How you can use this image
This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).
Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.
The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.
Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.
Buy a print or image licence
You can purchase this reproduction
If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.
Notes
Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.
This painting probably belonged to a series of Apostles and represents either Saint Thomas or Saint Matthias, both of whose attribute is a spear. Ribera painted several such series throughout his career – the most complete, dating from around 1630, is in the Museo del Prado, Madrid. Apostle series were common in Europe from the sixteenth century, and Ribera may have referred to those by his predecessor El Greco. The style suggests this is a youthful work. At least five other apostles, in the same bust-length format and similarly dated, are known. Ribera uses a very limited colour range in this painting and the paint is thickly applied, particularly evident in the highlights on the apostle’s forehead. His lined, ruddy complexion contrasts with the softness of his beard, and the gritty realism of the hand and dirty fingernails is typical of Ribera’s work.
Title
An Apostle
Date
about 1615-19
Medium
Oil on canvas
Measurements
H 62 x W 49.5 cm
Accession number
NG6577
Acquisition method
Presented anonymously, 1999
Work type
Painting
The National Gallery, London
Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England
-
Saint James the Great English Heritage, The Wellington Collection, Apsley House -
Saint John the Baptist English Heritage, The Wellington Collection, Apsley House -
A Philosopher Ferens Art Gallery -
Bust Study for Saint James of Compostella National Trust, Hatchlands -
A Man with Goitre Wellcome Collection -
The Hermit Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums -
Man Restringing a Guitar Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service: Ipswich Borough Council Collection - 27 more