Among the most interesting works of European masters is the picture “St. Francis of Paola” by an unknown master. Judging by archival records, the picture was purchased by the Uvarovs at a foreign auction as a work of Velasquez, but already at the end of the XIX century it was in their estate near Moscow, Porechye, with attribution to the famous Spanish painter of Ribeira. In the 1990s, a complex restoration was carried out — a colorful layer was reinforced on the canvas, the raised edges of the crackles were laid, the painting was duplicated and stretched on a repaired stretcher. Restoration and technological expertise made it possible to clarify the attribution. No signature was found on the painting. The copying of the painting is evidenced by its radiograph with a rigid and detailed drawing of the image, which has no changes and refinements of the drawing. The copy character is manifested in the dry and rigid modeling of shapes and draughtsmanship (facial wrinkles, beard hairs, eyes); a thin colorful layer does not have a developed underpainting.
This is a free copy of Husepe de Ribeira picture of the XVII century. The original is considered lost, but its numerous copies are known, and the best ones are in Naples. For a long time the Hermitage version was also considered a copy, but the research conducted by the Hermitage staff made it possible to assume the authorship of Ribera himself.
Such paintings are not so much a work of art as a kind of icon. According to the available attributes, it is safe to say that the picture depicts not just a monk, but St. Francis of Paola, that is from Paola (otherwise, Paula, 1436-1507) — the founder of the monastic order of Minims, which is a branch of the Franciscan order. The gloomy greenish-brown scale, in which the clothes and background are sustained, emphasize the asceticism of the emaciated monk of the mendicant Franciscan order. Saint Francis of Paola became famous for his prophecies and miracles, and was especially popular in Italy, France, Mexico, as well as in Spain. His images were especially common in Spanish painting of the XVII century and are found in the works of Murillo, Velasquez, Ribera.
This is a free copy of Husepe de Ribeira picture of the XVII century. The original is considered lost, but its numerous copies are known, and the best ones are in Naples. For a long time the Hermitage version was also considered a copy, but the research conducted by the Hermitage staff made it possible to assume the authorship of Ribera himself.
Such paintings are not so much a work of art as a kind of icon. According to the available attributes, it is safe to say that the picture depicts not just a monk, but St. Francis of Paola, that is from Paola (otherwise, Paula, 1436-1507) — the founder of the monastic order of Minims, which is a branch of the Franciscan order. The gloomy greenish-brown scale, in which the clothes and background are sustained, emphasize the asceticism of the emaciated monk of the mendicant Franciscan order. Saint Francis of Paola became famous for his prophecies and miracles, and was especially popular in Italy, France, Mexico, as well as in Spain. His images were especially common in Spanish painting of the XVII century and are found in the works of Murillo, Velasquez, Ribera.
