Allegory of Sight 1613

Jusepe de Ribera, a leading painter of the Spanish Baroque, created Allegory of Sight, at a time when the power of observation was radically changing our understanding of the world. The painting presents a man holding a telescope. During the 17th century, telescopes were not merely scientific instruments; they were symbols of a new way of seeing, and knowing. Ribera was part of a society that was being transformed by science. He lived in Naples, then under Spanish rule, a vibrant port city full of cultural exchange. Consider the gaze of the man – direct, confident, and challenging. His identity remains a mystery. He could be a scholar, a merchant, or perhaps even Ribera himself, inviting us to reflect on how we perceive and interpret the world around us. Ribera’s painting goes beyond a simple representation of sight, it is a philosophical statement about human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.