whose importance is known throughout the century. They were most often found in humanist offices, libraries and princely galleries. The The subtle refinement of these works comes from the contrast between a popular type from the street or the tavern, according to the precepts of Caravaggio, chiselled by the sun, toothless and in rags, opposed to the literary nobility. or scientist of the subject, indicated by books and scrolls. Our character is most often identified as the Greek fabulist Aesop, but we propose to recognize the philosopher-botanist Dioscorides who has widely studied the issopo flower in his the best known treatise De Materia Medica; the mention Hissopo on the book, not signifying a relationship with Aesop (this iconographic hypothesis was first developed by Delphine Fitz Darby, "Ribera and the Wise Men," Art Bulleti.