St. Onuphrius 1637

Jusepe de Ribera's 1637 painting, "St. Onuphrius", depicts the saint, a 4th-century hermit, in a moment of intense prayer. The painting, housed in the Hermitage Museum, showcases Ribera's mastery of chiaroscuro, using dramatic contrasts of light and shadow to create a sense of depth and emphasize the saint's emaciated form. The skull and crown at the saint's feet symbolize the vanity of worldly possessions and the inevitability of death, emphasizing the spiritual devotion of St. Onuphrius.