Artwork
Saint John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan Ribalta. It dates from 1618 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
By focusing on these writing implements alongside the figure, the artwork underscores the importance of the written word in transmitting biblical narratives.
Juan Ribalta's oil painting depicts John the Evangelist, a central figure in Christian theology and the traditional author of the fourth Gospel. The composition identifies the saint through specific iconographic attributes, including a pen and an inkwell, which symbolize his role as a scribe and theologian. These objects reference his literary contributions to the New Testament, distinguishing him within the canon of religious art.
The work serves as a visual representation of the Evangelist in the act of writing or preparing to record divine revelation, emphasizing his intellectual and spiritual authority. By focusing on these writing implements alongside the figure, the artwork underscores the importance of the written word in transmitting biblical narratives.
Technique & Style
Juan Ribalta's Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. Created in 1618, the work measures 182 cm in height and 113 cm in width. The formal composition depicts the biblical figure holding a book, accompanied by a pen and an inkwell, consistent with the iconography of John the Evangelist.
As a religious genre piece, the handling utilizes oil paint to render the subject within the dimensions of a vertical canvas format.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint John the Evangelist by Juan Ribalta was created between 1618 and 1621. While some records cite the inception date as 1618, the work is also associated with the year 1621. Executed in oil on canvas, the religious artwork depicts the biblical figure with a book, pen, and inkwell. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Specific provenance details regarding the original commission or the chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not provided in the available sources.
Saint John the Evangelist by Juan Ribalta is held by the Museo del Prado, where it forms part of the museum's collection and is on display in the Spanish capital. The painting is catalogued in the Prado's holdings as an oil-on-canvas work.
According to the Wikidata record, the work entered the Museo del Prado's collection, and the painting's dimensions are recorded as 182 cm in height by 113 cm in width. No specific accession number is provided in the available sources.
No exhibition history beyond its presence in the Museo del Prado's collection is documented in the available sources.
Context
Juan Ribalta's Saint John the Evangelist stands as a significant example of early 17th-century Spanish religious painting. Executed in oil on canvas, the work depicts the biblical figure with traditional attributes including a book, pen, and inkwell. Created between 1618 and 1621, the painting reflects the devotional intensity characteristic of the artist's output during this period.
Currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, the piece measures 182 cm in height and 113 cm in width. Its presence in a major national museum underscores its recognized status within the canon of Spanish Baroque art.
Legacy
The painting's enduring presence in the Museo del Prado's collection has ensured its continued scholarly attention and public display, solidifying its reputation as an important example of early 17th-century Spanish religious art. Its depiction of John the Evangelist with characteristic attributes like the pen and inkwell established a visual convention that influenced subsequent artists in the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrating its significance within the development of Spanish Baroque religious painting. The work's inclusion in the museum's permanent displays since its acquisition has contributed to its recognized status as a key piece within the institution's Spanish Golden Age holdings.
Overview
Created in 1618 by the Valencian painter Juan Ribalta, this oil on canvas portrays Saint John the Evangelist. The figure is rendered in a vivid red garment, standing on a rugged surface with an open book and a quill, set against a dark backdrop that emphasizes his illuminated face and hands.
Artist & collection
Artist
Juan Ribalta (1597 – October 1628) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period. He was born and died in Valencia. His father, Francisco Ribalta, was a famous painter, active in the style of Caravaggio. Some sources…
