The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew 1630

Jusepe de Ribera's dramatic "The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew" (1630) depicts the brutal death of the apostle. The painting, housed in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, showcases Ribera's characteristic use of tenebrism, a technique emphasizing strong contrasts of light and dark, to heighten the scene's intensity. St. Bartholomew's contorted body and pained expression, rendered with anatomical precision, are the focal point, while surrounding figures, obscured by shadows, create a sense of violence and chaos. This masterpiece exemplifies Ribera's skill in depicting religious themes with a raw and powerful realism.